A set of four brake assemblies are arranged to grasp a guide railing in a pneumatic vacuum elevator cylinder. The brake assemblies are each attached to a seal of the cabin or vehicular compartment traveling within the cylinder and to a structural support member within the vehicle. Additionally, each set has a pair of brakes utilizing a spring actuated shaft indirectly connected to the cabin seal through a lever attached to the brake back plate. This lever acts on a rod device directly connected to the cabin seal in order to take advantage of a pressure differential for the opening and closing of the individual brakes.