A　liquid-cooled　eddy　current　retarder　(ECR)　with　a　dual　salient　poles　design　is　proposed　in　this　paper.　Finite　element　models　were　developed　to　perform　transient　magnetic　analysis　and　steady-state　conjugate　heat　transfer　analysis.　The　braking　torque,　eddy　current　field　and　thermal　field　of　the　retarder　were　each　predicted.　The　retarder　was　subjected　to　two　sets　of　tests　on　a　test　bench,　to　obtain　the　braking　torque　at　various　rotational　speeds,　while　utilizing　two　different　magnetomotive　forces,　respectively,　and　the　torque　was　also　tested　while　maintaining　a　constant　rotational　speed,　for　a　specific　amount　of　time.　The　good　agreement　shown　between　the　calculations　and　measured　data　of　the　braking　torque　served　to　validate　the　analysis　method.　The　experiments　also　showed　that　the　braking　torque　of　the　retarder　decreased　more　slowly　than　the　braking　torque　of　conventional　ECRs　in　continuous　operation.