An elevator rope braking system including a base portion and a top portion affixed by at least one mounting structure; an outer housing and a magnetic core arranged on and affixed to the base portion; an armature plate intermediate the top portion and the base portion having an armature extending toward the base portion; and an electromagnetic coil positioned between the outer housing and the magnetic core and operative to provide an electromagnetic force sufficient to move the armature from a first braking position to a second non-braking position.