Thanks Carl. I can see that now.
A descending knuckle. The shelf prevents the knuckle (and, one would hope, the rest of the coupler) from going far enough below the level of the shelf coupler to become disengaged from it.
Carl
Railroader Emeritus (practiced railroading for 46 years--and in 2010 I finally got it right!)
CAACSCOCOM--I don't want to behave improperly, so I just won't behave at all. (SM)
What part of a coupler does the rising shelf of an adjoining coupler bear upon?
In response to a question in the "Railroad Safety Improvements" thread here early in March 2012, herewith are 2 fresh photos (today) of the bottom shelf coupler on the east end of UP caboose 25719, which is a long ways from home - on display at the Elmwood Park Zoo in Norristown, Pennsylvania:
Supposedly there were some animals around there someplace . . .
- Paul North.
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