Yeah, that'l be buffing gear. Someone on here back along, maybe a year ago went into the whys and where-fores, i gota job to remeber now but Its basicly got something to do with the fact that you guys run bigger and heavier trains than we do here. In Britain anycase, the heaviest train here will be not much more than 3000 tonnes, (well ok, maybe 4k on a good day) theres just no call for it here. Even then, at those weights the cars will have no buffing gear fitted (buffers) and use knuckle couplers like yours. The older Passenger cars also use knuckles but with our conventional screwlink coupling and buffers at the outer ends of the train to attach to the hauling locmotive. There is also another variation, most of the modern passenger equipment we have here now uses a special coupler abit like a cone and pin and has no buffing gear.
Heres a pic of a UK class 66, built in London Ontario by EMD.
Its fitted with conventional screw link coupler and buffers. Incidently, we have many of these things fitted with both. When the Knuckle is required its basicly swung into and locked in position. When not required, it simply swings out of the way. The 2 hoses are main reservior and train air brake. The orange socket in the middle is for MU operation, rarely used!
If you look down through this page you'l see that the chunky stuff that makes up our heavier trains all use kuckle couplers while some of the cars that will make up lighter trains uses the screw link coupler.www.intercitymodels.com/Wagons.html
No problem buddy. I found a you tube clip that demonstrates the special new passenger equipment coupling i mentiond. This clip shows a special rescue locomotive coupling to a new Virgin Trains "Pendolino" unit. You'l see the special coupler being hydraulicly lowered into position. The class 57 rescue loco also has conventional drawgear like the class 66 i pictured above aswel as this unique coupling thats only used on this new-fangled stuff. I hate them myself but its a good demo. The electric Pendollino unit is a high speed tilting train that can only couple to these rescue units or another Pendollino. The class 57 can be used for anything else when the special coupling is out of use.
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ZiyWf5V4qc&feature=related
If the rescue locomotive sounds familiar, it will be because its fitted with an EMD V12 645 primemover!
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