My initial answer was a curt "no" and "no". This topic and question is raised quite often and has been answered. Each agency and each manufacturer and each order is different. Sometimes an agency will order that all new trainsets have to be compatable with existing trainsets, most of the time not. Sometimes there are semi-permanently couple pairs or sets of motors and trailers, too. This is true of subway and light rail in general...I am not sure if there ever were such equipment to use standard knuckles as they would seem to be too heavy to begin with. However, commuter rail, which adheres to standard heavy rail specifications is more likely to have standard knuckles along with air brakes, hoses and appliances, at least historically. This is not to say that there weren't...aren't....semi perminent couplings and trainsets. But in heavy rail the MU cables would have to be either standardized or adaptive depending on the situation.
Again I emphasize there are no absolutes, no standards, in railroading so there can be anywhere from one to a million variations, to every piece of equipment and appliances.
RIDEWITHMEHENRY is the name for our almost monthly day of riding trains and transit in either the NYCity or Philadelphia areas including all commuter lines, Amtrak, subways, light rail and trolleys, bus and ferries when warranted. No fees, just let us know you want to join the ride and pay your fares. Ask to be on our email list or find us on FB as RIDEWITHMEHENRY (all caps) to get descriptions of each outing.
New York City Transit Authoritiy uses Westubghouse couplers, or at least designed by them if not still manufactured by them. Integral electric and air connections.
Metro North and LIRR use Sharfenburg (spelling?) imported couplers or made in USA under liscence. I forgot what NJT and PATH use, please remind me.
NUCTA, LIRR, and MN all have adapter couplers ready when needed.
Starting with the 5000's of 1947 and the 6000 series, CTA has used Ohio Brass Type 5 couplers with the electrical connections underneath the coupler, no air line is involved. I believe that the IC Electric uses Tomlinson couplers.
Here's one uncoupled:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:LYNX_Car_104_at_TremontStation.jpg
http://www.mobility.siemens.com/shared/data/pdf/sts_usa_internet/charlotte_s701.pdf
Dave
Lackawanna Route of the Phoebe Snow
It is a Siemens S-70. Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) Lynx light rail.
Wow! Looks pretty elaborate. Who is that?
_____________
"A stranger's just a friend you ain't met yet." --- Dave Gardner
Paul of Covington I kinda remember seeing somewhere that some couplers used in transit have automatic connections for air and electrical circuits incorporated in them. Is this true?
I kinda remember seeing somewhere that some couplers used in transit have automatic connections for air and electrical circuits incorporated in them. Is this true?
You mean like this?
1) NO. 2) NO.
Do rapid transit and commuter train have the same couplers? Are all US Commuter and raipd transit rail cars MU couplers the same?
Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account.