Buckeye coupler

[Anonymous]

What part is most likely fail to cause buckeye coupler to break; the jaw, the hinge pin, the locking pin, or the coupler head itself? So far, I know that the two couplers are locked together by the pin dropping into the locking pin hole, that was back when I was in Thailand, but I just noticed that some North American rail cars employ buckeye knuckle that has lever connected to the pin from the bottom (in stead of above) of the knuckle, and the knuckle looks a bit different from what I have seen so far. Do they work in the same manner like I have described above? Thanks!

Karn[:)]

[Anonymous]

I have noticed on some older passenger locos couplers that look like a regular coupler with a movable jaw and a pin, but have "wings" on the sides or kind of like a pocket that a ball will fit in. Are these some kind of attempt at making a couplers that stay aligned?

[mvlandsw]

QUOTE: Originally posted by jruppert

I have noticed on some older passenger locos couplers that look like a regular coupler with a movable jaw and a pin, but have "wings" on the sides or kind of like a pocket that a ball will fit in. Are these some kind of attempt at making a couplers that stay aligned?

They are tight lock couplers. They are designed to stay coupled in a derailment to keep the cars in line and prevent them from smashing through each other. They are also used on some tank cars carrying hazardous materials for the same reason. There are also couplers with a shelf above and below the knuckle for the same purpose.

[Anonymous]

mvlandsw Do you have a picture of this kind of coupler? I can't imagine it. Thanks!

Karn[:)]

[Anonymous]

Very cool, next time I see them, I will think about that.

[edblysard]

rkarn, jruppert,

Send me a e mail address, and I will scan you a few photos of F and SF couplers from the 2002 AAR field manual interchange rules.
There are about five different versions of these kind...

Ed

[Anonymous]

Thank you edblysard.

My address is [e-mail].

Karn[:)]