Train Couplers 101 - How do train cars stay together?

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0:00 Intro
0:40 Link and Pin
2:55 Basic Draft Gear
4:33 Semi-Auto Link and Pin
5:17 Janney Coupler
8:17 Miller Hook
9:41 Sharon
10:35 Locomotive Coupler Connections
12:13 Towers & Split Knuckles
13:54 AAR Type E
16:20 Dual Gauge Coupler Setups
18:45 AAR Type H
20:08 Outro

[@muddynmonte]

3011's coupler is pinned to a rubber snubbed draft gear. A self aligning coupler has wings which engage extension blocks when hard over in a curve.

[@Hyce777]

I'll take it when I'm wrong! Cheers Josh :) I am also going to piggyback the pinned comment as I was also wrong on the passenger car - it's a Type H, not a Type F. Similar, but the Type H has less slack, and type F's always have a bottom shelf. H's are for passenger cars, F's are for freight cars and locomotives.

[@oscarosullivan4513]

@@Hyce777 Irish couplers used to be the traditional style British type

[@danielfantino1714]

If i´m not wrong, type "E" looks like on the 3011. They´re use on locomotives and ordinary cars like boxcars, flats, gondolas etc... they can couple with F and H. "F" type with above and below interloking extensions that prevent uncoupling under derailment forces. Mainly use on tank cars carrying hazardous shipments. They work with "E" and "H" but should never being use with "H" cause upper extension will rub lower diaphragm passageway on passenger cars and destroy it. "H" style is for exclusive passenger railcars. Like you mentionned they have tighter clearance to reduce slack action betwen cars and reduce passenger discomfort. Their sides extensions interlock betwen them to keep cars always coupled together in case of wreck and avoid coupler from raming in precedent car in case of jackniffing. In the good old glory days of wood passenger cars, then when Iron and later steel bracing and ultimately steel car construction became the norm, tragediies happened with one car climbing and passing completely through lower car just like hot knife through butter. From about 1910 to mid 30, steel cars grew in lenght up to 85 feet with almost undestructible fishbelly underframe. Those heavyweights named cars could weight up to 100 tons. A first safety feature was to use two big vertical "H" beams on car´s ends to avoid jackniffing. Modern cars use also collapsile vestibule where passengers board or detrain from the car. That deflection zone is to absorb destructive forces under derailment, just like your orinary car that will squeze in the front and rear part, keeping occupants safe in case of collision. Then those "H" couplers went mandatory to decrease probabilities of cars piling up. They can work with previous types, but thank car style is a big no-no. North American style is not use in Europe and some other part of the world. Our system is fast, efficient, safe and really strong, but breakage happen. Usually it´s the knuckle or the rotating part that give up. More rarely the shank that is like 1/2 " thick square tubing holding coupler to the draft gear and carbody. Thanks for your neat informative video.

[@Hyce777]

@@danielfantino1714 Not all F's have the upper extension, but otherwise - great comment with more context! Cheers sir.

[@danielfantino1714]

@@Hyce777 after thinking twice, you´re right. You did a very good document with rare showcase.

[@FuelFire]

Here in germany, we use couplers that are made up of two hooks, one on each side of the railcar, and a link that you can screw shorter after putting each side of the link on the hooks. And then, the rail vehicles except for narrow gauge have two buffers on each side, left and right of the coupler. I'm sure most here know this because of Hyce's DV episode with the DRG BR01

[@roadtrain_]

Pretty sure the dutch have used the exact same thing for the longest time until automatic couplers came around, which have a little resemblance to the knuckles.

[@rjohnson1690]

A friend/coworker used to work for DB. The way he described switching sounded absolutely schrecklich!

[@stupidkid351]

Hook and screw coupler are very dangerous and that’s why freight trains in Britain are very short when it comes to freight trains

[@adamb2537]

This style of coupling is basically the bog standard in the EU and UK.

[@stupidkid351]

@@adamb2537 but why don’t they switch over to the knuckle coupler? I’m actually curious.

[@brillbusbootcamp2320]

Awesome work! That’s an impressive collection of visual aids you filmed, and well narrated too. I learned quite a lot! The most fun thing I’d regularly hear over my radio while working tourist trains was “give it a pin!” That was the freight conductor telling the engineer that a knuckle had failed to close… and it was time to hit it harder! It was always followed up by the awesome sound of either an SD-40, or if you’re lucky, and old ALCO, loading up very fast, and then a CLANK you could hear for quite a long ways! Thankfully since Janeys are long gone now, I rarely heard the crews have to hit the train more than once to “get the pin to drop.”

[@Hyce777]

Standard knuckles are honestly fantastic. The OG janneys... Ugh. Lol. The "beat the shit out of it" hand signal comes out quite regularly...

[@deltavee2]

Now I think I know where the expression "pin it!" comes from when you floor the pedal in a car, give it max power....

[@ZergSmasher]

The museum should just let you do their presentation stuff, if they don't already. This was a very well-done video. Makes me want to make the trip to Colorado to see the museum (which I will do if I'm ever out that way, and maybe grab a pic with you or something).

[@larrycummings7300]

Retired engineer with 38 years of service. I learned a couple of things I didn’t know. Very nicely presentation. I was trained by former steam engine guys and I was operating electronically controlled brakes before I retired.

[@cswvna]

Australia (at least here on the Victorian Railways) started with Chain and Buffer because we followed British practices, and our transition to American automatic couplers have the knuckle coupler rotate out of the way to allow the chain hook to rotate into position, I believe our wooden bodied suburban trains used Chain and Buffer until their final withdrawal from service. I probably should visit the museum to get a photo of one.

[@IndustrialParrot2816]

Yeah I've heard of those Australian railway equipment fascinates me

[@anindrapratama]

Diesel locos used in NSW have unique looking buffers during the same transition

[@IndustrialParrot2816]

@@anindrapratama yeah the 6 axle alco carbody diesels uh class 44 right?

[@kaiserwilhelm121]

I recognized the knuckle incident you showed where the knuckle fell out because I remember the video about switching operations and the coupler that refused to let go. Nice video too!

[@qtheplatypus]

In Australia we use AAR style coupling for fright trains and Scharfenberg coupling for passenger trains. The Japanese system of train coupling is really neat.

[@norsknoob7654]

Do you ever spin the turntable empty just for exercise and/or fun?

[@Hyce777]

We do all the time to demonstrate it for guests, but that's about it. Haha

[@TheSudrianTerrier653]

@@Hyce777 imagine spinning around one of the engines for fun

[@korealaaya1826]

@hyce we need one clip of the turntable with an engine on it, to put over it You spin me right round

[@thegoodgamingdragon8523]

@@Hyce777 i know even let guests help spin the empty turntable, i got to do that during my visit last year

[@iftheseoldbeastscouldtalk7796]

Having actually spun a Strong-arm table, I can confirm it is fun to start, but not necessarily to stop when loaded.

[@Egeslean]

I'm not a train guy, I've never really cared about them, but for some reason I can't really describe, the way you present the information keeps me interested and watching. So thank you for introducing me to aspects of trains I didn't know I'd be interested in.

[@Newberntrains]

when i was 6 i got a book called the everything about railroading book and it described that "the link and pin was simple yet dangerous" thanks for showing me how they were dangerous cause i never saw one in person to actually see that they were glorified finger guillotines that doubled as couplers thank you for showing us these cool and rare pieces of equipment

[@corpsimmons575]

More Foreign railroad fun facts: the Knuckle couplers would be improved upon! Modern DMUs and EMU is a lot of European countries (Mainly France, the UK and Germany, though the specific type varies from manufacturer and model) have automatic couplers which connect the air brakes and the Multiple Unit hoses in one motion. You just connect and you are ready to go! These couplers look pretty funky, the most common types tend to have a bulging hemisphere or pyramid on one side of the couple, and a recess for the other coupler to knuckle into. These are called "Multi Function Couplers" and a lot of British and German DMUs use Scharfenberg or Dellner MFCs for their multiple unit operations.

[@circomnia9984]

When I did my apprenticeship at a railroad yard, a guy got crushed between two couplers one day. Weirdest thing was, he was completely coherent, and talking. Turns out there was nothing the doctors could do. They knew as soon as they disconnected the two cars, he would bleed out and die basically instantly. So they fetched his wife, he just got married a couple of weeks before, and they spent some time saying goodbye. Then they disconnected the cars, and tried to save him anyway, but he was dead even before they got him in the ambulance. It was a sad day.

[@charlesburgoyne-probyn6044]

How weird and poignant it would be the pressure of cars preventing the hemorrhage from spreading, in the Chernobyl accident a pregnant woman survived because she was carrying and the fetus which has a faster metabolism than an adult absorbed most of the radiation she was absorbing it died but she survived if she wasn't pregnant she probably would have died..

[@patricksheary2219]

Many thanks Mark for your latest learning video. I now appreciate in detail the many types of couplers developed over railroad history. I must say that observing how a link and pin coupler works made my hands naturally recoil! OMG. Your narrative along with the videography is as always excellent. Also seeing the CRRM’s first-rate collection is such a treat. Thanks again Professor! Shout out to Leighton for illustrating the minor nerd moment, 😂. Cheers!

[@billtheunjust]

Awesome to see the detail on how the force goes through the knuckle coupler. I always thought it was an awful lot of force to go through the pin, and that there must be something more to it.

[@user-oz2wn3lj5s]

আরে ভাই দেখ কী দরকার বলতো দেখ খেলেছিস তো এখোন তোর এতো মাথা ব্যেথা কিসের

[@imacdonald99]

Exactly the comment I was going to make...

[@NavyDood21]

This was an awesome video! Its funny, I live in the US, but most of the railroad content I watch happens to be in the UK. It is funny seeing the little differences in terms and the fact that I am more exposed to British terms. You are an awesome presenter!

[@iftheseoldbeastscouldtalk7796]

Being a childhood fan of Thomas and Friends, it always was interesting how different the gear looked. It took months of research and realization for me to realize how different they truly were. Then, I learned they used to be very similar in the early days.

[@charlesburgoyne-probyn6044]

The great era of linguistic divisions of the 19th century are reflected in distinct railway parlance in the UK and USA

[@uncinarynin]

Thanks for this interesting overview. Some parts of the world use AAR couplers as well, for example China (standard gauge) and Vietnam (meter gauge). Here in Europe though we either still use the ancient screw link coupler or (in multiple units) Scharfenberg, Schwab or BSI (all of which can couple a lot of things at once: cables, air hoses ...) There is an attempt to introduce the "digital automatic coupler" though, based on Scharfenberg.

[@SebastianD334]

Yeah, the DAK, or VOITH CargoFlex is becoming a thing, I've actually seen a freight train of pocket cars outfitted with them, they seem pretty interesting and switzerland is definitely interested.

[@paulmentzer7658]

You forgot the Soviet Union, but in five foot "Russian Gauge". It is the system used in most former Soviet states and the one five foot line into Poland from the Ukraine (built in Soviet times to haul from the mines of Poland to the factories in the Ukraine).

[@treevis400]

I'm not a train guy. But I love learning interesting things and have been thoroughly glad to have found your channel!

[@drewbarker8504]

Not only was this a great overview of couplers and their history, but also a neat “Cook’s Tour” of the yard at the museum. ❤

[@ottodantaslemos5784]

0:40 Here in Brazil we have this type of coupling, on the old EFOM (Estrada de Ferro Oeste de Minas), which now belongs to VL! Logistics. There is a section belonging to EFOM that nowadays operates tourist trains driven by 3 steam locomotives, 1 consilidation and 2 ten wheels. It is the only section of railway in the world with a gauge of 762 millimeters (or imperial gauge). 🇧🇷

[@el_sheppe]

Amazing video, you're one of the most informative people on youtube about trains, because you can actually go and show all the historic stuff. The sentence near the end saying "why wouldn't the rest of the world join in on the knuckle couplers" lead me down a rabbit hole of, what couplers *do* we actually use in Europe, because I was always under the impression it's mostly screw couplers (also called english or buffer and hook couplers), much like those in derail valley. Which apparently is true for most freight cars. Though what I found interesting is for shunting trains that don't really have to endure that much force, there's a special type of coupler that can automatically couple and decouple from a standard hook, for easier shunting. However apparently on passenger cars, and also between multiple units, Scarfenberg couplers are used, which seem like an overengineered, but more refined version of the knuckle. The schematic on Wikipedia explains it better than I can in a comment, so I recommend you check it out, it seems like a pretty neat bit of engineering.

[@CMDRSweeper]

Interesting fact on couplers, in Narvik Norway there is a railroad going across the mountain and towards Sweden, transporting iron ore. Normally Norwegian trains have something like the couplers you see on unmodded Derail Valley, however if you subject them to long heavy trains, they break very easily. So the Narvik railroad changed couplers on their rolling stock and they did some experiments with knuckle couplers, both the US standard one and the strange Soviet SA-3 coupler. After breaking a few of the American ones, they abandoned that and just went with an all SA-3 coupler setup on their rolling stock.

[@kimpatz2189]

The SA-3 is designed for American-like long distance operation in a broad gauge. The broad gauge that the coupler was designed for has a much heavier per car weight than the american one. Seeing an SA-3 on a standard gauge network means that the operation must be demanding. Norway's SA-3 usage is due to the ridiculous power ratings their electric locomotives can output. It can produce twice as much power compared to a large american diesel locomotive.

[@MrKotBonifacy]

_"Soviet SA-3 coupler"_ , jokingly referred to as "Brezhnev's fist" : )

[@WolfandCatUnite]

yes

[@SebastianD334]

@@kimpatz2189 just because russian gauge is 85 mm wider, doesn't mean their trains are much heavier, there's other factors at play

[@evergreengaming2.053]

Kul! Vet du tilfeldigvis hva det største damplokomotivet i Norge er? eller var det? Jeg vil gjerne vite det.

[@alantaylor2694]

Fascinating! This just popped up in my recommends. There was a time with no couplers and now all couplers are made the same. What I find interesting is the transition between these two states (no matter what it is...couplers, cars, video games). The many iterations they go through and the stories they tell. Looks like you're doing some great work and great video too. Thank you.

[@catfish552]

Great video! I didn't quite get the geometry and function of knuckle couplers before, and this really helped. Very cool too to see them all shown practically on equipment at the museum!

[@mafarnz]

I’ve always wondered why knuckles break and not knuckle pins. Your close up view of the AAR type shows why! Also I appreciate the close up of the dual gauge idler car. I’m tying to make a functional HO scale model and having issues with the couplers hitting each other. Apparently that happens on the prototype too! It’s my understanding they were built from old SG locomotive tenders. A number of the K-37’s also had the three pocket coupler mounts for switching SG cars.

[@cryptoneo]

This video was awesome! I really enjoyed it, mechanical stuff like this and the history behind it is what I'm here for! 👍 Also, I love Gramps, lol that's a really cool tanker car; love the video as always Hyce, take care!

[@mauryeetss3561]

Had an electric train growing up and just loved how those train cars would link together so satisfyingly. (Had a Janney coupler but slightly modified to work well on a small model train)

[@QuazarCG_Studio]

I'm exited for this stuff, average depictions of couplers are so inaccurate. Your channel is great for all ages of learning (especially in the age of 2d Thomas the tank engine for example)

[@TEEDUBS]

Man, PHENOMINAL video. You have the perfect personality for this, and you're incredibly knowledgeable, as I'm sure you already know. Thank you for taking the time to make this content!

[@GlennHolland]

Late to the party, but when Hyce explains how the in-train forces are transmitted through the knuckle (not the pin as mentioned) he points to the internal locking mechanism. The top and bottom pulling lugs (just left of the locking mech) are the technical terms for the parts of the knuckle which transmits force through the coupler. You can see the top and bottom pulling mugs when he mentions a “casting as big as his hand.” Hope this helps. Great video, Hyce!

[@lifeintornadoalley]

Do NOT cross between trains even if they're parked. I've stayed on sites I shouldn't have. I've seen what happens when coupling goes wrong. Once the shock is worn off and you gasp your last breaths, then they'll move the train again. This guy is amazing at teaching me about a vital piece of metal that makes or breaks your delivery deadline. Do rails pay fines like airlines pay fines for running late. Doesn't matter if it's mechanical issues or not. Edit: I wonder how long the train must be to reach supersonic speed at the last coupler. In theory, it's the same principle as a whip. Built up energy at the tip

[@goalhorn2012]

I love your videos. Just a man enjoying his job with his favorite thing. Not only that, but it's informative, too. Some of these couplers I've never even seen/heard of before. These types of museums really make me wish that we preserved some more UP/ATSF/SP steam here in SoCal. Keep up the excellent work!

[@davidty2006]

Here in britain main coupling tends to be chain link and buffers or screwlink thats just a hook with a chain link eventually with a screw section along with buffers for safety reasons. I do wonder why the US didn't use such links despite their safety being higher than with link and pin....

[@ferky123]

Because labor was cheap and the freight needs to roll.

[@jlwalker2965]

I love these informational videos! Thanks Hyce!

[@anthem7582]

It nice to see how the railroads went from link and pin to knuckle. And the history on how it got to where it is today Very nice video Hyce As always Love the content

[@SteamfanScott]

Awesome video and thanks for the in depth look at all the different types of couplers!

[@emmabradley235]

I just want to say, I love your content!! I wish I were in a financial situation where I could support your channel because I absolutely would, but until then just know you're by far my favorite creator on KZbin!! ❤️❤️❤️

[@jort93z]

Interesting, these are very different to the ones we use in europe. In europe we use standardized Buffers and chain couplers for freight trains, and fully automatic scharfenberg couplers for passenger trains.

[@bobbyt9999]

Just stumbled onto this channel today. Fantastic stuff. I worked for the Canadian Pacific Railroad (CPR) then the name change to CP Rail and then another change to just CP as it is called today. I mainly worked on passenger cars which were still heated and got their hot water from steam. Thus, I was a steamfitter tradesman. However, big changes came when all passenger services were taken over by the newly formed Via Rail Canada in 1978. I guess it would compare to your Amtrak service. My point is, because of my experience in working for the railroad I find your content extremely interesting.

[@colvinator1611]

Very interesting indeed ! Seeing the engineering progression to improve safety and load abilities is really good. The engineers who designed and manufactured the couplings were gifted people. Thanks a lot for more American history. Colin UK 🇬🇧

[@bluescrew3124]

This was great! Leighton’s face at that one crazy coupler was hilarious. You mentioned the rest of the world doesn’t use knuckles, what are they using?

[@Hyce777]

Buffer and chain, for the most part. Compress the buffers, someone goes in and hooks up a chain with a screw on it that tightens it and holds things together. It's certainly a good system, but a lot less quick and easy....

[@shearmbj]

@@Hyce777 0

[@akaBoG]

First time I've seen the F&CC Automatic Pin Coupler. Pretty cool.

[@Hyce777]

I never knew what it was until Jeff pointed it out. We're using it as a doorstop and it's that cool! Lol

[@akaBoG]

@@Hyce777 That is such a Museum thing.

[@flyingspirit3549]

Fabulous presentation on the details of coupler design and operation. Thanks for preparing and posting!

[@JonsGarage89]

Very interesting. Thanks for showing the tri pocket and the idler car. Those have always been intriguing, the idler specifically. I know we've seen pics of NG engines pulling long lines of SG cars with the idler and that seams sketchy. All that weight pushing and pulling on a small flat car.

[@bishopcorva]

Those link and pin couplers, finger removers I believe was also what they were known as. As I'm reminded of a story told by a third generation rail engineer. He told a story that his grand dad told him of the pre-knuckle coupler days, where the link and pin were the only couplers. That if a person was applying for the railroad to start as a brakeman, he'd be told to hold his hands out. If he had all his fingers, he was green. Missing one to three fingers per hand, he was experienced. All the fingers from one hand and a few from the other, he'd not be cut for brakeman duty, but maybe be trained for fireman role or tending in a switch house, coal tower, or some other job where he wouldn't have to have full use of both hands. Then the knuckle coupler came along, at first I believe the top rail Barrons didn't want it, because it would anger the unions of the brakemen and others. But when it was shown to be faster connecting a train, to the notion of what would take three hours to build a train. With the new knuckles, that dropped to maybe an hour. Air brakes were resisted until it was found that a train could be longer and brake faster than the manually applied brakes the the brakemen had to do. Making the railroad more money and dropping the labor overhead because no need to pay five to six extra men per train and being forced to have short trains due to a brakeman only being able to get to six or seven cars to spin the brake wheel to slow the train or stop it.

[@charlesburgoyne-probyn6044]

It's all so ironic resisting progress because it would reduce profits with reinvestment but once actually in place never looked back as it made them more efficient effective and could earn far more money, human behaviour isn't necessarily logical

[@crazyjack3357]

Watching you talk about the link and pin couplers got me thinking why not use like a metal crowbar or metal log tongs so the brake man could hold up the link and keep his fingers getting crushed

[@Hyce777]

That'd be smarter!

[@SkorjOlafsen]

Or a brakeman's club, since they needed those around anyway.

[@clonkex]

Probably you could, but also the link is quite heavy so you'd need to be pretty strong I think. I'd still be trying it though lol.

[@bobm2331]

This video was extremely well done and thorough. Details were clear with explanations abound. Just when I was ready to "ask a question" here comes the answer. Well done.

[@tracynation2820]

Super. Nice to see the museum again. 💙 T.E.N.

[@Acela2163]

I feel the confusion from Europeans around the Janey name isn't helped by the fact that American sources (including a few from the AAR themselves that I've seen) will also refer to any kind of knuckles as Janey couplers. The one that really gets on my nerves though is when Europeans, particularly from the UK, will sometimes refer to any kind to knuckle as a "tightlock" despite that name being specifically for the Type H pattern knuckle.

[@Acela2163]

Also, I think it would awesome to see you examine some of the other coupler types used like the Scharfenburg or Tomlinson, as well as some of the more idiosyncratic coupler types in use around the world.

[@davidty2006]

There also called buckeyes as well.

[@ethanmeatzie6179]

Can't say it comes as a particular shock to see the dual gauge draw in a video about couplers, but I'm still keen to see a video specifically of it functioning.

[@Hyce777]

We can do that! It's actually not a draw, it's a single point switch. A draw is like a fixed frog, and we have one of those as well on the lead out to the main.

[@BrooksMoses]

@@Hyce777 : I'd love to see a video of the various tricks that are involved in dual-gauge track like that. Also, one thing that I had a surprisingly hard time finding that would go well with that: What was the typical solution for places where one gauge ends but the other keeps going? Is there any way to put a rail-end bumper that won't interfere with the other gauge, or did the rails just end?

[@Hyce777]

​@@BrooksMoses the rail just ended with a sign. It seems a video on this topic is in order. 😊

[@OfficialMilkyFoxChannel]

I thank you for this detailed guide. I could use this for model projects of my own, now I know how pint and link really works!

[@jurassicrailfan]

In Spain we use knuckle couplers exclusively on our narrow gauge (specifically metre gauge) lines on freight trains and locomotive-hauled passenger trains (most passenger trains are EMUs with Scharfenberg or BSI couplers). The variant we use the most is called the AAR-Alliance and it's the same size as the American ones and most of them have a bottom shelf that covers the entire width of the coupler. They replaced older central buffer couplers as the trains got heavier and quickly came close and even surpassed 1000 tonnes in the 80s. It's really cool to see them at work, and even if the trains aren't the biggest ones, the sounds they make are like railway ASMR to me.

[@thatlittlefox.]

My fastest Click so far.

[@treeguyable]

I always picture what goes on with a coupler, when I hear a train starting movement, or stopping, and you hear all the dozens, or hundreds of couplers banging into position. It is like a symphony.

[@Tristan_S346]

This video was so useful for brushing up on all of the different kinds of coupling, thank you for sharing!

[@roberthelie7490]

Not an easy subject to cover. This is an excellent video: educational (I learned a LOT), technically flawless and extremely well illustrated, and very well presented . Thank you very much for sharing your expertise.

[@hanfo420]

Why did noone think about the possibility to hold the link with a rope?

[@Lemonthebird-jv4zl]

Because the rope would snap as it is not strong enough

[@general5104]

THANKS FOR AN EXCELLENT TOUR, chocked plumb full of information.

[@eicdesigner]

Thank you, sir, for a deep dive into a fascinating part of railroad history. Your knowledge and desire to share it is appreciated!

[@Kevin-ms2iz]

Never had much interest in trains but your knowledge on the topic and excellent video editing make these videos super fascinating!

[@vivaayrton]

Showed up in ny recs, great content, Love how patiently you explained everything and made it easy to understand. Great work!

[@tarlekdimeslan7766]

Oh wow I went here last summer, it's really cool to see all the trains here

[@drats1279]

Very interesting information about a part of the train cars I have seen for many years and knew absolutely nothing about. Hyce, you have an enjoyable presentation style which makes your videos even better. thanks for sharing.

[@Filip7370]

Really awesome to take a look at multiple types of "automatic couplers" that can be found in US. For rest of the world I presume mostly the introduction of the knuckles came down to costs. There were small private railroads that wound be able to afford for change from chain screw couplers to knuckles. Both UK and Germany picked chain screw couplers as standard so wherever there was a standard gauge line build outside US "sphere of influence" we had chain screws.

[@BobDiaz123]

Great video and very informative. I'm a volunteer at the Nevada State Railroad Museum in Carson City. While we have several of the couplers you pointed out, we don't have as much of a variety that you have. I'll have to watch this video several times to remember all the different types shown.

[@oloklipsfeltar9675]

This pal tells a wonderful story. He talks about usually uninteresting things in such a way that you have to pay attention! He is extremely kind and cute. I wish him many visitors and good health! ❤👍

[@billarroo1]

VERY interesting, I was a welder on the railroad my main job was welding up the worn surface es on the wheel trucks, the pivot surfaces between the truck and the cars. Hot job we had cool air supplied welding headgear. Great Video. THANKS

[@jackhaley6332]

It is my first time watching one of your videos, and this is some of the best train content I've ever seen

[@barrettwbenton]

As usual, I learn something here I never knew previously. The history of couplers I prett much had down; all the narrow-guage stuff? Not at all. Thanks again for all this, Hyce.

[@KHKH-os6kt]

Well you shed alot of light on how and why trains operate, as my grand kids have CN rail running by at the end of the street. Thankyou.

[@ezekielravenheart3070]

Here in cali, the old sacramento trains have janies, millers, and those types of couples that had two rods on either side of the cars and you need other various chains and sproke things to connect them

[@bruceyoung1343]

Thank You for that. I always wondered having grown up near trains how couplers worked. And the one with the hoops/rings I wondered too. Thank You 🙏

[@trevorj203]

I want to congratulate you. I looked at this video I can't watch a 22 minute video on train couples here I am at the end wishing there was more. I'm not into trains and I thought this video was absolutely amazing You are extensive knowledge it's great keep it up

[@drexcitement9579]

here in the uk we have knuckle couplers but we also have hook ones which mainly appear on early diesels and electric trains and steam ones

[@Physco219]

On nearly every single 1 of your videos i learn something new. This one was no exception and for that i thank you. ❤

[@edgarguinartlopez8341]

Very nice video, thank you! I do love transport machines, but I have especial feelings for trains, many memories. I learned a lot about couplers (and other stuff) history today thanks to you ;)

[@InverhavonRailways]

In the UK loose coaching stock tends to use the "drophead buckeye" coupler, which is basically a smaller buckeye that can be unpinned and swung down to reveal a draw hook. Buffers can then be extended to enable the use of a screw chain coupler. Multiple units use a selection of scharfenberg/Dellner/ Tightlock couplers with varying electrical connection boxes.

[@carlanmiller8911]

Edit: I just realized that's literally what this series is lol You explain things so well and it in a way that's easy to understand, you should do a video on switches, how they work and what happens when you bag them etc go through the different styles if you can I think that would be awesome Or have a mini series where you go through things like how the various handbrake mechanisms work, it would be interesting to be able to show a trainee, here's how thise flat car handbrake that you see once every 4 months works because you need to know etc Obviously you do you, but I think it could be really educational for new hires and even people just generally interested but don't realize how complicated some of the simple thongs are, like couplers in this video! N

[@legoFreak323]

Hello a great job on this video I can't believe I was actually doing the link and pin properly in railroads online you have a great rest of your day

[@tomstalpaert1573]

Interesting information! Here in Belgium, we have 2 EMU's from the 60's and 70's that use a Janney type of knuckle coupler that are still in service today. We call it an Henricot coupler. The locking mechanism is a bit different than the American variant and it has an extra safety pin to prevent tampering. I could send you some detailed pictures if you'd like.

[@leadslinger49]

Good video, thanks. My son and I actually found a Link and two Pins while exploring an abandoned right of way. The line was abandoned in 1933. It was a good find. BTW in 1970 they designed a coupler with extended draw heads for use on tank cars carrying hazardous material. They were designed to resist puncturing other tank cars Incase of derailments. Of course if there was a different type of car next to a tank of hazardous material it didn't help. The drawbar could puncture the ends of a tank.

[@HenrikLaurell]

Everybody knows about link-n-pin and the newer knuckle versions, but at least me never heard the story behind them. Very interesting!! Please continue sir !

[@sjwhitney]

The Miller coupler is certainly a rare breed. Likely the last railroad in the USA to use them was the Boston, Revere Beach and Lynn. It went out of business shortly before WW-2, however, the fact that they were still using Miller couples almost 40 years after knuckle couplers were introduced was astounding. Also, most all diesel locomotives certainly do have draft gear units. Only the smallest switchers do not. You might have wanted to touch upon the fact that western narrow gauge mostly used standard sized couplers whereas most of the resto of the narrow gauge in the USA used couplers that were scaled smaller in size. The two were not able to work with one another.

[@TheDavidcrockett]

One of the most informative videos on this subject ive seen. Good job👍

[@connorjohnson7834]

For a long time New Zealand used a Norwegian/Chopper coupler, which had a round buffer thing with a cutout in the top for a large hook to go between which was often supplemented with safety chains on both sides like bit like a car trailer. The hook was shaped to allow it to ride into the slot itself but often times it would be sat vertical and dropped down once contact was made. In more recent years knuckle couplers have been rolled out initially on the heavy coal trains but for the last 10 years or so they've been progressively rolled out over the main system.

[@VhenRaTheRaptor]

And multiple units use Scharfenbergs.

[@neilcrawford8303]

I was in NZ in 2008, and I remember seeing a locomotive at Dunedin using a transition adaptor coupling to couple the two different patterns together.

[@KU84dh37]

Hyce, great job informing me (and others) about usually unknown aspects of railroading, thanks!!!!! JMS

[@rogerletsom2127]

Thanks again for another educational video! I knew about the Janney and AAR types, but not the Sharon or the Tower. I've also seen references to the MCB and "Buckeye". I've worked as a brakeman on the Sumpter Valley Railway in Eastern Oregon. For some reason I didn't pay very close attention to the types of couplers used.

[@eham757]

Thanks for sharing!! This was really cool to see

[@QuebecGamer20]

Wow, I didn't know There were that many types of couplers. Fascinating! Great video BTW!

[@dick5894]

Another clear and concise video, Hyce. Very well done!

[@stanstockton8483]

Hey Hyce! Thank you so much for this really interesting video! I enjoy trains and I would never have thought to try to understand something as critical as the historical development of this technology. You have an easy-to-follow, clearly-articulated way of describing just enough details to keep viewers interested without overwhelming them. Do you guide tours at the CRM? You have the makings of a very good museum docent, and I would be happy to listen to you on a tour if you ever volunteered to do that! I appreciate your passion for railroads and your desire to share your knowledge...many, many thanks!

[@lassesjov]

I will be honest, I didn't expect to watch this video, but it was very enjoyable and informative! Great work!

[@MemorialRifleRange]

Another thing I didn't know about and now I do! Thank-You!

[@philipnasadowski1060]

Out on the East Coast, a few major commuter railroads use a “pin and cup” type on their electric trains. It has a pin on one side, and a cup next to it. Below, there’s a door, which pops open automatically as the couplers mate up. That makes up the electric and air connections. In bad weather, they will put a “shower cap” on the couplers at the ends of trains, to keep snow and ice out. This idea came out in the ‘60s, and once debugged, has worked well. For rescues, an adaptor plugs into the coupler to let a standard coupler hook on and tow at low speed. Most diesel trains use the standard type.

[@gdub350]

My gosh, that was way more fascinating than I could have hoped for.

[@jamesdrudge]

Nevada State Railroad Museum is also awesome! My wife and I were able to use a handcar to pump ourselves up and down a short piece of track. Lots of fun!

[@teewithmarie694]

I am currently working on an essay about cupplers in my country its so interesting to se the similar starting points and how they evoled

[@tlheart]

Great and informative video. And thanks to the Colorado Railroad museum for letting you film on location.

[@FlaredRadiator]

I got braces just a while ago and had some pain but you made my day teaching me about theses amazing couplers thanks mark.

[@rgsrrofnc]

Great job as usual Hyce! Thank you!