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Interesting third rail traction device.
For all of You Train Lovers
- Thread starter khryslerkid
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j-c-c-62
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Another dumb question, why mostly on foreign trains do we see those push pads F&R on the train cars, and seldom? if ever on American trains?
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It's just a matter of standardization. When a group of countries is together, you'll see similar designs so that they can interchange across borders. Those push pads that you see on British Commonwealth trains are buffers, usually with steel springs and hydraulic dampening to prevent jarring when the cars are coupled up, and also to maintain distance between cars so the chain links don't get slack and undo.
You don't see that on North American rail cars, also South American, African and a few other countries. They don't need the buffer pads because the coupler had a 'draft gear' inside, sort of a shock absorber that cushions impacts from coupling. Certain types of cars, such as auto racks for carrying cars, have long stroke hydraulic cushion devices to protect delicate loads. The couplers that we use were developed about 140 years ago as a safer method of attaching cars and are now widely used. It's easy to couple and uncouple cars without the need to step in between rail cars, the operating lever (handle) can be reached from the outside of the side of the car.
This photo shows the usual underslung uncoupling lever on the green painted car, while the top example is an older top draw release that pulls through a hole in the coupler casting. The bottom coupler has a 'coupler cap' (plate with three dimples) welded over the hole previously used for the top operating mechanism, newer couplers are cast solid and don't even have the hole there any more.
You don't see that on North American rail cars, also South American, African and a few other countries. They don't need the buffer pads because the coupler had a 'draft gear' inside, sort of a shock absorber that cushions impacts from coupling. Certain types of cars, such as auto racks for carrying cars, have long stroke hydraulic cushion devices to protect delicate loads. The couplers that we use were developed about 140 years ago as a safer method of attaching cars and are now widely used. It's easy to couple and uncouple cars without the need to step in between rail cars, the operating lever (handle) can be reached from the outside of the side of the car.
This photo shows the usual underslung uncoupling lever on the green painted car, while the top example is an older top draw release that pulls through a hole in the coupler casting. The bottom coupler has a 'coupler cap' (plate with three dimples) welded over the hole previously used for the top operating mechanism, newer couplers are cast solid and don't even have the hole there any more.
Last edited:
j-c-c-62
Well-Known Member
Cool, Thanks 
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