Re: Break-in-two
Author: Pdxrailtransit
Date: 05-30-2014 - 10:34
Ed Workman Wrote:
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> The MCB et al spent a TREMENDOUS amount of time
> and effort to achieve adequate couplers. Then the
> USRA did a TREMENDOUS amount of work on draft
> gear. That work continued into the 60s to
> 'perfect" long travel gear to reduce shocks.
> Tank cars, and passenger cars, to name two, don't
> like separation- it leads to telescoping and
> rollover.
> As in EVERYTHING ELSE, except maybe, and that's
> maybe, for space travel, absolute is unachievable
> There is no justification for an indestructible
> knuckle, nor good reason to make it an intentional
> weak link. Start your homework for couplers
> around, say 1885. In the ensuing years hundreds of
> couplers were abused to failure- MCB standards
> even included a special testing machine etc.
> O yes, a knuckle is heavy, more than once I've
> played trainmaster to a crew who had to walk a
> replacement back 50 cars- they were grateful.
> I once had a complete coupler, ripped off a tank
> car in a derailment, in my dorm room, on the
> second floor. The Special Agent suggested I put it
> on the RR's local scrap pile.
Do tell more. How did the Special Agent learn of your dorm ornament?