Pdxrailtransit Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Ed Workman Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > 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?

Maybe by the sag in the ceiling alerting someone that lived downstairs? LOL

Dick Samuels