Re: Sams Coupler and Pin

Brian Norden Wrote:
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> Earl,
> It seemed to work well -- if you were coupling to
> another Sams equipped car, the brakeman did not
> have to be between cars when coupling or
> uncoupling. Apparently the ICC accepted the
> concept as being automatic. However, the Master
> Car Builders Assocaiation (MCB ), representing the
> railroads had already had a preference for the
> Janney style coupler.
>
> Brian


Of course they preferred the knuckle coupler--it was a significant improvement. While the Sam's met the conditions for the law, it still had the same problems with excessive slack and failure to break apart in the event of a turnover that link couplers always suffered from. It wouldn't have been any stronger than conventional link couplers, either, which in an era of increasing train weights was already turning into a problem before the Sam's was even developed.