Re: Link and Pin, Miller Hooks?

Miller Hooks and Miller platforms were in part a system to make passenger travel safer. The platform was trussed and sat higher than conventional platforms, and was better at transmitting buffing forces. The Miller hook was a long drawbar... and so bolted to the sills directly near the bolster, instead of onto the cantilevered platform. (the platforms on a wooden passenger car are not part of the car under-frame.)

The Nevada State Railroad Museum, Carson City recreated a set of standard gauge Miller parts based on drawings in the Car Builders Dictionary. The existing couplers on that car and others in the collection were Miller refitted with a Janey head. ( A surprisingly common practice, including the D&RG). The SPCRR created a set of parts based on SP drawings for the couplers on SP 1010. For 3' narrow gauge the couplers are about 3/5 the size of the standard gauge version. We found some of the NG sized parts on Carson & Colorado No 5 in the Orange Empire Grizzly Flats collection to confirm the size.

It was eventually determined that Miller Hooks were only automatic couplers if coupling to other Miller couplers... but not if coupling to Janey or Link and pin.

Apparently the last use was by the Boston, Lynn and Revere Beach in 1940.

Both the Nevada State Railroad Museum and the SPCRR patterns are available for loan to make parts to support other groups recreating this significant coupler.

Randy

Randy Hees

Director, Nevada State Railroad Museum, Boulder City, retired
PacificNG.org - a curated Wiki on Pacific Slope Narrow Gauge www.pacificng.com
Moderator - Railway Preservation News www.rypn.org