Re: Switching Rules?

As a 14 year veteran Switchman for the Frisco, I can address this question with some authority. As someone else stated, it depends on which side of the cut of cars you are on. When you "pull the pin" (lift the cut lever.) If you are pulling the pin on the end of the car that is going into the track, the knuckle of the coupler will be closed on the car that is still attached to your train, unless you take the time to open it before you kick the next car or cars into the yard. This doesn't happen often as you are placing yourself in danger if the trains should move when you don't expect it to.
Even if you have the knuckle open on the car going into the track, sometimes the impact against cars already in the track will cause the knuckle of the coupler to close. The result will be that both knuckles will be closed when the next car comes into the track. That is why a switchman must go "couple up" a track to make up a train.