Re: coupler size list- Miller Hook is legal Automatic coupler

The Miller Hook was a legal automatic coupler per the description of the Safety Appliance Act of 3/2/1893 and could operate on interstate trains as the B&M did so. This is why the Miller Hook had a hole in its shaft for the pin used in the coupler of the MCB type. It is also why the MCB coupler's knuckle was slotted on the engine and tender. The engine and tender couplers were not covered by the Safety Appliance Act of 1893 as its only described jurisdiction was over "Cars that handle interstate and foreign commerce". Private company work equipment was not covered and has never been covered by SAA, ICC, or FRA. There is no Federal Jurisdiction if there is no interstate or foreign commerce, so says the existing United States Constitution.

The railroads in 1903, when the SAA became effective, moved the non-compliance cars into intrastate movements, and MofW service. That ended when the Atlanta District Court on 10/30/1911 made a ruling on SRR v USA, where the judge claimed he did NOT have jurisdiction, but ruled that all cars handling commerce on the interconnected lines in America would be compliance cars only. It was never appealed by any railroad, and the remainder of the non-compliance cars was up-graded, put into M of W service, disposed of to a private railroad or scrapped.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/02/2010 10:57AM by John E. Bull.