hank Wrote:
=======================================================
> rehunn Wrote:
> ==================================================
> =====
> > Couplers are only one item of the subsection,
> no
> > one said that automatic
> > couplers weren't safer. They were developed not
> as
> > a safety device but
> > rather a more expedient way to couple and
> uncouple
> > cars and carry the
> > ever increasing train loads.
>
> Actually Janney couplers (the type used in the USA
> since 1903)*were* developed primarily for safety.
> At least in every reference I've ever seen, Mr
> Janney was appalled when he discovered, in the
> late 1860's, why all the brakemen & conductors he
> met were misssing fingers and set out to create a
> safer coupling device. Although he did so witin a
> few years, the industry refused to adopt it for
> around 30 years, staying with link & pin until
> forced by a Federal law in the 1890's.
>
> hank
See my reply to Jeff Ramsey above .......
Link & Pins stayed around for awhile even after the mandate: "December 13, 1902: For the last time, the New York Central Yard in Elkhart IN switches a car equipped with a link and pin coupler." (New-York_central Yahoo Group) ---- Never went away on some insulars like Westside Lumber.
Yes, L&Ps were more dangerous. Janneys never completely made coupling safe, though; depends upon good safety practices even today. Many errant crewmen have met their end with them, too. Being "coupled-up" became a hazard, which has been fixed by making the engineer back cars up a certain distance from each other before going in-between to realigning a drawbar. ---- But you'll still see somebody breaking that rule. Ever kick a drawbar over with your foot when making the joint? Ever realign a drawbar with 6 feet or so between the cars? Some years ago I remember watching a South Shore crew kicking out cars in a yard in Indiana .... switchman ran out in front of the rolling boxcar and ran between rails opening the closed knuckle, then jogging back out of the way. Something not even I would do!!
So, yes, link couplers were dangerous, but I still say it had more to do with the people working with them.
Cheers,
Skip Luke
Switchman (ret): Grand Canyon Railway;
Engineer (ret): Georgetown Loop RR Inc., Sumpter Valley Ry., Monticello & Sangamon Valley;
Dispatcher(ret): Illinois Central, White Pass & Yukon, Burlington Northern Ry.
Mariner, Musician, Miner