Re: F&CC cabooses 05 & 06

It is interesting to note that the couplers on F&CC Caboose 05 and 06 were "Sams Automatic". This was an early attempt to make a link & pin coupler comply as an automatic coupler. Many other railroads, including the Virginia & Truckee, Carson & Colorado, D&RG and C&S used the Sam's, which was essentially a link & pin coupler with a lift-bar and a unique pin that rested in a raised position until contacted by a link, at which time the pin fell into locked position. David Moffatt was listed as the president of the Sams Automatic Coupler Co. with general offices at 515 Equitable Building in Denver, CO. However the Master Car Builder's Association determined that the Sams coupler did not meet the requirements for a fully operational automatic coupler. A working example of a Sams can be found on a car at the Ardenwood group's operation in California. Perhaps Randy Hess can tell us more.