Re: Sams Couplers

The SAM was a "automatic" version of a link and pin drawbar. As such it qualified under the 1893 Railway Safety Appliances act as a coupler. The requirement of that act required that the couplers could be coupled and uncoupled without a man going between the cars.

The pin was a "X" cross section, retained by a tall extension of the casting, attached to a cutting bar. The cross wing on the pin rested on top of the link, holding it horizontal so it would go into the mouth of a link and pin without a man's hand holding it up.

They were invented in Denver. The D&RG, F&CC, and several of the Silverton roads used them, as well as the Virginia & Truckee and Carson & Colorado. The SAM company sold the steel pins, but would let the railroad cast its own drawbars (but also offered drawbars in both grey iron and malleable iron.) SAM claimed that on railroad where they cast their own drawheads the cost was less than $10.00 per car.

Randy Hees

Director, Nevada State Railroad Museum, Boulder City, retired
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