As part of my quest to document narrow gauge restoration techniques, the number one request was to provide instructional video for installing a coupler on a D&RGW car. I had written up a Chronicler Report for a Drop Bottom Gon, referring to the "cheek plate" castings, and the reviewer came back with a "What the Hell is a Cheek Plate?" I must admit that those of us who have tried to install a coupler on a gondola, boxcar, or caboose, will probably never forget that episode. Or we have another series of names for them, prefixed with 4-letter words. So I'm looking around for any sort of reference material that might do a better job of describing the coupler mounting concept and draft gear which a description of how they are supposed to be installed.

There's a nice Wabtec document on how modern Type E andF draft gear works, it sure would be nice if there was something like that for older cars. [www.wabtec.com]

I did find this interesting document online; it doesn't tell me what it is, but it does tell me that Cheek Plates is a real term.

Bill Kepner