Knuckle pins and trains of thought

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
1

First , I am a great admirer of Tony Koester.

Tonite is was re- reading the April issue of MR I paused on the trains of thought and can confirm that the knuckle pin does NOT handle any of the draft forces of a train. In fact after the coupler knuckle is closed the knuckle pin may be removed with no effect on the train. The primary purpose of the knuckle pin is to keep the knuckle from falling out when the cars are uncoupled. As railroad employees we are instructed to stand clear of the knucke when we open it for fear that the pin is missing or broken and the heavy knuckle would fall on someones foot. Sometimes only the top most portion of the pin is still intact, the rest of the pin is laying on the right of way someplace. Today knuckle pins are made out of plastic , on our railroad we don’t even stock steel knuckle pins anymore. Knuckle pins plastic or steel are broken by rough coupling, bypassing drawbars,or slamming cars together with both knuckles closed.

Randy

2

Randy,

You’ve been “spoofed”. Tony’s article was in the April issue which, annually, publishes news and articles about such things as pressurized basements, NO-TRACK clubs, and the duties of firemen during an operating session.

Been had myself,

Chip

3

Oh , I see, I have seen discussions about this topic , its not the first time people have accused the knuckle pin of being what it isn’t.

april fools…

4

Plastic knuckle pins? Now we’ll instead have to add brakshoes to the grips of the of the guys who travel too lite.

5

Ties plates work too… We still have plenty of 90 lb plates around, and some for smaller sections of rail.

6

Randy:As railroad employees we are instructed to stand clear of the knucke when we open it for fear that the pin is missing or broken and the heavy knuckle would fall on someones foot.

Actually I was taught never to stand in front of the coupler but,open the knuckle from the side.

Lift uncoupling bar,reach in and open knuckle from the side.

The only time I had to fool with a knuckle pin was to remove it in the process of replacing a broken knuckle.