I’ve seen a few passenger locos with front couplers in a lowered position where the coupler is dropped into an ‘out the way’ position. The lowering and raising of the coupler appears to be accomplished by turning the linked handles either side of the front of the engine. How much effort did this take? Considering the weight of a cast coupler, lifting this to the up position must have taken a great deal of strength. How was it done?
Barry
You are talking about something called a drop coupler. Put drop coupler into the Google search box and you’ll come up with some links.
I also found a youtube video of a guy that has made a large scale version of a drop coupler. He gives a pretty good explanation as to how it works: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=khmFBGqzPYU
The link handles you listed are used for uncoupling by lifting the pin by the brakeman and not for lifting the coupler. The coupler is very heavy, it must be man handled into position. It is on a pivot pin but it takes some force to lift the coupler into place.
CZ
Here in the UK most locos have both old style hook and (screw) link couplers combined with drop buckeye couplers. When the Buckeye isn’t in use it is usually dropped.
The design is significant. What we are dealing with is a dirty great big lump of metal hanging from a thick pivot pin. The heaviest part is furthest from the pivot. When down it just hangs by its own weight. When up it is held in place by a horizontal pin sideways through the shank close to the pivot.
Raising a dropped Buckeye is a doddle when you know how. You use physics (Newtons Law of equal and opposite whatsits IIRC). :-
Check that none of your clothing will get hooked into anything.
Check that the ground/ballast you are on will give you good support, is not slippy and there are no trip risks: if necessary move the loco. (Crew don’t want to move the loco? Coupler stays down).
Check the condition of the coupler:- is it “new”/clean, “old”/messed and is where it’s rising to clean and clear? Give the coupler a test prod to see how freely it swings (or doesn’t).
Hold supporting pin in right hand ('cos it’s on the left side of the coupler looking from the loco - which is the wrong way round for right handed people).
If it’s clean shove the Buckeye lower end (the jaw) as far away from you (back under the loco) as it will go. Let go. Scoop the forward swing with the left fore arm. Thump the coupler right up to the top of the movement.
Shove the supporting pin into place.
Let go and stand back smartly.
Keeping all body parts clear check that everything is where it sho