A picture (video)
The expression ‘pulling the pin’ is definitely still used. But the ‘pin’ it refers to would more accurately be called the ‘locking block’ (the thing that keeps the knuckle from swinging open).
Non-cushioned drawbars do have a pin to hold the drawbar in the car, it goes through the big round hole at the inside end of the drawbar.
Over the last half-century, usually with an older car, have seen cases where the Drawbars stayed ‘in’ the Car, but about 1/3 of Car separated from other 2/3 from top to bottom.
Thank You.
Common advice when coupling cars - making sure the “pin” drops…
Oh yes, I always watch for that and make sure to show new trainees how to tell if a joint made just by looking at it.
Sometimes the pin won’t drop completely and it will pass the initial stretch test, but it will give way later when more force is applied, causing the knuckle to open. This has led to several incidents over the years.
https://www.bst-tsb.gc.ca/eng/rapports-reports/rail/2015/r15t0173/r15t0173.html
https://www.bst-tsb.gc.ca/eng/rapports-reports/rail/2018/R18Q0046/R18Q0046.html
https://www.bst-tsb.gc.ca/eng/rapports-reports/rail/2017/R17V0096/R17V0096.html
I’m sure there are more.