by ANDY117
Where would lower shelf couplers like McHenry's be used? I know the uppper and lower shelf is used on tank cars, but are these used on locomotives also?
ANDY117 wrote:Where would lower shelf couplers like McHenry's be used? I know the uppper and lower shelf is used on tank cars, but are these used on locomotives also?
http://www.greatlakesrailcar.com/couplers.htm
This is an odd little page; while it does discuss the various types of couplers (including ones no longer allowed on the 'General Railway System' of North America -heh), it seems geared to 'Private Varnish' more than freight usage - in any event, type F (lower shelf) IS recommended for private passenger cars [search on that page for 'AAR standard type F'], which is odd, since the page states Type E (double shelf, used mainly for tank cars as you also noted) IS NOT recommended for private passenger cars...
From the page:
The type F is very legal to use on passenger cars, and it is applied to many of the passenger locomotives currently being produced. They have type F couplers installed from the factory. There are also many private passenger cars in operation with NRPC 800xxx numbers that have type F couplers. The type F coupler meets and exceeds all intents of the NTSB recommendation for a tightlock or interlocking coupler on all passenger cars operating on the General Railway System. GLR has generated the physical properties for which the original manufacturers obtained AAR approval on 5 type F couplers specifically for the conversion of passenger cars with older type couplers intended for operation in predominately freight service. Great Lakes Railcar's web site is kin ... around...