...Here ya go fella's! Anyone with any foresight from older designs an stories on these an what the first was ?? Where ya at Watash ole buddy!? [ 29. May 2003, 06:49: Message edited by: 7600EM_1 ]
John- I remember when I worked the rip/finishing tracks at PC&F. One of the jobs I had was taking apart sticky knuckles, and grinding them so they'd open without so much fuss. Flash and rough areas in the castings. I nice two man hernia making way to get sweaty! Boxcab E50
Ken, The location I took that picture really got my attention. Those knuckles were on a MOW flat car rail, thats used to transport the small yellow machinery like spikers, spike pullers, small tampers etc. BUT I noticed I know at least 20 broken knuckles on the ground in different locations on the number 1 track which is up grade.... I knew CSX had trouble with Sand Patch an being steep, but all the broken knuckles proves the grades steepness!
No no no...you break them, you have to answer all kinds of questions from your friendly local Road Foreman and have your event tapes read, not to mention the tense conversation with your conductor about train handling techniques. Not my favorite pastime if it can be avoided.
These are still a lot better than the old link and pin jobs! The photo John posted is of those new fangled up-side-down kind. I guess they designed this kind so hobos would have a comfortable place to sit? The right side up couplers had a big advantage over these. We could see the lock pin fall if the impact was enough to "make" the couple. It would be sort of iffy on those new ones. I only heard of one knuckle that broke on an engine, it was the cars that got the broken knuckles. But maybe that was just back in the steam days?
Watash, I believe the ones I seen broken on the ground was from cars on the end of the train either being pulled alone an not pushed an the rear cars had alot of stress on the knucles, OR it was with a train that had helpers an they were coupled alittle to hard an all.. which it was I don't know! But I know their was the fist part of the knukle in multiples laying around!
That could be John. Another thing is when the string of cars going over the top begin to roll forward gaining speed from slack, and jerk forward on the pusher engine. As I remember, engine couplers are made from Black Diamond tool steel so they will take the beating. So, if the cars suddenly jerk forward and the pusher engine is still going slower, the cars try to move the mass of that big engine and the weakest link is the car's knuckle, and even the fist sometimes will shatter! You are also right about when a big engine runs up to couple too hard, it can shatter the fist. We were told that when coupling up, "At up to two miles an hour, it is a couple, but at 4 miles an hour, it is a collision!"
Watash, Your right too it could have been the ineria that also broke them! I didn't even give that thought! Being the slack of the cars going up an over an pushing on the loco's coupler... Very well possible!
