Scharfenberg coupler on a Southeastern Class 395Video of ICE T coupling at Leipzig Hauptbahnhof
A coupling or coupler is a mechanism, typically located at each end of a rail vehicle, that connects them together to form a train. The equipment that connects the couplers to the vehicles is the draft gear or draw gear, which must absorb the stresses of the coupling and the acceleration of the train.
Throughout the history of railroading, a variety of coupler designs and types have been developed worldwide. Key design considerations include strength, reliability, easy and efficient handling, and operator safety. Automatic couplers engage automatically when the cars are pushed together. Modern versions not only provide a mechanical connection, but can also couple brake lines and data lines.
Different countries use different types of couplers. While North American railroads and China use Janney couplers, railroads in the former Soviet Union use SA3 couplers and the European countries use screw couplers. Challenges and complications arise when coupling vehicles with different couplers. Barrier cars, also called match cars, cars with dual couplers, or adapters are used to accomplish this task.
standard screw coupling, shown attached and tightened The link-and-pin coupling was the original style of coupling used on North American railways. After most...
A coupling is a device used to connect two shafts together at their ends for the purpose of transmitting power. The primary purpose of couplings is to...
International Union of Railways (UIC) standard railwaycoupling used in the EU and UK, and on some surviving former colonial railways, such as in South America...
Janney couplers are a semi-automatic form of railwaycoupling that allow rail cars and locomotives to be securely linked together without rail workers...
Digital automatic coupling (DAC) is a type of railwaycoupling developed in the 2020's to replace the English buffers and chain couplings, initially in Europe...
The railcar couplers or couplings listed, described, and depicted below are used worldwide on legacy and modern railways. Compatible and similar designs...
Scharfenbergkupplung, abbreviated Schaku) is a commonly used type of fully automatic railwaycoupling. Designed in 1903 by Karl Scharfenberg in Königsberg, Germany (today...
From time to time, a railway decides that it needs to upgrade its coupling system from one that is proving unsatisfactory, to another that meets future...
World Railways, lists the coupler(s) used on any railway system Length over headstocks Multi-function couplers RailwaycouplingRailwaycoupling by country...
inventor of the curveball. In 1873, Cummings invented a railwaycoupling device, improving on the coupling device then in use, which was dangerous. He patented...
railwaycouplings used primarily in Russia and states influenced by the former Soviet Union, such as Finland, Poland, and Mongolia. Russian railways originally...
A fluid coupling or hydraulic coupling is a hydrodynamic or 'hydrokinetic' device used to transmit rotating mechanical power. It has been used in automobile...
and some freight cars of the Indian Railways are fitted with a 'transition coupler' that incorporates a screw coupling within a knuckle coupler: the knuckle...
A Norwegian coupling or coupler (also known colloquially as a chopper coupling or claw hammer coupling), is a manually operated coupling at each end of...
network size List of countries by rail usage Railwaycoupling by country List of locomotive builders List of railway companies List of rolling stock manufacturers...
The term rolling stock in the rail transport industry refers to railway vehicles, including both powered and unpowered vehicles: for example, locomotives...
systems by country Level crossings by country Rail transport by country Railwaycoupling by country School bus by country Speed limits by country Taxis by country...
AAR Corporation, an American aviation engineering company AAR coupling, railwaycoupling specification of the Association of American Railroads AAR wheel...
century. The first passenger railway, the Stockton and Darlington Railway, opened in 1825. The quick spread of railways throughout Europe and North America...
Romanian buses and trolleybuses Digital automatic coupling, a railwaycoupling Dahinsara Junction railway station, Gujarat, India, station code DAC DAC Air...
semi-trailers) or be quickly detachable (as the dolly in a road train or in railway bogie exchange). It may include a suspension component within it (as most...
The Caledonian Railway 812 and 652 Classes were 0-6-0 steam tender locomotives designed by John F. McIntosh for the Caledonian Railway and introduced...
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