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cjmaclean (394 posts)
Oct-10-01, 05:43 AM (EST) "Tech question on Australian RRs" Hi all,
now that I have been able to put my hands on Joe Spinella's AD-60 and C-38 classes, I am a bit puzzled about the couplers used on Australian RRs.
It would seem that on the -60 and -38 there are quite normal buffers, as on European railroads - yet they appear to be equipped with an automatic coupler as on American and Russian railroads.
I have always believed that if automatic couplers are used on a railroad, these couplers also serve as some sort of central buffer (i.e. to keep the distance between cars), so that normal paired buffers are not required.
Now, with regards to Australian railroads, does that mean that there are both vehicles with a) automatic couplers AND a pair of buffers on either end, and b) vehicles with automatic couplers WITHOUT paired buffers?
And, to complete my confusion, somewhere I have read that some vehicles are equipped with BOTH automatic and hook couplers. To me this would mean that there must have been at least a partial "conversion" effort to one coupler type ot the other some time in the past.Can anybody from Down Under enlighten me...?!
Best,D.M. Alert Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top
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Subject Author Message Date ID RE: Tech question on Australian RRs jm1941 Oct-12-01 1 RE: Tech question on Australian RRs cjmaclean Oct-12-01 2 RE: Tech question on Australian RRs Gazza Oct-12-01 3 RE: Tech question on Australian RRs jm1941 Oct-12-01 4

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jm1941 (78 posts)
Oct-12-01, 02:00 AM (EST) 1. "RE: Tech question on Australian RRs" G’day DM, I’m a retired South Australian Railwayman who can only speak for the South Australian Railways and only to a couple of your questions with actual facts. I have a good idea as to other questions but not completely sure on other Auzzie state systems, namely New South Wales Government Railway where the AD60 Garratt and C38’s ran. ******************
>>>>>> I have always believed that if automatic couplers are used on a railroad, these couplers also serve as some sort of central buffer (i.e. to keep the distance between cars), so that normal paired buffers are not required.That’s right, with automatic couplers, buffers are NOT needed as the auto coupler serves that purpose.******************
>>>>>> And, to complete my confusion, somewhere I have read that some vehicles are equipped with BOTH automatic and hook couplers. Well yes, there use to be both on the old South Australian Railway Narrow Gauge.
Originally on the Narrow Gauge all couplings were hook couplings with side chains both sides on all rollingstock.
Just after our 400 class Bayer Garratts came on line in around 1953 the Garratts and all the bogie iron ore trucks (not 4 wheeled trucks) were converted over to the automatic couplings, which left all other rollingstock as hook couplings.To my knowledge the S.A.Railways had NO buffers. (I call them shunter killers) on any of their rollingstock.
Our “T” class 4-8-0 steamer locos had a hook coupling on the front and an automatic coupling at the rear. These engines were use as shunt engines and also for the main line work. Beautiful working engine.
When a train was marshalled using a “T” and a “Garratt” to head it, the “T” was always on the front.
First was the “T” with hook coupling at front with an auto coupler at the rear, coupled to a Garratt with auto couplers both ends. Then the automatic loading, (ore wagons) then all the local HOOK couplings at rear of train including the Brake Van (caboose).All automatic couplings were on the front and the hook couplings on the rear with a HOOK ADAPTER that was fitted onto the hook coupling. By pulling out the hook pin and inserting the Auto ADAPTER and the hook. Then open to auto coupler on ore wagon and couple the train together. Piece of cake, but these Adapters were darn heavy and were finger biters if you were not careful.
NOTE:- We always had to shunt the local loading (always at rear of train) with huge strings. The maximum length allowed on all train was equal 120 (4 wheel) vehicles. Bogie wagons counted as equal to 2 (4 wheel) vehicles.
Those were great days on the Narrow Gauge. Now only memories. To give you some Idea here is what the HOOK to AUTO couplings looks like. Hope this explains this Hook / Automatic coupling better.Regards.
John.
Down Under.
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cjmaclean (394 posts)
Oct-12-01, 04:52 AM (EST) 2. "RE: Tech question on Australian RRs" Thanks for the information. However, I am still puzzled. I know you said your knowledge covered mostly the South Australian RR only, but isn't it true beyond doubt that on the NSWGR AD-60 and C-38 as well as the NSWGR "FS" coaches (at least the simulated ones) BOTH conventional buffers AND an automatic coupler can be found on either end? I'll see if I can get a screenshot to clarify. (I also seem to remember that I have seen both automatic couplers and buffers on Soviet engines and cars from the 30s and 40s.) Remembering that automatic couplers eliminate the need for buffers, what might be the point behind having BOTH on a loco at the same time? Perhaps they just forgot removing the buffers...?D.M. Remove | Alert Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top
Gazza (5 posts)
Oct-12-01, 05:30 AM (EST) 3. "RE: Tech question on Australian RRs" Maybe the info on this page will be of help.
http://www.cia.com.au/bullack/marshal.html
He seems to make a point of knowing everything about this particular subject. Remove | Alert Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top
jm1941 (78 posts)
Oct-12-01, 05:34 PM (EST) 4. "RE: Tech question on Australian RRs" G'day DM,Go to this site and check out the photos in the (C)38 Class part.
Excellent shot of Buffers and Auto couplings on same engine.http://www.railpage.org.au/pix/steam/nsw.htmlSome beautiful shots of 3801 in black livery.Regards,
John
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