Wagon Couplings

[Doomotron]

I know that there are plenty of wagons using buckeye (or similar couplings) and there are others that still use hook and chain connections. What I don't know is what the proportion between them is. I'd assume most wagons use buckeyes now (not knowing much about freight in the UK) but I don't know that for sure.

 

[hwl]

I know that there are plenty of wagons using buckeye (or similar couplings) and there are others that still use hook and chain connections. What I don't know is what the proportion between them is. I'd assume most wagons use buckeyes now (not knowing much about freight in the UK) but I don't know that for sure.

It will probably be about 97-98% screwlink and the remainder buckeye at the moment. One of the main users of buckeye was EWS/DBC for their newer coal wagons which are now gathering rust.

 

[Irascible]

I know that there are plenty of wagons using buckeye (or similar couplings) and there are others that still use hook and chain connections. What I don't know is what the proportion between them is. I'd assume most wagons use buckeyes now (not knowing much about freight in the UK) but I don't know that for sure.

There is a difference between 3-link, which is the traditional "hook & chain" & is loose-coupled - ie buffers don't touch unless the engine is braking - and screw-link which is what modern stuff uses; with screw-link you literally screw the wagons together to add some tension, so it's not quite as bad as it seems.

Anything still around using Instanter couplings?