In days gone by coupling of vehicles was a relatively
straightforward job, first the three-link, then the screw-link were the order
of the day and they happily matched other vehicles with similar equipment. The
buckeye was introduced for coaching stock, but these are attached to a
three-link hook and can simply be folded down should a non-buckeye vehicle
(e.g. the train locomotive) need to couple up to the coach concerned. The
buffers are of reduced size for buckeye use but are simply pulled out to extend
them to the length required for a screw or three-link attachment. A saddle sits
on the shank of the buffer to stop it moving back in again.
However, with today's railway things are nowhere near as simple with
different types of coupling in use which are frequently incompatible with other
stock. Obviously it is not much of a problem as, for example, one
"tightlock" fitted Networker is only going to be coupled to another.
However, there are times when there is a need to couple stock with incompatible
fittings, e.g. when dragging a failed unit for repair, and to do this special
Translator Vehicles are used. The idea is so simple, one that has been used on
model railways for many, many years, consisting of a vehicle with different
couplings at each end! |