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1905 Combination Link & Pin / Automatic Coupler
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Author:  Jason Midyette [ Sun Apr 06, 2025 10:19 am ]
Post subject:  1905 Combination Link & Pin / Automatic Coupler
In this photo we see Kansas City Southern 4-6-0 No. 332 posed with its crew in Shreveport, Louisiana in 1905.

No. 332 is sporting something on its pilot that I had never seen before, a combination link & pin / automatic coupler. From what I can tell, the link & pin drawbar is always there and ready and the automatic coupler can be flipped down and up as needed. It is also interesting to note that the automatic coupler has a fixed knuckle and that there are no pin lifters / cut levers on the locomotive.

Interesting to see that link & pin couplers stayed around for a while.

EDIT - I'm FIRED! Looking at the photo closer, it is apparent that it is just a fold down coupler whose mounting casting, for some reason, extends down and out to the front of the pilot. Still interesting in that it has a fixed knuckle.

Jason Midyette

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Author:  softwerkslex [ Sun Apr 06, 2025 12:08 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: 1905 Combination Link & Pin / Automatic Coupler
Back in the day when they were really serious about the whole "cow catcher" thing, my guess is they were concerned that the cow would be gored by the coupler and held fast on the pilot. If the coupler was rarely used, then folding it away made sense.

In reality, engines double-headed quite often, and folding the coupler away was more trouble than it was worth. Note also there is no air brake hose. They were that confident that coupling in the front was not going to happen.
Author:  mldeets [ Sun Apr 06, 2025 11:42 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: 1905 Combination Link & Pin / Automatic Coupler
Though quite fuzzy, the engine behind the prime subject looks to have the coupler folded down and an air hose hanging in place.............PD
Author:  QJdriver [ Tue Apr 08, 2025 4:31 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: 1905 Combination Link & Pin / Automatic Coupler
The #332 looks to have an angle cock on the engineer's side, this was often done so the engineer could see his helper go in between to cut in the air...

Thanks for posting this, in all my years of model railroading, I've never before seen a "prototype" dummy coupler.
Author:  Randy Gustafson [ Wed Apr 09, 2025 9:23 am ]
Post subject:  Re: 1905 Combination Link & Pin / Automatic Coupler
It's not quite the same thing, but there were more than a few logging companies that used link and pin way after it was banned for interchange, and the way it was done was to both slot the knuckle and drill it for a pin.

The other solution was to put in a combination coupler pocket that had the link and pin pockets under the knuckle drawhead.

Porter-built Wheeler & Dusenbury 0-6-4t 3 with a slotted knuckle:
http://www.randgust.com/wd3.jpg
(the headlight survives in the PA logging museum in Galeton)

Lima-built Hickory Valley (W&D) 2-6-0 #5, with a slotted knuckle, and a dual drawhead for link and pin below it, can't say as I've ever seen this elsewhere.
http://www.randgust.com/hv5b.jpg

They used link and pin log buggies right up to the bitter end, and no air either.
http://www.randgust.com/loadr1.jpg
Note how LOW the pin socket is on that car, hence the dual pocket on #5

My father took both photos as the line was being shut down in 1938.

Climax was a little more dynamic, they used standard link and pin drawheads on Climax A's and made a knuckle adapter to fit in them for the handful that used it like US Fruit in California.
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