THE STEAM LOCOMOTIVE 



U. S. Government, influenced by the appalling loss of 

 life among the brakemen, passed laws compelling all 

 cars to be equipped with some form of automatic coup- 

 ling device, and naturally the Janney coupling was the 

 one adopted. In using this coupling the brakeman did 

 not have to step into the dangerous position between 

 the cars, either for making the coupling, or disconnect- 

 ing the car. The act of coupling was done automatic- 

 ally, while the uncoupling was effected by the use of a 

 lever operated from the side of the car. 



A somewhat technical description of this coupling 

 is as follows: 



"The Janney coupling consists of a steel jaw fitted 

 on one side with a knuckle or L-shaped lever turning 

 on a vertical pin; this knuckle when being swung in- 

 ward lifts a locking pin which subsequently drops and 

 so prevents the return of the knuckle. An identical 

 coupler is fitted to the end of the adjacent vehicle, and, 

 so long as both or either of the knuckles are open when 

 the vehicles come into contact, coupling will be effected; 

 to uncouple, it is only necessary to raise either of the 

 locking pins, by means of a chain or lever at the side 

 of the vehicle. The knuckles have each a hole in them 

 to permit of the use of the old link and pin coupler, 

 when such a fitting is met with. At first, this coupling 

 gave some trouble through the locking pins occasion- 

 ally creeping upward, but in the larger model, which 

 represents the later form, there is an automatic locking 

 pawl that prevents this motion ; owing, however, to the 

 pawl being attached to the lifting shackle, it in no way 

 interferes with the pin being raised when disconnecting." 



[149] 



