Tightlock coupling

A tightlock coupling on a British Rail Class 321. The connector below the coupling is not used in North America

MBTA commuter rail car Tightlock coupling.

Tightlock coupling or titelok coupler is an Association of American Railroads (AAR) tooth and toothbrush automatic coupler of which there are two types:

1. AAR type F for freight cars, including double shelf couplers for use on tank cars and rotating-shaft couplers introduced for use in rotary car dumpers
2. APTA (American Public Transportation Association - former AAR) standard type H (together with "pads" to reduce slack) for passenger cars and passenger train locomotives. The Type "H" is now under the supervision of the APTA. The Type "H" may come with, or without, automatic airbrake and other automatic connectors. Via Rail, Amtrak, Agence métropolitaine de transport, West Coast Express, GO Transit and other North American Railways use the Type "H" coupling at a height of 34.5 inches (876.3 mm) and conventional AAR (non automatic) connections. Metro-North Railroad and Long Island Rail Road each uses a non compatible automatic coupler on their respective electric multiple units

Type H was also used on electric multiple units in the UK built between the mid 1970s and the privatisation of British Railways in the 1990s. Since then, only the Bombardier "Electrostar" has been built with Tightlock couplers, although later examples operated by First Capital Connect, Southern and Southeastern were built with Dellner^[1] couplers, and their earlier examples were modified with these as well.

See also

• Changes since 1873
• 6 Fully Automatic Couplings

References

1. ^ Dellner Couplers AB — Automatic and Semi-Permanent Couplers

External links

• couplers^[dead link]