Gresley corridor coach buffers.
Moderators: 52D, Tom F, Rlangham, Atlantic 3279, Blink Bonny, Saint Johnstoun, richard
Gresley corridor coach buffers.
Anyone know the reason for the top of the buffer heads being cut off flat? I can only think of it giving a safer footrest for the likes of the Guard putting on a tail lamp, or is there some other better reason?
Re: Gresley corridor coach buffers.
The most logical answer I have heard to date is...
When the buffers are in the retracted (buckeye coupled) position the buffer heads are close to the body end, in the event of a loco incorrectly attempting to buffer up in this position the clipped head clears the body. When fully compressed the coach buffer face is level with the body end so the loco buffer does not hit the body (allegedly!).
When the buffers are in the retracted (buckeye coupled) position the buffer heads are close to the body end, in the event of a loco incorrectly attempting to buffer up in this position the clipped head clears the body. When fully compressed the coach buffer face is level with the body end so the loco buffer does not hit the body (allegedly!).
-
65447
- LNER A4 4-6-2 'Streak'
- Posts: 1778
- Joined: Fri Oct 19, 2007 2:44 pm
- Location: Overlooking the GEML
Re: Gresley corridor coach buffers.
Don't forget also that there were different buffer types (stocks and heads) for non-vestibuled and vestibuled stock and that prior to the clipped top type the buffer heads for vestibuled stock were oval.
The headstock is fitted square across the end of the underframe while, on vestibuled stock, the carriage ends are bowed out by 9" beyond the headstock (e.g. a 61' 6" over body carriage sits on a 60' underframe). Additionally there are various bits and bobs attached to the lower part of the carriage end which project further above the buffer position. The clipped top ensures that a buffer in the fully retracted position will not foul the body. Because of the bowing, greater clearance is necessary as you move towards the centre of the carriage. There's a photo at the top of p.17 of Harris' LNER Carriages (Atlantic) that shows the end view, and one at the foot of the previous page that allows you to perceive that, once the sleeves are removed and the buffers fully retracted, the buffer head sits just under the end of the body.
The headstock is fitted square across the end of the underframe while, on vestibuled stock, the carriage ends are bowed out by 9" beyond the headstock (e.g. a 61' 6" over body carriage sits on a 60' underframe). Additionally there are various bits and bobs attached to the lower part of the carriage end which project further above the buffer position. The clipped top ensures that a buffer in the fully retracted position will not foul the body. Because of the bowing, greater clearance is necessary as you move towards the centre of the carriage. There's a photo at the top of p.17 of Harris' LNER Carriages (Atlantic) that shows the end view, and one at the foot of the previous page that allows you to perceive that, once the sleeves are removed and the buffers fully retracted, the buffer head sits just under the end of the body.
-
Dave
- LNER A4 4-6-2 'Streak'
- Posts: 1733
- Joined: Sat Nov 13, 2010 9:33 pm
- Location: Centre of the known universe York
Re: Gresley corridor coach buffers.
I don`t know why they changed the design from oval to clipped, but the oval pattern has a flat top and bottom of approx 6 inches, which could have been used as a step just like the clipped type.
-
James Brodie
- GER D14 4-4-0 'Claud Hamilton'
- Posts: 333
- Joined: Fri Dec 21, 2007 9:13 pm
- Location: North Yorkshire Moors.
Re: Gresley corridor coach buffers.
Sirs, with oval and round buffers two patterns are needed but with round and clipped,one pattern does the job.-,Maybe?
Jim Brodie.
Jim Brodie.