Re: Melbourne or General rail FAQ's

[Mark Bau <markbau@altavista.com>]

> From: "Mathew Klock" <klocm@stbedes.melb.catholic.edu.au>
> Newsgroups: aus.rail
> Date: Tue, 11 Apr 2000 00:03:23 +1000
> Subject: Re: Melbourne or General rail FAQ's
> 
> Hi all,
> 
> Maybe this is the best time to ask my question..
> 
> Could someone please explain how they couple both the hitachi sets and
> comeng sets please - as in joining  2x 3 sets together
> 
> 
> Thankls
> 
> 
> Klocky
> 
> 

Hitachi's are joined just like you join two goods wagons or 2 of anything
except a Comeng. The coupler holds the two cars together and a brake pipe is
connected. Additionaly a main reservoir pipe is connected and finally a
multiple unit cable which relays all of the electrical signals from the
control cab to all the other cars, telling them to power, brake, drop
panto's, open/close doors whatever.

Comeng's in essence are the same except the connections are all made through
the Sharfenburg (SP?) coupler. Also, the actual coupler inside a Sharfenburg
is quite small and cannot haul nearly the load of a regulat cast knuckle
coupler.

Mark