Re: B or A class

[keithm@commslab.gov.au (Dave Malcolm)]

In article <37745DE9.2A0B2E2A@smartchat.net.au> Rod Gayford <rjaygee@smartchat.net.au> writes:
>From: Rod Gayford <rjaygee@smartchat.net.au>
>Subject: Re: B or A class
>Date: Sat, 26 Jun 1999 14:58:18 +1000

>Probably a bit different perhaps due to fitting of heavier draft gear and tight
>lock auto couplers. Never were fitted with buffers.  Can any body shed any light
>on why the old NSWGR persisted with buffers on passenger stock for so long. The
>42 Class came out with hook couplers as did the air conditioned sets which had
>autos inter mediate but hooks on the terminal cars. The 38 Class originally had
>hook couplings on the tender and appeared to change to auto set up about same
>time the 42 Class changed to auto. On the other hand the 40 class may have been
>delivered with autos but the two painted blue for the royal train of 1954 both
>had draw hooks applied (at both ends?). I never understood why the NSWGR
>persisted with buffers on diesels until the order for the 80 & 85 Class locos.
>Any ideas?

>Cheers

>Rod Gayford

A train made up entirely of correctly tensioned hook and buffer stock will 
ride better because there isn't the slack you get with autos. But why they put 
hooks on terminal ends and autos intermediate is because the locos only had 
hooks.

David Malcolm