Link and Pins

[Ted Miles]

Folks,
        I have a shelf full of books about the W&Q and the WW&F Ry; but I have not been able to find when the passenger cars switched from links to Janney (safety) couplers.

Is there any evidence that the W&Q used Miller hook or similar couplers?

Thanks,

Ted Miles, WW&F Life Member Built 11 Contributor

[Ed Lecuyer]

The W&Q/WW&F absolutely used Miller Hook couplers at one point. There are photos of this and (more importantly) residual hardware and evidence on Coach 3. The most notable example of the Miller Hook configuration are the notches in the iron vestibule railing where the Miller Hook release lever once was positioned (and later repurposed into a traditional cut lever.)

[Dave Crow]

Hi Ted,

If you look at the builder's photos of the various passenger cars while at the Jackson & Sharp plant in Wilmington, Delaware, you can see the Miller hook couplers.  As for a date for conversion to Janney couplers, possibly comparing photos in the Kohler-Chesney books, as well as the Peter Barney books, might give you an approximate timeline after the Safety Appliance Act was enacted.

Dave Crow