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It is surprising how much "slack" there is in the knuckles (couplers), The longer the train, more cars, the more slack. So when the train brakes the cars push forward towards the front. If the engineer is not careful when accelerating and takes up the slack too fast then it could blow a knuckle, especially towards the rear. This is even more true in winter weather when the knuckles can be much more brittle.

And who gets to change a knuckle? Why the trainman who now is up front with the engineer. He gets to sling one over his shoulder and trudge back to change it out no doubt wondering about the competance of the engineer.


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