Buckeye Experience Days    Back to Articles

Date: Saturday 21 May 2011

On 21st and 22nd May the MHR Guards and Shunters Section arranged these days for all MHR operational volunteers to gain experience in how the drophead buckeye coupling works. This is the coupling used between our coaches, and also on the tender of certain locomotives as well.

After a short introduction and video, participants went to the Alresford sidings to look at the couplings in more detail. Under the supervision of 3 Guards and Shunters Foremen (Chris Cornell, Ian Davey and Richard Stevens) they were shown how to raise and lower the buckeye, how to attach and detach coaches as well as coupling/uncoupling the vacuum brake and steam heating hoses plus setting the buffers in the correct position. Motive power was provided by ‘Gronk’ D3358 (08288).

Additionally, the opportunity was taken to provide driver training on the 08.

Thanks go to all those who participated and the staff who drove the 08 and arranged coaches for us to use.

Ian Davey

Guards and Shunters Foreman and Training Officer
A buckeye coupling in the lowered position.
A buckeye coupling in the lowered position.  

A buckeye coupling in the raised position.
A coach being propelled prior to coupling together.
Not a lot of room underneath the corridor connection to couple together the steam heat and vacuum brake pipes.
08288 did all the work
Learning about buffers as well.
A buckeye coupling in the raised position. A coach being propelled prior to coupling together. Not a lot of room underneath the corridor connection to couple together the steam heat and vacuum brake pipes. 08288 did all the work Learning about buffers as well.