A few weeks ago I was asked to produce a post on the difference to the 33/0 series and the 33/1 (and 73/1) locos that are fitted with buckeye and high level jumpers... so here we go. starting with the humble class 33/0 it is standard. this is 33021 “Eastleigh”. As you can see, usual 3 link coupling and all pipes are located on the buffer beam. The orange ones are the ETH (Electric train heating) on the outside and the ones either side the coupling are multi working cable plugs (loco to loco.) again we can see the ETH jumper, air pipes and note the buffer shanks are normal Oleo type. The vacuum pipe and mirror ETH plug. so that’s a standard 33/0, let’s look at the 33/1 push pull set up. These locos were built to have a night level coupling system and also the buckeye system for coach coupling. At the moment it’s sat with the emergency coupling (red) so it can couple to wagons for shunting. To be fair, it’s nearly always in place. But I’ll take it off in a minute. so, top of the photo you can see the rubbing plate which meets to the bottom Of a coach corridor connection. so let’s look at the buffer- you will notice it looks a little different, to the right (against the loco) there is a pin, this lifts out and allows the buffer to push in, which it needs to do when using the buckeye. Thus having an extended and retracted position. Sorry, I didn’t get a photo of it retracted. so we return to the buckeye, a knuckle coupler. First of all note the split pin under the hook. This needs retracting to the left and then you swing the hook up. This pin then sits in the loop of the hook holding it up, as below. So here we have the couple up but in the closed position. There is a chain on the right hand side which operates the reverse J on the coupling and opens the knuckle. Sorry, again I didn’t a photo of this. the final phot shows the high level pipes. These simply duplicate the low level air pipes and multiple way pipes, but not the ETH or vacuum. hope this helps.. andy
They are great photos, Andy. Thanks for posting them. I will be saving them for future reference when I get home.
What great pictures and informing explanation Mr S, just to add the way to lift a buck eye up for pre coupling from the drop position is to place the square end of a shunters wooden brake stick into the notch on the knuckle jaw and then lift forwards, the brake stick acts as a lever to raise the coupling safely and the buck eye jaw can be held slightly above the split pin hole by the shunter resting the round end of the loaded brake stick on his shoulder whilst the pin is slotted home. The split pin stays locked in place because a hinged tab on the end of the pin drops down against the draw hook once the pin has been driven full home. never use a shunters pole as this will split and break causing serious bodily injury in either a stabbing action lacerating facial injury. A very dangerous railway job if you don't follow correct procedure when working with buck eye couplers.