By Ian Walmsley
Feature
The humble freight wagon coupler is going digital – or is it?
Barriers included: Harry Needle Railroad Company’s Nos 20311/314 top and tail London Overground EMU No 710126, sandwiched by barrier wagons, past Spondon en-route from Worksop Down Yard to Old Dalby on 17 April 2020. Steve Donald
The international railway press has got very excited about the coming of the European Standard freight coupler, or DAC (Digital Automatic Coupling). ‘Essential for modal transfer’, ‘key enabler of automation’, ‘boosting capacity’ and ‘manpower saving’ were just some of the plaudits. Deutsche Bahn loves it and is organising a trial on 10 wagons to choose the winner. How quaintly old railway.
TOCs OF BABEL
