RMweb Premium JZ Posted May 10, 2010 RMweb Premium Share Posted May 10, 2010 A lot of Southern region stock was fitted with buffing plates below the gangways. What was the reason for this? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest stuartp Posted May 10, 2010 Share Posted May 10, 2010 Because unlike a British Standard gangway, which is just there to stop the punters falling out, a Pullman gangway (as fitted to Mk1s etc) absorbs some of the buffing shocks and transmits them to the underframe. Hence on units not fitted with gangways the relevant gubbins (the bit at the bottom) was still needed. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
JeremyC Posted May 10, 2010 Share Posted May 10, 2010 A lot of Southern region stock was fitted with buffing plates below the gangways. What was the reason for this? I would assume the stock in question was buck-eye coupler fitted, which only take traction [pulling] loads. When buck-eyes are in use the buffers are retracted so propelling or braking forces are absorbed, on gangwayed stock, by the bottom of the gangway. If there is no gangway a buffing plate is required. IIRC the Glasgow Blue Trains were similarly fitted at the outer ends of the sets. Jeremy Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium JZ Posted May 10, 2010 Author RMweb Premium Share Posted May 10, 2010 Thanks for the replies. It's something that I have often wondered, yet never asked. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium keefer Posted May 10, 2010 RMweb Premium Share Posted May 10, 2010 definiately to do with buck-eye fitted stock - if you don't have sprung buffers to provide some damping to the coupling, it has to be through the buffing (or rubbing) plate. presumably as a way of taking up any slack in the couplings themselves. not just units, either. iirc the 33/1s and 73s had rubbing plates and retractable buffers. the plates only came into use when the buck-eye coupler was used - if the buffers were extended (with collars?) the screw-link was used. didnt the cl. 90/91s originally have rubbing plates (which were subsequently removed) as they were primarily for use with mk3/4 coaching stock? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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