If anybody has first-hand knowledge, I'd be grateful to know:
On steam locomotives equipped with a drop coupler on the pilot, what wat the process for raising it for service and, respectively, for lowering it when not being used?
Also, on EMD cab diesels equipped with the "passenger pilot", what was the process for extending the coupler with clamshell doors open and, respectively, for retracting it to close the doors?
I believe on the steam engines it was a manual thing, lift it by hand or a bar. The coupler would pivot up/down on a large hingepin & the coupler usually had a counter weight on the back to help off set the weight of the coupler.
On the E units I believe it was a hydro-pneumatic system that used water and/or train line air to extend or retract the coupler...I'm not a 100% on that though.
Here is a video I found...not of the real deal but still interesting.
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