End-of-car "bumpers", and EMU couplers

[SouthernRailway]

I noticed that newer Shorelines (with doors in the middle of the car), M7s and M8s all have "bumpers" at the ends of car: metal protrusions halfway down the car, extending to the end of the diaphragm/coupler, and with 4 strips of canvas or some soft material linking the end of the metal "bumper" to the end of the car itself. I assume that these "bumpers" are to protect the cars from the impact of another car banging into it, but:

(1) Am I right?
(2) Why don't older Shoreliners (with doors only at the ends of cars) have these "bumpers"?

Also, why do M7s and M8s (and perhaps other EMUs) have couplers that I don't see on other equipment? Why don't they use standard Amtrak- and freight-car couplers?

[DutchRailnut]

The bumpers you speak of are ADA required gate's to protect Handicapped and drunks from falling in between the cars.
as for couplers the MU couplers have just about zero slack.
And since car other during rescues and during delivery/scrapping never couple to anything but same type of car, it does not make sense to put AAR couplers with a 1" of slack per coupler.

[Clean Cab]

Shoreliner cars were built before ADA. That simple.

[SouthernRailway]

Thanks- very useful to know!

[nomis]

pantograph gates, they are called ...

[DutchRailnut]

no that is what subway buffs call them, they are not called that on MNCR or other railroads.

[nomis]

thats what the CFR calls them

[Jersey_Mike]

thats what the CFR calls them

Burned!

[BuddSilverliner269]

Deleted double post!!

[BuddSilverliner269]

thats what the CFR calls them

This is true and also Septa calls them that on the push pull and newer mu equipment and I believe NJT does as well.
http://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/36/1192.109" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Travelsonic]

From http://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/36/1192.109" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; [er, the link posted above]:

36 CFR 1192.109 - Between-car barriers.

§ 1192.109
Between-car barriers.
Where vehicles operate in a high-platform, level-boarding mode, and where between-car bellows are not provided, devices or systems shall be provided to prevent, deter or warn individuals from inadvertently stepping off the platform between cars. Appropriate devices include, but are not limited to, pantograph gates, chains, motion detectors or other suitable devices.

Just for anone who may be too lazy to follow the link.

[Ridgefielder]

The bumpers you speak of are ADA required gate's to protect Handicapped and drunks from falling in between the cars.
as for couplers the MU couplers have just about zero slack.
And since car other during rescues and during delivery/scrapping never couple to anything but same type of car, it does not make sense to put AAR couplers with a 1" of slack per coupler.

Dutch or anyone: did the pre-M class MU's-- the ex-NH 4400's and the ex-NYC ACMU's-- have a special type of coupler as well?

[TomNelligan]

New Haven and New York Central MUs had standard AAR couplers, not the integrated transit-style couplers used these days. Those came to what is now Metro North territory with the M1s and M2s.

[Tadman]

Such automatic or " transit" couplers have been around forever, though. IC's 1926 EMU fleet was so equipped, as was interurban CA&E's fleet, as was P&W's Brill Bullet fleet from ~1928.

http://www.davesrailpix.com/ic/htm/ic114.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

http://www.davesrailpix.com/cae/htm/cae018.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;


http://www.davesrailpix.com/pw/htm/pw103.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;