Illustrated Guide to Van Dorn

Here's everything you always wanted to know about Van Dorn couplers but were too busy to ask.

 Let's start with the case where we want to couple two cars together. Oops! It looks like one coupler is higher than the other. It might work like this, but why take a chance? In a matter of seconds you can move the link over to the higher coupler.

That looks much better. Of course, the link is held in the coupler with the large pin through the center hole in the link. We'll call this coupler #1, and the other one is #2. The small pin in coupler #1 can be either in or out, it doesn't matter.

In order to couple, in coupler #2 you need to have the large pin in the offset hole, as shown by the white arrow. The small pin must be out, as shown by the yellow arrow. The small pin keeps the leaf springs inside coupler #2 from flexing, and we need that flexing action while coupling.

We now shove the two cars together, taking all the usual precautions of chocking, etc. The link snaps into place in coupler #2 with a satisfying thud, and the draft gear will probably test the slack action for you. We're coupled! Now be sure to insert the small pin in its hole in coupler #2 to prevent accidental uncoupling. See, that wasn't so hard.

Want to uncouple? With the slack pushed in, it should usually be possible to pull one of the large pins out, and that's all it takes. If that doesn't work for some reason, do NOT EVER try to pull a pin while moving one of the cars. Instead, we have a handy uncoupling device which should be hanging in the toilet compartment of the 309. It has a length of chain, a long spring, and two hooks. The red hook is placed over the grab iron, as shown, and the large hook is connected to the large pin (of the same car!) Push the slack in and out, and the pin should be pulled.