Tightlock coupling
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Tightlock coupling or titelok coupler is an American Association of Railroads (AAR) tooth and socket automatic coupler of which there are two types:
- AAR type F for freight cars, including shelf couplers and rotating-shaft couplers introduced for use in rotary car dumpers
- APTA (former AAR) standard type H (together with "pads" to reduce slack) for passenger cars and passenger train locomotives. The Type "H" is now under the supervision of the APTA (American Passenger Train Association?). The Type "H" may come with, or without, automatic airbrake and other automatic connectors. VIA Rail, Amtrak, Agence métropolitaine de transport, West Coast Express, GO Transit and other North American Railways use the Type "H" coupling at a height of 34.5 in (876 mm) and conventional AAR (non automatic) connections. Metro-North Railroad uses a non compatible automatic coupler on its Electric Multiple Units
This type is also used on Electric Multiple Units in the UK built between the mid 1970s and the privatisation of British Railways in the 1990s. Since then, only the Bombardier "Electrostar" has been built with Tightlock couplers, although later examples operated by Southern and South Eastern were built with Dellner couplers, and their earlier examples were modified with these as well.
