Buffer (rail transport)

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The buffer in railway transport is part of the coupling system for railway vehicles. On British railways, wagons had two buffers at each end, formed by extensions of the frame of the wagon. In between were hooks and chains to hold the wagons together. The buffers were originally unsprung, but gradually spring buffers were provided. A law requiring sprung buffers was sometimes observed to the letter of the law but not the spirit of the law, by fitting spring buffers at one end of the wagon only.

Deadend sidings were often fitted with buffer stops to prevent the wagons running off the end of the tracks. At stations, these buffer stops could be elaborate hydraulic affairs that could absorb a considerable amount of energy.

[edit] See also

• coupling (railway)