loose-coupled

English

loose-coupled (not comparable)

(rail transport, UK, historical) Of older railway wagons, having a chain coupling between them, without the buffers on each wagon touching those of the next wagon when the train was in motion.
- 1940 December, Charles E. Lee, “The Wenford Mineral Line”, in Railway Magazine, page 643:
  It consists exclusively of loose-coupled open mineral wagons and a guard's brake van; owing to the isolation of the branch the last-named is equipped with a first aid box and a jack, to enable any emergency to be dealt with rapidly.
- 1961 December, “Talking of Trains: Derailment near Laindon”, in Trains Illustrated, page 717:
  The line here rises in the up direction, for the most part on a 1 in 132 gradient, and three spring-operated catch points—Basildon West, Basildon and Vange—are provided at intervals on the up line between the two stations, to derail any runaway wagons of a loose-coupled freight train.