Railroad car couplers must be checked for alignment and adjusted to ensure they hook together.

• A. True
• B. False
• C. Not sure
• D. Sometimes

Answer: (A)

Aligning railroad car couplers is essential to a safe hookup. Automatic knuckle couplers must mate so the knuckles can close and lock properly; if the height or side-to-side or fore-and-aft alignment is off, the cars may not couple securely. Misalignment can lead to an incomplete connection, unexpected uncoupling, or damage during movement, which are serious hazards in a coal mine or on the mainline. Because of these risks, the couplers must be checked for proper alignment and adjusted so they hook together before any movement. This step is a standard safety practice and is not optional or uncertain; it’s performed as part of the coupling procedure to ensure a secure, stable connection.