Why do US and UK trains use different types of couplers?

Question by Mr. Twinkles: Why do US and UK trains use different types of couplers?
I know the automatic knuckle coupler was adopted in the US for safety reasons. Why isn't a similar coupler used in the UK as well?


Best answer:
Answer by n_ginedOn some older UK passenger coaches a side operated version of the US knuckle coupler is used, called the buckeye. But the differences arise nowadays mainly because in the US the main rail traffic is freight, which doesn't usually need electrical

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