Gladhand
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A gladhand connector or gladhand coupler is an interlocking hose coupling fitted to hoses supplying pressurized air from a locomotive to railway air brakes on railroad cars. Mating rubber grommets provide a positive seal. Gladhand couplers are genderless or hermaphroditic, allowing them to be freely connected to each other, for example allowing either end of a railcar to be connected to the end of a train.
Gladhands connected between two rail cars.
A prototype gladhand. Photo by Dave Sclavi.
Another full-size gladhand. Each square in the image is 1/2 inch. Photo by Dave Sclavi.
