Coupling

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Coupling is the method of connecting rail vehicles together and forming a train. The coupling system in Derail Valley is universally known as “chains and buffers”. Vehicles are kept together by a tightly screwed chain, but held at a distance by shock absorbers known as buffers. Apart from the chain and buffers, there are air hoses between the vehicles. When connected and with their valves open, they form a shared pressurized air vessel throughout the train, as part of the train brake system.

To couple:
1. Bring two vehicles together so that their buffers touch
2. Apply the train brake to prevent any movement
3. Take one of the two chains and place it on the adjacent vehicle's hook
4. Tighten the coupling by turning the chain screw
5. Connect the air hoses together
5a. Connect the MU cables, if applicable
6. Open the brake angle cocks (valves) on both sides
7. Release the handbrake on the coupled vehicle

To uncouple:
1. Stop the train
2. Apply the train brake to prevent any movement
3. Apply the handbrake on the vehicle to be uncoupled
4. Close the brake angle cocks (valves) on both sides
4a. Disconnect the MU cables, if applicable
5. Disconnect the air hoses
6. Loosen the coupling by turning the chain screw
7. Remove the chain from the other vehicle's hook and dock it to its resting place

When coupling, coming into contact with another vehicle should be done at up to 5 km/h. Going above that speed may cause damage.

For coupling and other operations at night, the driver can use an adequate light source, such as a flashlight or a lantern, or at the very least, the comms radio in LED mode.

Depending on the session difficulty settings, it is also possible to couple and uncouple remotely, using the locomotive remote controller, driving UI or the external view UI.

Installing a proximity sensor gadget allows receiving alerts when an obstacle is being approached, which can help speed up coupling maneuvers and avoid collisions, especially with long trains.