Locomotives start very long trains by taking slack out of the couplers so the cars begin moving one at a time.

the verdict

SUPPORTED

the evidence backs this

Recorded sources

1 source for · 0 against

Counts group repeated records of the same source within each side. They do not measure evidence strength or source independence.

Is it true that Locomotives start very long trains by taking slack out of the couplers so the cars begin moving one at a time?

Yes. A railroading reference explains that loose coupling and slack action let locomotive power be applied to each car successively, so only one car is started at a time.

Verdict: SUPPORTED · 1 source for, 0 against · Last checked 3 Oct 2026

The private library was unavailable for some searches in this check. Missing library results are not evidence against the claim.

Evidence for · 1

Slack action - Wikipedia

Get citation

Slack action - Wikipedia. (n.d.). en.wikipedia.org. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slack_action

Receipt History

Anyone with this link can read the claim and its public receipt, including any personal information in that text. Open permanent receipt.

Check your own claim

Challenge the receipt

I have a source that contradicts this verdict I have a source that supports it No source: request a receipt review Requests are recorded for review. This does not start an automatic check or guarantee a response time.

Citation formatting by citeproc-js (Frank Bennett) and the Citation Style Language project. Source and licenses.

This receipt is an automated verdict against our published method · not an opinion about any author or publication.
Terms · Privacy · How verdicts work