摘要：Rolling stock connection systems are key to running longer and heavier trains as they provide both the connections of vehicles and the damping,providing the longitudinal suspension of the *** paper focuses on the evolution of both connection and stiffness damping *** is on freight rolling stock,but passenger draw gears are also *** was found that connection systems have evolved from the buff and chain system used in the pioneer railways of the 1800s to the modern auto-coupler connection systems that are in-service worldwide *** versions of the buff and chain coupling are,however,still in use in the EU,UK,South America and India.A wide range of auto-coupler systems are currently utilised,but the AAR coupler(Janney coupler)remains the most popular.A further variation that persists is the SA3 coupler(improved Wilson coupler)which is an alternative auto-coupler design used mainly throughout the former Soviet *** the review to auto-coupler systems allowed the paper to focus on draft gears which revealed polymer,polymer-friction,steel spring-friction,hydraulic draft gears and sliding sill cushioning *** with the single compressive draft gear units balanced and floating plate configurations are also *** draft gear acceptance standards are presented along with modelling that was included to aid in presentation of the functional characteristics of draft gears.