Railway car coupler knuckle having improved bearing surface

A method of casting a coupler knuckle casting for a railway car coupler, the coupler knuckle casting having an enhanced bearing surface with a substantially flat portion in one direction, the method comprising:

• providing a cope mold portion and a drag mold portion, the cope and drag mold portions having internal walls defining at least in part the perimeter boundaries of a mold cavity;
• positioning one or more cores in the mold cavity of either the cope or drag mold portion, at least one of the cores having one or more surfaces substantially flat in one direction forming a portion of the perimeter boundaries of the mold cavity for forming at least a portion of the enhanced bearing surface;
• closing the cope and drag mold portions with the one or more cores therebetween;
• and
• at least partially filling the cavity with a molten alloy, the molten alloy solidifying after filling to form the coupler knuckle casting.