Railway car coupler and knuckle system and method

A railway car coupler system, comprising:

• a railcar coupler knuckle comprising a tail section, a hub section, and a front face section, the railcar coupler knuckle configured to couple to a first railcar coupler for coupling the first railcar coupler to a second railcar coupler of an adjacent railcar;
• the hub section comprising a pivot pin hole for receiving a pivot pin for coupling the railcar coupler knuckle to a first railcar coupler, the pivot pin hole having a longitudinal axis;
• the railcar coupler knuckle comprising top and bottom knuckle pulling lugs each having a respective knuckle pulling lug engagement face;
• and
• wherein at least one of the knuckle pulling lug engagement faces of the top and bottom knuckle pulling lugs is angled with respect to the longitudinal axis.

A method, comprising:

• casting a railcar coupler comprising:
• a coupler head portion extending from a shank portion, the coupler head portion configured to couple to a first coupler knuckle for coupling the railcar coupler to a second railcar coupler of an adjacent railcar;
• the coupler head portion comprising a coupler pivot pin hole for receiving a pivot pin for coupling the railcar coupler to the first coupler knuckle, the pivot pin hole having a longitudinal axis;
• and
• the coupler head portion comprising top and bottom coupler pulling lugs each having a respective coupler pulling lug engagement face, wherein at least one of the coupler pulling lug engagement faces of the top and bottom coupler pulling lugs is angled with respect to the longitudinal axis.