What must be inspected after making a coupling?

After making a coupling, it is essential to inspect the slack in the couplers. Ensuring that the couplers are properly connected without excessive slack is crucial for the safe operation of the train. If there is too much slack, it can lead to unexpected movements or jerks between the coupled cars, which may pose safety risks, increase the likelihood of derailments, or cause damage to the train equipment.

Proper coupling is critical not just for the train's stability while in motion but also for effective brake functionality across the entire train. Inspecting the slack ensures that the couplers are engaged correctly and ready to transmit the braking force effectively, thereby maintaining control of the train during operation. This inspection is a key part of safety protocols to prevent accidents.

Other aspects such as brake pressure, wheel wear, and speed limits are important but do not directly pertain to the immediate safety and stability concerns posed by couplings. Therefore, checking the slack in the couplers is the most pertinent task immediately following a coupling.