Railcar coupler system and method

1. 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 nose portion and a gathering face extending from the nose portion for engaging a second coupler knuckle coupled to the second railcar coupler;

the coupler head portion comprising a guard arm portion extending from the nose portion towards the shank portion; and

wherein the guard arm portion comprises a guard arm nose height where the guard arm portion meets the nose portion of the coupler head portion, the guard arm nose height less than a height of the nose portion.

2. The railcar coupler of claim 1 , wherein the guard arm portion comprises a side surface with no cavity openings.

3. The railcar coupler of claim 1 , wherein the guard arm portion is coupled to the coupler head portion after casting the coupler head portion.

4. The railcar coupler of claim 1 , wherein the guard arm portion is cast with no internal cavities.

5. The railcar coupler of claim 1 , wherein the guard arm portion comprises a chain lug hole.

6. The railcar coupler of claim 1 , wherein the guard arm portion comprises a minimum height less than a height of the shank portion where the guard arm portion meets the shank portion.

7. The railcar coupler of claim 1 , wherein the guard arm portion is cast with internal cavities.

8. The railcar coupler of claim 1 , wherein the guard arm portion includes no internal cavities.

9. 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 nose portion and a gathering face extending from the nose portion for engaging a second coupler knuckle coupled to the second railcar coupler;

the coupler head portion comprising a guard arm portion extending from the nose portion towards the shank portion, the guard arm portion comprising a side surface generally extending along a height of the guard arm portion with no cavity openings; and

wherein the guard arm portion comprises a height at a location of the guard arm portion that is less than a height of the coupler head portion at the location.

10. The railcar coupler of claim 9 , wherein the guard arm portion comprises a minimum height less than a height of the shank portion where the guard arm portion meets the shank portion.

11. The railcar coupler of claim 9 , wherein the guard arm portion comprises a guard arm nose height where the guard arm portion meets the nose portion of the coupler head portion, the guard arm nose height less than a height of the nose portion.

12. The railcar coupler of claim 9 , wherein the guard arm portion is coupled to the coupler head portion after casting the coupler head portion.

13. The railcar coupler of claim 9 , wherein the guard arm portion is cast with no internal cavities.

14. The railcar coupler of claim 9 , wherein the guard arm portion comprises a chain lug hole.

15. The railcar coupler of claim 9 , wherein the guard arm portion is cast with internal cavities.

16. The railcar coupler of claim 9 , wherein the guard arm portion includes no internal cavities.