New York Consolidated Laws, Railroad Law - RRD § 80. Couplers

It shall be unlawful for any railroad or other company to haul, or permit to be hauled or used, on its line or lines within the state, any freight car not equipped with couplers of the master car builders' type, and coupling automatically by impact, and which can be uncoupled, except in cases of accident, without the necessity of men going between the ends of the cars.