N.Y. Railroad Law § 80

§ 80. Couplers. It shall be unlawful for any railroad or other company\nto haul, or permit to be hauled or used, on its line or lines within the\nstate, any freight car not equipped with couplers of the master car\nbuilders' type, and coupling automatically by impact, and which can be\nuncoupled, except in cases of accident, without the necessity of men\ngoing between the ends of the cars.\n