Buffer (rail transport)

Okay kiddo, imagine you're playing with a toy train set. You have a bunch of train cars that you need to connect together so the train can go from one place to another. But what happens if the train bumps into something or needs to stop suddenly?

That's where a buffer comes in. A buffer is like a cushion on the end of each train car that helps absorb the shock if the train hits something or needs to stop quickly.

In real life, trains also have buffers to help prevent damage from collisions or sudden stops. They're usually made of metal and are located on both ends of each train car. They're kind of like big metal springs that can compress and absorb the energy of any impact. Without buffers, trains would be more likely to get damaged in accidents and people could get hurt. So buffers are an important safety feature on trains.