A railway car yoke (100) includes a nose end (102) and at least two straps (150) adjoining the nose end (102). At least one top strap (150B) adjoins a top portion of the nose end (102) and at least one bottom strap (150A) adjoins a bottom portion of the nose end (102). The railway car yoke (100) also includes a butt end (101) adjoining the at least two straps (150) such that the nose end (102) and the butt end (101) are separated by the at least two straps (150). The butt end (101) comprises at least one concave contour (110) along an outside surface of the butt end (101). The outside surface is a surface along the butt end (101) opposite the nose end (102) that extends from a top surface of the at least one top strap (150B) to a bottom surface of the at least one bottom strap (150A).