A damper for a train coupler is shown, comprisinga hydraulic balancing chamber (115)defined in an annular space between a piston (101) and a housing (102) in which the piston is movably received, wherein the balancing chamber is in flow communication with a hydraulic high-pressure chamber (103) via inlet and outlet bores (116; 130) formed through a slip-ring (117) that journals the piston in the housing.Aportion (129) of the piston is shielded in a buffer chamber (128) formed in the annular space between the piston and the housing, in axial alignment with the balancing chamber.