Can someone advise what couplings these are on this Farish Class 25. I am recently back into N Gauge modelling and bought this loco which is a lovely runner but I didn't realise that it had non-standard couplings. Not sure if it is easy to refit the standard couplings or do I sell on and buy a version with thee standard couplings fitted.

Thanks for any advice.

Well to me they look like the style used for 009 / HOe narrow gauge models, but maybe they are one of the specialist alternative brass fret designs some folk use for N.   

B&B maybe?

Can you post a photo of the underside showing how they're fitted? Have the bogies been carved up or otherwise modified in order to fit them?

They do appear to be b&b's. Have they been fitted into the coupling pocket perhaps? You might be able to remove them and re-fit standard ones if the pockets have not been damaged by this.

These are as close up I could get on my phone

Hmm... can't tell from the photos if the bogie originally had NEM pocket or older style for pocket for T-shank and spring couplings? 

I'm not familiar with B&B couplings so no idea if they are fitted to an existing pocket or if you have to cut/drill or otherwise destroy the pocket to fit them.

Here are examples of the NEM pocket and coupling (left) and T-shank pocket and coupling (right)

Thanks for the info. Looks like the pockets have been removed. Refitting is probably beyond my skills so I suspect I will be selling on (with full description of course!) and looking to buy a more standard model.

Thats certainly an early Bachmann. you can read the word 'China' in one of the pix. I'm certain they are B&B couplings. Only Me' s suggestion to replace the bogie side frames would be the best way forward to reinstate Rapidos.

Also if you look carefully at the leading axle on both the underside pictures it seems that pick up wipers have been put onto the wheel treads. For chipperuk's info the pick ups would normally wipe on the back of the wheel. I'd be less happy about that than the changed couplings as there is the risk of wearing out the treads.

These are B&B couplings. One end has the loop, but no delay latch, the other has the delay latch, but no loop.

Yes definitely B&Bs assembled in single ended format with loop at one end and latch at the other...

The loco is a China produced version of the old Poole design, so would originally have had sprung 'T-shank' type couplings.
It looks like the B&Bs might have been mounted by one of my techniques for older Farish locos - the body of the coupling is on the flat top of the bogie frame and a pin with a large flat head to hold it.
IF that's how they've been done, you will hopefully be able to pull out the pin and cleanly remove the B&B, without irreparable damage, and it should be possible to refit the original type couplings.

Thanks everyone for the info. Very helpful - just need to consider whether to try refitting the original couplings or not. It is a nice runner so may have a go!

The real trick, if I understand things correctly, would be to fit the rest of your stock with those couplings, as they seem to be the preferred weapon of choice for serious hands-free shunting operations. 

Does no-one else think the pick up wipers to be a potential problem then???

Quote from: tunneroner61 on January 24, 2022, 08:15:55 AM
Does no-one else think the pick up wipers to be a potential problem then???

I don't think they have any impact on the couplings which are the subject of this thread 
But you are correct, they look out of place however the OP says it's a decent runner so I'd go with "if it works don't fix it" on that one...

To use a motorcycle term, it's been Fubar'd.

The couplings can be sorted but it does need new pickups. Curious that it runs OK though.

Yes, the loco does run fine. I hadn't even noticed the different picks ups until you guys mentioned them. I'm not sure that I want to start making changes and so will probably look to sell on (full disclosure on the comments raised of course) and add any proceeds to my modelling fund 😁

Thanks though for all the comments - I have learned quite a bit!