Know of any Dapol late steam era wagons which are known to have NEM pockets?

[JeffPreston]

Hi again!

Does anyone know of any Dapol late steam era wagons which are known (for certain) to have NEM pockets?

I am about to try out Dapol magnetic couplers and want to start with the easiest (I hope) option whereby I simply put a Dapol magnetic coupler onto a Dapol wagon.   

I ordered one from a big shop based on their assurance it had NEM pockets only to see it did not when it arrived.   

I've asked Dapol for a list, but they explained they have no such information available, to the public at least.   

So... can anyone help?   

I'm trying to build up some steel coal wagons and good vans for the BR Western Region around 1964-ish, so something along those lines would be ideal! 

[anselm]

"Britain's Model Trains for 2015", which may still be available in Smiths and model rail shops, lists wagons with NEM pockets, both Dapol and Farish.  Examples include Farish 12t pipe wagon, Farish 24t ore hopper, 8t cattle van 12t ventilated van, Dapol fruit D, both Dapol Siphons.

Ian

[Zunnan]

The best bets for NEM pockets on Dapol wagons is probably the Grampus (in black livery) and the 'Blue Spot' fish vans. The NEM pocket fitted to the Siphons is an absolute eyesore, retrofitted to and ruining what was a very good wagon. The Fruit D is quite a lengthy vehicle so has considerably more overhang on curves than the shorter wagons mentioned; if you're after the easiest to operate overhang doesn't help.

Farish BR 12t vans aren't NEM fitted, I've been converting these to Microtrains couplers and can attest that they have the older pocket and spring arrangement. From Farish, the wagons that I do know are NEM fitted are ~ The 12t pipe wagon hasn't even had an engineering prototype shown yet AFAIK, but I'd expect that it will have an NEM pocket when it arrives. The forthcoming SR 12t vent vans appear to have NEM pockets. The 8t cattle vans are NEM fitted. The 21t ore hoppers have an NEM pocket (horrible moulded mount too which makes MT conversion a bit less straightforward). The 'Covhops' have NEM pockets, the bogie bolster has them too. Brakevan wise the LMS 20T vans, both LMS and 'Midland' varieties have NEM pockets, as does the SR 'Pillbox' and GWR 'Toad'. And pushing the limits for 'steam era' are the 45t TTA tanks. Not quite wagons, but the CCT and Mk1 horseboxes have NEM pockets as well. As far as I have seen, pretty much everything else has the usual Farish arrangement of moulded clip on spring housing and traditional rapido coupler.

Dapol fare far worse. Almost all of their steam era wagons have moulded spring housings, there are only a few with NEM pockets.

[mickeyflinn]

I have some NB084a 8 plank wagons, in "Partington Steel and Iron Co Ltd" livery. These have NEM couplings, so maybe other 8 plank wagons would be the same. Hattons don't have any of them, but a Google search shows the odd model shop that may have some.

[BobB]

I have e-mailed both Dapol and Farish asking them to state on their web site the fitting of NEM sockets. At least the Farish catalogue has the information (Never seen a Dapol one so can't comment).

I just wonder if they're scared we will stop buying the wagons without NEMs. I for one will no longer buy stock without the NEM socket because I want to use Dapol's magnetic couplers.

I wonder if Peco will modify their genetic chassis. That would be a worthwhile development !

[JeffPreston]

Hi All!

Many thanks for all the detailed information and suggestions!   

It seems to me that anyone manufacturing or retailing locos, coaches and wagons would do us all a big favour if they added the 'NEM pockets' or 'no NEM pockets' information to their product listings. 

[Jimmy77]

Not sure if this is the right era for you, but these are the Dapol fish vans with the NEMCoup connections.





Cheers,

Jimmy