Advice please. Couplings

[petercharlesfagg]

Friends,

The more I see and the more I read about couplings the more confused I become!

I have only two questions :- Is it possible to standardise general rather than specialised couplings on ALL stock across the range in "N"?

The second question has to be:- If YES, which one would it be?

Regards Peter.

[AndyGif]

 depends what you mean Peter ?
Heads (hooks): yes, rapido's.
Tails (shanks): no, there's a mix on the current new stock.

[petercharlesfagg]

depends what you mean Peter ?
Heads (hooks): yes, rapido's.
Tails (shanks): no, there's a mix on the current new stock.

Possibly magnetic or hooks?

[trainsdownunder]

Rapido is the easiest to standardise with in the sense that whatever brand of rolling stock they seem work with each other, both coupling and uncoupling.

"knuckle" style can be a bit more hit and miss. A lot of people end up changing to one brand to avoid hiccups. For example, my Kato are happy enough with other Kato couplers, but tend not to play ball with some of my Micro-Train ones....... Once connected ("hand of god" needed), they are fine but uncoupling is again, often a manual job.

Like you looking to find an answer other than change over to one brand, but with the amount of stock I have, it's not likely to happen quickly !

[d-a-n]

I have only two questions :- Is it possible to standardise general rather than specialised couplings on ALL stock across the range in "N"?

I echo trainsdownunders thoughts and say that Rapido hook type couplings (like you find on Farish and Dapol Uk outline) are a standardised coupling, they work with each other and work with Peco's hook-type 'Elsie' Coupling. They come as standard on everything but they do have their limitations.

The second question has to be:- If YES, which one would it be?

Rapido if you're not bothered about uncoupling wagons.

Dapol easi-shunt if you are. You'll need wagons with NEM pockets (as opposed to the sprung loaded boxes the coupling is in on older Farish et al models) or get busy with a saw and use Dapol's conversion kit. You'll also need magnets on the track bed.

[Greybeema]

What I am intending to do is run fixed rakes.  They'll have the standard N Gauge Rapido couplers in the rakes but Dapol easi-shunt on each end.  Obviously the locos will also have the easi-shunts..

[petercharlesfagg]

Rapido is the easiest to standardise with in the sense that whatever brand of rolling stock they seem work with each other, both coupling and uncoupling.

"knuckle" style can be a bit more hit and miss. A lot of people end up changing to one brand to avoid hiccups. For example, my Kato are happy enough with other Kato couplers, but tend not to play ball with some of my Micro-Train ones....... Once connected ("hand of god" needed), they are fine but uncoupling is again, often a manual job.

Like you looking to find an answer other than change over to one brand, but with the amount of stock I have, it's not likely to happen quickly !

Thankyou, I really appreciate that kind of information.

Magnetic for my freight and Rapido for all my coach stock.

Regards Peter.

[petercharlesfagg]

I have only two questions :- Is it possible to standardise general rather than specialised couplings on ALL stock across the range in "N"?

I echo trainsdownunders thoughts and say that Rapido hook type couplings (like you find on Farish and Dapol Uk outline) are a standardised coupling, they work with each other and work with Peco's hook-type 'Elsie' Coupling. They come as standard on everything but they do have their limitations.

The second question has to be:- If YES, which one would it be?

Rapido if you're not bothered about uncoupling wagons.

Dapol easi-shunt if you are. You'll need wagons with NEM pockets (as opposed to the sprung loaded boxes the coupling is in on older Farish et al models) or get busy with a saw and use Dapol's conversion kit. You'll also need magnets on the track bed.

Thankyou much appreciated.  NEM pockets???  I have yet to study couplings on rolling stock but what am I looking for?

Regards, Peter.

[d-a-n]

Thankyou much appreciated.  NEM pockets???  I have yet to study couplings on rolling stock but what am I looking for?

No problem! I run wagons in rakes and I make sure I have a Dapol easi-shunt couplings at each end whilst the couplings in the middle of the rake remain as Rapido type. This allows me to fit easi-shunts to locomotives and I can remote uncouple all day long!

[smg id=4473]

On the left is an NEM pocket coupling with the rapido coupling still in place, the centre and the right are the 'normal' old-type rapido couplings. NEM pockets are little boxes which you can pull the coupling out of without causing damage to the wagon or locomotive. You can do this to either quickly improve the appearance of the front of a locomotive, or as I have done, to fit a Dapol easi-shunt magnetic coupling.

[smg id=4474]

Some photographs on various websites or magazines allow you see the coupling box if the angle is right. What I look for is the little square of yellowy brass (see left hand wagon) which is a giveaway if the wagon is NEM equipped. Not a lot of websites tell you if a wagon is NEM equipped.

[smg id=4475]

Here are two NEM equipped wagons seen form the underside, the one on the left is straight out the box, the one on the right has a Dapol easi-shunt coupling fitted. note the tiny spring on the left of the Dapol coupling - these can get lost while fitting!!!!

[smg id=4476]

Just a shot from the angle we're all more used to of the Dapol coupling!

I'm compiling a list of wagons which have NEM pockets as standard:

http://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?topic=3220.0

Here is a video of the magnetic uncoupling on kato track. If you run Peco track, you can buy Dapol magnets which you put in the track.


N gauge magnetic uncoupling - Kato 20-032 and Dapol NEM Easi-Shunt couplers

Any more questions, don't be afraid to ask!

[petercharlesfagg]

Thankyou for your VERY comprehensive reply, it is one of those answers that can be of value to everyone who would like to change the connections.

I can see that I will have to engage the services of my magnifying glasses on attempting to change these!!!

Brilliant.

Regards, Peter.

[Trev]

Thank you very much Daniel.
Very good photos and the video really help see the whole thing.

A great help

[d-a-n]

No worries Trev; I've been on forums for various hobbies (cars and cameras mainly) for years now and found there can be a great lack of fact or so much mis-information on any subject with people either speculating or regurgitating about things they don't know about!
I like to be able to explain/demonstrate as fully as possible with solid first hand evidence (even if it does mean photos with too much depth of field) and give back to a satisfying hobby I've only been a part of for less than 6 months!

[RChook]

Just a shot from the angle we're all more used to of the Dapol coupling!

I'm compiling a list of wagons which have NEM pockets as standard:

http://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?topic=3220.0

Excellent post ! Great pictures, very nice video great presence, thanks.

For the first time I think I am now understanding this NEM and Easyshunt business !
Being new to the N scene I have held back from getting 'stuck in' and buying stock and track cos I hoped for hands-off coupling/shunting but was less than impressed with reading forums/reviews of the std. rapido.
So I have marked time by building some buildings, watching the fora  and adopted a wait-and-see policy with respect to the new Dapol couplers.

Your description is the most revealing review I have seen so far on the interweb, , , almost to the point of going out tomorrow and buying some ! , , , except I now need to watch and wait your other thread of a list of NEM equipped  new stock !
If only Dapol were more helpful, clear, forthcoming and upfront  !!

I recon Dapol should make you a donation for that video and commission some further reports !!!!!

PS that wee spring looks a bit delicate and exposed for routine operations in everyday life !

PPS, Mods -> Dan's post could be a sticky in the "Coupling Reviews" section.

[RChook]

Any more questions, don't be afraid to ask!

Thanks, here we go then 

1) In your excellent vid you show superb uncoupling of a lone wagon,  but I wonder about _coupling_up_ to a lone waggon ( like your opening sequence of a "swhoosh" with your finger but in reverse where the loco does the push!)
ie. is there enough inertia in a lone waggon to allow the loco to couple up to the lone waggon or does couplingup need the inertia of a rake of waggons to be reliable ?

2) Did you have any probs with that Dapol easyshunt going into the Farish pocket. Reading various fora it seems that (in the past?) there have been problems with a tight fit of the Dapols into the Farish pocket. (if I remember right). The suggestion being ( I think) that the Farish socket wasnt to NEM standard but that they may now have corrected that prob. ??

[upnick]

Good video  how to Daniel    one question  can the Dapol  magnetic  couplers be fitted to  and  stock   wqhich   has  standard  pockets   with Rapidos   ?  as not  everyone  has the up to date stock  / locos with NEM   pockets if so  would save me  using MT