automatic coupling

[keith byfield]

House move means new start. I am keen on operations and want to be able to couple and decouple automatically. Have tried to use KD's but they are not really 00 LNER and I find difficulty with accuracy of heights on UK wagons and coaches, not to mention locos. Clearly a compromise is necessary and I cannot expect a prototypical look. Can anyone offer advice.

[AJ427]

You could try this great idea by Brian Kirby:

http://www.rmweb.co.uk/forum/viewtopic. ... db5038d897

It's basically a simple (and very cheap) modification of a tension lock coupling using a staple! Decoupling is by a cheap DIY store magnet under the track. The only downsides are that you can't get the close coupled look and it's not a delayed uncoupler.

[Bill Bedford]

House move means new start. I am keen on operations and want to be able to couple and decouple automatically. Have tried to use KD's but they are not really 00 LNER and I find difficulty with accuracy of heights on UK wagons and coaches, not to mention locos. Clearly a compromise is necessary and I cannot expect a prototypical look. Can anyone offer advice.

Prototypically there were only ever semi automatic couplings on some coaches. If you want prototypical, I'm afraid it's 3 link or nothing.

[jwealleans]

The least obtrusive in appearance are probably Alex Jackson, but I've no experience with them. Our club shunting stock uses Sprat and Winkles, which are very reliable and effective. All these type of coupling rely on accurate and consistent setup, especially height.

[TonyM]

These seem to work for OO but I am still looking for reliable uncoupling and shunting ability in N. So far with no success. I would need to have fixed rakes with coaches but it is wagons that are causing headaches. A fixed rake of 30 coal wagons needs to be broken up into usable lengths and even single wagons. Any ideas from you inventive and clever people. What are other NGaugers doing/using.
On a different subject there is an interesting article in the latest N Gauge Society Journal about pre-grouping locos that I find appealing. I already have the UM NER R (D20 in NER livery) and have thought about repainting/relabeling the `Long Tom` 0-8-0 and some of the Js 0-6-0s which I also have. Early GF suburban coaches also lend themselves very well to relabeling and ,of course, repainting if they are not teak.

TonyM