coupling ore cars

[gabbyhayes]

have some (MCD roundhouse) and was thinking of permantly coupling them (a drawbar)   Is is feasable and if so what would be the distance between them.   I guess also the track would have to have pretty big curves.

Gabby Hayes 

 

[cabbage]

Basic "O" level maths will give you the answer -or you can scale draw it on a piece of paper... What you want is the length between two points on a radially curved line!!!

The CHORD length is that between the end of a wagon axle and the next wagon axle (eg 100mm) multiplied by the outside rail radius (eg 1084mm) over the inside rail radius ( eg 1052mm ) divided by PI.

VIZ:

100mm x { (1084mm/1052mm) / PI }

= 32.79mm

regards

ralph

[cacole]

Instead of a drawbar, have you considered using link and pin couplings?  This would probably have been what the prototype used, at least here in the U.S., if it was a small narrow gauge line.

[gabbyhayes]

Ralph

Thanks. Will have a look.   It was something I was messing around with.  

Gabby Hayes

 

[gabbyhayes]

Cacole

I think these are too modern for link & pin.   Two are Santa Fe and the others are UP.   I'm not really sure what scale either.

Gabby Hayes

[Anonymous]

What are "O" levels?

Rgds Ian

[gabbyhayes]

Ian

I don't know what O levelas are either - only went to 2 up school.   I live just down the road from you (burpengary) if you want the ore cars they are yours.   I bought them when first starting off and didn't have a clue.   The drawbar coupling was just a thought.

Gabby Hayes

[cabbage]

Sorry -I am showing my age (50) and colonial background (Rhodesia)....

"M" levels were taken at age 13.
"O" levels at age 16.
"A" levels at age 18

regards

ralph

[Anonymous]

Hey Gabby do you know Danny S, he is our co ordinator and we have regular runnings, hy don't you get in touch i will give you his email address if you like.

I have nephews that lives at Burpengary i think anyway, Daren and Greg Coleman. do you know them?

Rgds ian

[gabbyhayes]

Ralph

Ralph no need to be sorry - different countries different strokes.   This coupling ore cars together started out as a thought as I either use them or get rid of them.   Thank you for your input.

Gabby Hayes

[gabbyhayes]

Ian

Can't say I know your nephews - havn't been here that long - from everton hills. Will get in touch.

Gabby Hayes

[Anonymous]

Ill get in touch with Danny and get you on his circulation list.

Rgds Ian

[John Busby]

Hi Gabby

It is feasible the 12" to the foot railways do it with container wagons, not so sure its a good idea with model trains.

I would suggest a pin and loop set up something like on some of the children's train sets or solid non working knuckles for the simple reason it will allow you to take the train apart to be put away.

The draw bar would  be best if it gave the same spacing as the couplings supplied with the ore cars.

Not familiar with the MDC ore cars but would think with careful setting up of semi permanent coupling they should make it round the minimum two foot radius curves maybe

But that will depend entirely on how the coupling is set up.

regards John

[gabbyhayes]

John

Thanks.   Was thinking of a drawbar for ease (plus a pair less of couplers)  Then there was the question of mounting it.  

The MDC cars that I have are approx 8 - 10 years old and I'm not sure if they are made anymore.   Have seen some here for sale on ebay (aust) and as you stated I don't know how they would go on curves.   I havn't got anything set up yet so I can't tell. 

I think back to the shelf with them.

Gabby Hayes

[DannyS]

Gabby, MDC Ore Cars would be 1:32 Scale, your locomotives (Aristo & USA Trains) are 1:29, these probably look small when compared with the locos.  Permanent drawbar couplings would be a bother to put on and off the track, perhaps every second car could be permanently coupled ( as is done on the Goonyella Coal Railways here in Queensland.)

[gabbyhayes]

Thanks for the info danny.   The more I think about it more problems seem to crop up.   I was thinking of a permanent couple between 2 cars just for something different.   I think they are going to end up staying on the shelf - or get rid of them.  

Gabby Hayes