Trains.com

Subscriber & Member Login

Login, or register today to interact in our online community, comment on articles, receive our newsletter, manage your account online and more!

Draw bars

2199 views
11 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    March 2011
  • 1,950 posts
Draw bars
Posted by NVSRR on Monday, March 6, 2023 6:35 AM

Is there a source for them?    if. It what is the best material to make them from.  Length obvioucly varies.  Height and width measurement s.   Probably don't.    I need two bars.  For both the slug sets I am working on.  One set is both atlas, the other is an atlas with bli.  Just in case that is needed for the coupler pocket sizing.  The length I can adjust as need be if I make them.  

shane

A pessimist sees a dark tunnel

An optimist sees the light at the end of the tunnel

A realist sees a frieght train

An engineer sees three idiots standing on the tracks stairing blankly in space

  • Member since
    April 2021
  • From: saskabush
  • 127 posts
Posted by wvgca on Monday, March 6, 2023 6:50 AM

easiest way is to make them from black styrene

  • Member since
    January 2019
  • 2,572 posts
Posted by John-NYBW on Monday, March 6, 2023 7:10 AM

wvgca

easiest way is to make them from black styrene

 

Even better, cut up an old credit card and paint it black. It has just the right amount of stiffness. Somebody recommended that to me years ago and it works like a charm for getting my F-units to the desired spacing.

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • 136 posts
Posted by Mark B on Monday, March 6, 2023 7:35 AM

I think I'll try this with my wife's current credit cards.

Mark B.

  • Member since
    September 2002
  • 7,486 posts
Posted by ndbprr on Monday, March 6, 2023 7:44 AM

on regular engines rather then slugs how do you dawbar say two gp30s as an example.  do you do them elephant style with cabs in the same direction or with cabs at the ends? my preference is both cabs same direction.

  • Member since
    January 2017
  • From: Southern Florida Gulf Coast
  • 18,255 posts
Posted by SeeYou190 on Monday, March 6, 2023 8:13 AM

NVSRR
Is there a source for them?    if. It what is the best material to make them from.  Length obvioucly varies.  Height and width measurement s.   Probably don't.    I need two bars.  For both the slug sets I am working on.  One set is both atlas, the other is an atlas with bli.  Just in case that is needed for the coupler pocket sizing.  The length I can adjust as need be if I make them.  

Shane: I have had excellent results with these from State Tool & Die, and available from Walthers for a very reasonable price.

These get cut into one of three lengths to meet your needs.

The holes need to be enlarged slightly, and they will fit into Kadee #242 coupler boxes, or an OEM box that fits a Kadee coupler.

-Kevin

Living the dream.

  • Member since
    January 2019
  • 2,572 posts
Posted by John-NYBW on Monday, March 6, 2023 10:53 AM

Mark B

I think I'll try this with my wife's current credit cards.

Mark B.

 

Sounds like a win/win.

  • Member since
    January 2019
  • 2,572 posts
Posted by John-NYBW on Monday, March 6, 2023 10:57 AM

SeeYou190

 

 
NVSRR
Is there a source for them?    if. It what is the best material to make them from.  Length obvioucly varies.  Height and width measurement s.   Probably don't.    I need two bars.  For both the slug sets I am working on.  One set is both atlas, the other is an atlas with bli.  Just in case that is needed for the coupler pocket sizing.  The length I can adjust as need be if I make them.  

 

Shane: I have had excellent results with these from State Tool & Die, and available from Walthers for a very reasonable price.

These get cut into one of three lengths to meet your needs.

The holes need to be enlarged slightly, and they will fit into Kadee #242 coupler boxes, or an OEM box that fits a Kadee coupler.

-Kevin

 

That's an interesting option and at that price, it's hard to go wrong. I might have to give it a try.

  • Member since
    April 2004
  • From: Ontario Canada
  • 3,574 posts
Posted by Mark R. on Monday, March 6, 2023 11:25 AM

I've made drawbars by gluing two Kadee couplers together and just install both ends in the original coupler boxes. Use epoxy from the bottom so it fills the gap where the knuckles join. This way, when you look between the engines, it still looks like they are "coupled" together.

 

Mark.

¡ uʍop ǝpısdn sı ǝɹnʇɐuƃıs ʎɯ 'dlǝɥ

  • Member since
    January 2004
  • From: Canada, eh?
  • 13,375 posts
Posted by doctorwayne on Monday, March 6, 2023 1:09 PM

The only time I need drawbars is for coupling a tender to a steam locomotive, and it's very easy to make them, using either black sheet styrene, or brass or aluminum sheet material.

Wayne

  • Member since
    September 2014
  • From: 10,430’ (3,179 m)
  • 2,311 posts
Posted by jjdamnit on Monday, March 6, 2023 1:35 PM

Hello All,

Mark R.
I've made drawbars by gluing two Kadee couplers together and just install both ends in the original coupler boxes. Use epoxy from the bottom so it fills the gap where the knuckles join. This way, when you look between the engines, it still looks like they are "coupled" together.

Great suggestion!!!

Here's a photo of the close coupling of a prototypical F7 A-B set at the Colorado Railroad Museum...

For close coupling, Kadee #23 (#5 type spring) or #143 (whisker type spring) would work, albeit more expensive than the drawbars from Walthers.

If using Kadee couplers I would cut off the trip pins.

Hope this helps.

"Uhh...I didn’t know it was 'impossible' I just made it work...sorry"

  • Member since
    March 2011
  • 1,950 posts
Posted by NVSRR on Tuesday, March 7, 2023 6:01 AM

That is a good idea.   I have a bunch of those mchenry version I could use. That and the credit card idea.  

shane

A pessimist sees a dark tunnel

An optimist sees the light at the end of the tunnel

A realist sees a frieght train

An engineer sees three idiots standing on the tracks stairing blankly in space

Subscriber & Member Login

Login, or register today to interact in our online community, comment on articles, receive our newsletter, manage your account online and more!

Users Online

There are no community member online

Search the Community

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Model Railroader Newsletter See all
Sign up for our FREE e-newsletter and get model railroad news in your inbox!