Real braking for N scale wagons

[Anonymous]

Greetings from Western Australia!
In my (admittedly limited) experience with N scale switching I've had the problem of couplings not engaging with each other, but instead, just pushing the stationary wagon along the track. Perhaps a disadvantage of have the very free running bearing we have today. Now I'm talking about Kadee type equipment here so this must affect many other modellers out there.

Does anyone have any suggestions as to how to brake a wagon until the coupling are connected?

I've thought of setting up a rectractable pin that would emerge though a hole in the baseboard at a certain point on a siding, which would poke up into a little piece of foam mounted under a wagon, effectively holding the vehicle in place.
Does this make sense?

Any thoughts would be appreciated.

[Anonymous]

I run HO scale and not N, but I have run into your issue. I also run Kadee, mostly #5. I've found that when the couplers don't couples it's generally because they aren't centered (assuming the coupler is in good working order). This is generally caused in HO by the spring plate not returning the coupler to center. This can happen because the spring is warn out or the cover plate on the coupler box is too tight and causing friction, etc.

Again, I don't have any N scale so I don't know if this helps or not, but check to see if your couplers are actually straight.

Warren

[DSchmitt]

Its been done to keep cars from running away on grades.

Cars might derail if pushed together too hard.

Would only work where you installed "brakes"

For their N scale trucks Microtrains used to sell springs which when installed made the trucks less free rolling. I never felt the need for them so don't know if they are still available.

Try warrenjbell's sugestions first..

[Anonymous]

I have had the same problem in HO using Kadee and other brand couplers. even if all the couplers are in good working order and centred etc. if i just nudge a car very gently then it starts to roll instead of coupling. The problem is then you speed up the loco a bit to increase the force on the couplers to make them couple but it just pushes the wagon faster.

Before you know it you loco is chasing the car off the end of the siding!

I have found no solution to this. We need the HO (or N) equivalent of the brakeman to go between the cars an give the sticky knuckles a wallop with a stick.

neil

[Wdlgln005]

Since the Nscale cars are very seldom "loaded" they also may be a bit light. The "pin" you suggested could simulate the brake applied. Just be sure to wait a bit to pump up the air before taking off. Also. jostle the cars a bit to be sure the knucle has closed tight. You might leave the car at the station.