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trying to identify type of coupler

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  • Member since
    November 2012
  • 22 posts
trying to identify type of coupler
Posted by JnJ'slittletrain on Saturday, December 29, 2012 9:31 PM

I'm trying to find out what style of coupler  this is on the boxcar. I thought it was micro trains, so I ordered conversions for the few cars I have. When I received them they are not the same style as the boxcar in the picture. People on the forums seem to have good things to say about micro train couplers so I figured that I would give it a shot. Aside from being miserable to assemble, they don't even come close to working as smoothly or as reliably as the coupler on the boxcar I have already. Odd thing is that the boxcar is a micro trains car so I just assumed that it had micro train couplers. The car that has the body removed is one that I converted with the micro trains couplers I purchased.

  • Member since
    February 2002
  • From: Reading, PA
  • 30,002 posts
Posted by rrinker on Saturday, December 29, 2012 9:58 PM

 Is that an Athearn/MDC car? That's probably a McHenry then, looks closest to that

http://www.nscaledivision.com/information_on_couplers.htm

 

Been a long time since I did N, but in HO there is nothing better than the genuine Kadee (Micro Trains).

                 --Randy


Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's

 

Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.

  • Member since
    December 2011
  • From: Northern Minnesota
  • 2,774 posts
Posted by NP2626 on Sunday, December 30, 2012 7:01 AM

It is always a good idea to preface a post about a problem with some general information such as what scale does your question relate too.  I read over your post a couple times and I finally got the impression you are talking about N-Scale.  Sorry can't help; but, good luck getting answer.

NP 2626 "Northern Pacific, really terrific"

Northern Pacific Railway Historical Association:  http://www.nprha.org/

  • Member since
    January 2001
  • From: SE Minnesota
  • 6,845 posts
Posted by jrbernier on Sunday, December 30, 2012 10:11 AM

  That appears to be an Atlas N scale car - Atlas uses 'Accumate' couplers.  Exacty what are you wanting to accomplish?  The coupler looks good.  MT couplers usually come with their own truck, or you can buy them setup for 'body mounting' - You will need to build 'pads' to get the coupler height correct, and drill/tap for either a 00-90 or 0-80 screw for mounting.

Jim

Modeling BNSF  and Milwaukee Road in SW Wisconsin

  • Member since
    June 2012
  • 2,297 posts
Posted by Burlington Northern #24 on Sunday, December 30, 2012 11:08 AM

looks like an MTL, errr... the coupler does.

MTL has a shorter whisker that is often a bronze or golden color. they come with black plastic wheels and are heftily weighted.

Atlas' accumates have a longer whisker on their couplers, that is black. it doesn't stick up above the top of the coupler. they're trucks come equipped with brown plastic wheels.

was this car a rapido equipped one? 

SP&S modeler, 1960's give or take a decade or two for some equipment.

 http://www.youtube.com/user/SGTDUPREY?feature=guide 

Gary DuPrey

N scale model railroader 

  • Member since
    November 2012
  • 22 posts
Posted by JnJ'slittletrain on Tuesday, January 1, 2013 6:35 PM

Sorry guys, I forgot to mention that I'm modeling in N scale. My plan is to operate my small layout with some small industries that will provide places for some switching. The overall goal is to do this hands free. I've found the coupler on the boxcar to work best, even better than the micro trains couplers. The plan in my head is to bury electro magnets below the sleepers to avoid accidental uncouplings and a clean appearance. The McHenery couplers seem to work very well over the permanent magnets so I'm in hopes that they will work as well with the elctro magnets.

I've been looking around this past weekend to find the parts to make the coversions. It seems that they will be a direct replacement for all the atlas acumate couplers I already have. The only downfall so far that I have found is that they only come in athearn models or will replace the acumate couplers.  I have ordered 6 pair and will see how they convert and work on the atlas rolling stock and atlas locomotives I have. If they work well, I will purchase atlas wheel sets and modify them to work on my bachman cars too.

thanks for the help.

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