Couplings

[Bill DawesParticipant @billdawes]

Hi all, my Emma Victoria design shows a hook and chain for coupling up, is this adequate or should a solid coupling of some sort be fitted, should it be a simple solid bar or a screwed type.

Bill D.

[Howard LewisParticipant @howardlewis46836]

I think that most model engineering societies would want a solid bar type coupling between locomotive and the passenger car, with a chain as an additional safety feature.

If the loco is battery electric, the cable from the controller to the loco should have the socket on the loco facing fore and aft, so that in the event of a breakaway, the controller will be disconnected and the loco come to a halt.

Those are the functions for the locos that we run on our club portable track.

Howard

[duncan webster 1Participant @duncanwebster1]

At our club you can use either. I’ve never seen anyone have bar and chain, whether our club members or visitors. However, it’s not a bad idea. What is essential is to have a way of stopping the coupling pin working it’s way out. It has been known, and can be spectacular. We insist on a lock, often an R clip through the bottom of the pin, but some use pit pins.

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