riding behind a 3.5 gauge locomotive

[wendy jacksonParticipant @wendyjackson]

hi chaps for some mad reason i now own a 3.5 gauge locomotive. my riding car is for 5 gauge.before i hit the rails which are set for both gauges. i would like to ask if i could use my 5 gauge riding car or not. i have some fear of the car not tracking as it should. what are your views.Michael

[wendy jacksonParticipant @wendyjackson]

[Another JohnSParticipant @anotherjohns]

Of course you can use your riding car.

You will want to put another "hook" on the 5" riding car, offset from the centre so that the coupling bar between locomotive and riding car is straight.

I do have a 4-3/4" gauge riding car that I use when at tracks with 4-3/4" gauge (almost all over here in North America that cater to the smaller gauges; 5" is not popular at all, my local club excepted).

Another JohnS

[Sub MandrelParticipant @submandrel]

When I went on a dual gauge track the 5" driving cars had three holes for a towing pin. Centre for 5" gauge loco, and offset each side for 3 1/2" gauge with the common rail at left or right. If you only have a central attachement, add two more, 3/4" on each side of the central one.

Neil

[SteambuffParticipant @steambuff]

No problem, like everyone said, just offset your coupling on the riding car. When I got my 5" gauge riding car from "Ride on Railways", I had them make me a custom coupling … with 3 holes, the center one for 5" and the outside ones for 3 1/2" when running on dual track.

Dave

[Author]

Posts