Garden Railway Forum

Hey Folks,

I'm currently exploring couplings as I begin getting my stock together and somewhat uniform. As the premise is mostly old WDLR stock, I want it to be semi-authentic and scale size. I've got a few tippers that use chain couplings but this doesn't feel right with locomotives (especially WDLR Baldwin's etc.) so am looking at link and pin or some combination of both.

Any suggestions?

I like using Acccuraft choppers because unlike with link and chain the rolling stock does not bang into each other when you stop or start up.

They are also cheap and can be modified.

SpudUk:97124 wrote:
I'm currently exploring couplings
Any suggestions?

Hi,
take a look at the range on the Brandbright website. Assuming what is on the website are still available, you should find some interesting examples. They will also be at the show at Peterborough. Also look at the Swift Sixteen website as they have examples ranging from some very basic cast resin blocks to cast brass posh ones.
Like tom tom I mainly use Accucraft choppers but they are a little long and create large gaps between items of stock. It is possible to reduce the length but I can't remember where I read the article explaining how to do this.
Hope this helps.

The two that look most promising for me at the moment are either the Swift Sixteen drawbar couplings (http://www.swiftsixteen.com/productDeta ... oductID=77) or the Brandbright multi-height ones (http://www.brandbright.co.uk/product_in ... cts_id=170) or some combination of the two

SpudUk:97132 wrote:The two that look most promising for me at the moment are either the Swift Sixteen drawbar couplings (http://www.swiftsixteen.com/productDeta ... oductID=77) or the Brandbright multi-height ones (http://www.brandbright.co.uk/product_in ... cts_id=170) or some combination of the two

Got both these, I think they look great and certainly work well...

Swift Sixteen below.

Hi Andrew,

How do you find they work in practice? Are they compatible with each other and do they help with stock of varied heights?

Chris

IMHO it depends on what loco or items of rolling stock. I am trying to standardise on some form of centre buffer type unit as these can be coupled to almost anything else (the paper clip can be your friend here!).
However I am rebuilding a couple of small shunters that will be used to pull small trains of skips or hoppers and these seem to look better with multi height link and pin types fitted to the buffer beams. So this is what I will use.
My own experience with chopper types is they can prove troublesome on tight corners and undulating track.

For those who like to make things comes this gem from the past -
http://www.merionethrailwaysociety.com/ ... mm-19.html
Tim

SpudUk:97275 wrote:Hi Andrew,

How do you find they work in practice? Are they compatible with each other and do they help with stock of varied heights?

Chris

Hi Chris,

This is Rob's quote from the Swift Sixteen website.

The pin remains lose so the draw bar can be fitted or removed. There is also plenty of movement within the coupling, allowing for almost any track condition.

Now, the track on my line is one, level and two, almost as perfect as I can get it...
It's only been down for a year and as of yet there has been little or no ground movement.

But.

I can vouch for the fact that these SS Link & Pin couplers have a serious amount of play in them, Both vertically & horizontally.
The main reason for my adoption of Link & Pin is the tight reverse curves on my line.

My only criticism of the SS Link & Pin couplings (apart from the price) is the depth (thickness) of the Link/Bar. They work superbly when coupled to other SS Link & Pin's but won't fit into most of the other Link & Pin couplings that I have - AnDel, Brandbright, homemade, etc.
This is the reason for the homemade link in the image above.

Below is my RH Jack with the Brandbright "Multi-height" Couplings.