Large Scale Central

Answering those "Operational" questions

Operations
#21
Curmudgeon said:
Guy came by with a string of Bachmann 3-bays with the small Kadees.

Any up and down in the track, they lifted over each other.


Simple solution–smooth track. No abrupt up and down, no uncoupling. Been working on my dad’s line in MD for the 20+ years we’ve been using Kadee #1 scale couplers on the line. I didn’t say “no grades,” just that vertical transitions are as important to smooth operation as horizontal ones are. Methinks that your track crew’s got some work ahead of 'em, Dave. :slight_smile:

Curmudgeon said:
Oh, and then there was Kevin......lifting cars to uncouple them, but that's another story.
Worked, didn't it? Waddaya expect? You didn't give me a screwdriver. (Heck, I would have settled for a gin and tonic!) ;) Actually, Dave was a very gracious host, contrary to what he'd have us believe. He even let me park my rent-a-Chevy in his driveway, though I'm pretty sure he disinfected it after I left.

Later,

K

#22

Disinfected and pressure washed, then inspected by the health department.

BTW, the yay-who was using 1:32 Kadees, somewhere between the smaller #1 ga and “0” scale.

Outdoors, even on concrete, you can’t get it level enough with long cars.

#23

Er, Dave…

I’m looking at a 1987 ad for Kadees that states their #1 scale coupler as 1:32, and their G-scale coupler as 1:24. I can’t say for certain that they didn’t at one point experiment with a coupler between #1 and O scale, 'cuz I’m not as omniscient, but methinks you may not be remembering entirely correctly. Their #1 scale coupler was originally intended for the high-dollar 1:32 offerings from Aster, J&M, and others, and was available before Aristo–then REA–introduced their 1:29 stuff. The #820 (#1 scale-1:32) coupler I bought 20 years ago is the same size as the one I picked up last week from Caboose. I’m definitely curious about this “tween size” coupler.

And if this fellow was using smaller-than-#1 scale body mounted couplers, then of course they’re going to be more susceptible to uneven track. You can’t base the performance of #1 and G-scale body mounted couplers on someone using something entirely different. The G-scale couplers are going to be better than the #1 scale couplers when it comes to uneven track. It’s physics. The smaller the height of the coupler, the less tolerance there is for unevenness.

Later,

K

#24

It’s been a while, and he was just out of “0”, and was all gaa-gaa over these, and let me tell you they were small.

Bigger than “0”, but smaller than what I am used to now.

The long Bachmann 3-bays, any dips in the track that occur with Mother Nature and they were over the top of each other.

And you know the condition of the CCRy.

#25

Compare the Kadee “G” scale/gauge coupler with the Accucraft couplers that everyone is raving about…they sure seem to be durned close in size.

So if this guy “K” seems to think that the Kadee “G” couplers are 1:24; then what are the Accucraft couplers ?

The Kadee #1 “Scale” couplers are probably close for 1:29, but sure look good on 1:22.5 rolling stock.

You have to remember that in my lifetime, a lot of model railroad couplers were weird in design, and way oversize. I grew to enjoy anything that was “Other than” oversize.
In fact, I started out in “Large Scale” using Kadee “O” Scale couplers, because they worked well, and for once, were NOT oversize. There was nothing else except loop and hook.

When the 820’s came out; I was overjoyed and grabbed on to them for dear life; and have never looked back.

They work well in our operations, and just about everyone around here has standardised on them.

Fr.Fred

#26
Fred Mills said:
... So if this guy "K" seems to think that the Kadee "G" couplers are 1:24; then what are the Accucraft couplers ?

The Kadee #1 “Scale” couplers are probably close for 1:29, but sure look good on 1:22.5 rolling stock.


Now, Fred, before you go jumping all over me, note that I was only quoting what Kadee stated was the scale of their couplers. I never said I agreed with it. The fact is that when measured in the scales stated by Kadee, both their #1 and “G” scale couplers are oversized. Both come out just over 16" across, where the prototype coupler is 14" across (according to drawings in John White’s The American Railroad Freight Car).

When Kadee introduced their large scale couplers, there was little doubt in anyone’s mind that the G scale couplers were oversized. That’s largely why so many of us–you and I included–jumped on board with the #1 scale couplers instead. As you state, they looked far more in proportion with the trains, which at that time were virtually all 1:22.5 or 1:24. No one even cared that they were actually oversized in 1:32 because virtually no one was doing 1:32. In retrospect, it really makes one wonder why Kadee brought out the #1 scale coupler in the first place. Was it an unintentional success or a well-thought-out gamble?

The ironic thing is that Kadee was unwittingly ahead of its time. When you measure the #1 scale couplers to today’s “de facto” scale for standard gauge (1:29) and the G scale coupler to 1:20.3, they both scale out quite nicely–within 3/4" of the prototype. What’s more, when you measure the “#1” scale coupler at 1:20.3, it scales out to 10"–the width of a 3/4 scale Janney coupler which was adopted by many US narrow gauge railroads.

I only wish that Accucraft would have made their 1:32 couplers operable. Then, I’d perhaps have a prototypically working 3/4 scale Janney coupler for my 1:20.3 equipment. (Sure, I may occasionally lift the cars to uncouple them, but dammit I’m not gonna do it to put 'em together! :wink: )

Later,

K

#27

Post duplicated. No need for redundancy. Bob, please delete this one if you get a chance.

#28

May I as a mere Englishman , dare to comment on this National Day of American Independence about a 2 full size inch difference on the size of couplers ?
That works out to 1/10 of an inch max . on the model .
Not far from these excrescences (depending on your viewpoint) are wheels with flanges also 1/10 inch out of sorts .
And these are running , no doubt in plastic (PLASTIC!!!) sideframes , carried under a plastic(ditto) chassis , …you know where this is going don’t you ?
Why don’t you just enjoy your trains and stop gazing at your navel ?
The point about couplers not mating with each other is useful to know .
Just thank your lucky stars you don’t have LGB style couplers to contend with
Mike
Happy Anniversary

#29
Mike Morgan said:
Why don't you just enjoy your trains and stop gazing at your navel ?
You have such a way of pointing out the heart of the matter.
#30

I don’t know, Mike.
Two inches can make a lot of difference to some folks in some circumstances…

he said, recalling certain SPAM e-mails of late flogging a certain enhancement drug…

#31

hehe Careful, Dave. There’s a little brat present

#32

Dave ,
I’d heard about that 2 inch question , but ya hafta ask , what’s 20percent between friends ?
Mike