Large Scale Central

Helping Thomas keep it together

General Discussion
#1

See, I’m different from most. My railroad is now, and has been since its re-incarnation, strictly 1:20.3 scale.

Until Thomas arrived last week, that is.

Now, don’t get me wrong. Every kid under the age of 10 (well, with one special exception) wants to know where Thomas is. Now, he’s here, and they can run him, and I don’t have to worry so much about someone cracking up #7 or worse #45… so I’m glad he’s arrived on the property!

But, we’ve discovered that in addition to being wired backwards, which is easy to fix, that he won’t stay coupled to his cars as delivered.

Again, no big deal. The only thing I ever expect Thomas to pull are Annie and Clarabelle. Now, I might be tempted to temporarily fit him with a knuckle coupler on the back end so he can do some “Day Out with Thomas” with his Slate Creek brethren making for some neat photo ops … but largely it’ll just be Thomas, and his two brown compadres.

So … I’m not entirely familiar with the manner of coupling on the “prototype” for the kind of train Thomas was conceived from … but my understanding is it’s some kind of chain connecting cars with the “buffers” to keep them apart.

Would it therefore be prototypical to equip Thomas et al with chains and hooks just slightly longer than the reach of the “buffers” and be done with it? If not, I’ll probably just wire the hook and loops together with small snaprings.

Anyone got a photo of “real” railway carriages connected in the manner Thomas and friends stylizes?

Matthew (OV)

#2

Matthew,

Fun, eh?!

I’d fix the H&L, trying the chains could lead to the buffers getting tangled in downhill curves. :wink: :slight_smile:

#3

Ah, but the Techincal Advisor AND the Enthusiastic Child claim no problems!

How can you have coupler problems when they say there is no problem?

#4

I would liken it to a ‘production’ car race. It seems the factory entered ‘production’ car, always has the edge over the privately sponsored car.

Matt,
I would not use chains as you will suffer constant derailment due buffer lock, particularly in reverse direction. I would remove one hook and try assymetrical coupling, as LGB use.

#5

Thomas, Annie, and Clarabel use british coupler that are basicaly a hook on each end of the rolling stock that are connected using a three-link chain.

(http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4e/Chain_coupler_detail.jpg/449px-Chain_coupler_detail.jpg)

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coupling_(railway)#Three-link_couplings The North Carolina Transportation Museum has a European car on display in the roundhouse that uses the same couplers.

#6

I guess maybe I don’t have a problem after all.

I just wish the automatic uncoupler system wasn’t quite so … enthusiastic. Or at least waited for the appropriate five-digit protocol instruction before uncoupling.

Since I don’t intend to switch with the little guy, this will be a whole lot easier. One way or another, I’ll stick them together; I was just curious as to the above configuration (thanks for the photo!) I suspect you’re right; trying to chain these might be more trouble than it’s worth!

Matthew (OV)

#7

not sure what we’re gonna do, may try a few links?

#8

I don’t have one, so just going by what I’ve read here. I think if both symmetrical and asymmetrical fails with the hook & loop, I’d get rid of the hooks and use something like a small wire tie to hold them together. Not elegant, but it should work.

Could it be the Bachman H & L couplers? Might try some Aristo or LGB H&Ls. Could be that the Bachman ones are just a bit sloppy. If you don’t have any I have plenty of surplus.

#9

I tried some zip-ties…worked o.k…

(http://www.lscdata.com/users/cale_nelson/Thomas/RoyandThomas.jpg)

#10

I had no problems with the hook and loop as well as the bachmann knuckles both in and outdoors. I have used the bachmann track as well as LGB R1. Its strange that some are having problems and others not. Typical Bachmann

#11

If you hook up the cars so there is only one hook between cars it seems to work.

Set it up so there are 2 hooks between 2 cars, then as the cars go around a corner, the hooks can hit each other.

This is why many manufacturers supplied cars with a hook and loop on one end, and a LOOP ONLY on the other.

Try it, it will work.

Regards, Greg