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7 Responses to Will Long Passenger Cars Uncouple Over Joints?
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I use E-Z Coupling when hooking my OO coached to my 00/HO locos, my problem with the tension bar coupling, is that on tight corners it can derail the coach/wagon. That is the problem I have.
I model in O scale, but we’re subject to similar issues with cars that have a long overhang between the end sill and the truck bolster.
Long passenger cars (and 89-foot flats/auto racks/86′ Hy Cubes) generally won’t uncouple over even/level track joints, provided you aren’t trying to force them through ultra-sharp curves. However, vertical kinks will cause uncoupling with horn-hook couplers (and even with Kadees under extreme circumstances.) Bottom line is you should make sure your track work is good.
Check the track see if it is level. Make shore the springs are in good shape.
if a passenger car has truck mounted couplers they need to be converted to body mount. On curves
the truck mounted couplers have a tendency to be pulled into curve and derail.
I have Ho Athearns passenger cars and pull up,to 10 in a consistent with a 2% grade with no problem. I have found kadee couplers work the best but mounting them to the car body will cause problems. They should be able to turn into the curves. I have twenty four inch radii.
I am in full agreement with Joe, Walter & Normans comments. track levels are vital especially on transitions to up/down grades. I model USA equipment and keep my radii for track 28″ min but 30″ min main line. I have a piece of equipment from Micromark that checks track misalignment and free running and by soft gluing a small bubble level on it, it is accurate to show misalignments. I learned this the hard way when starting to run 2-6-6-6 locos over a seemingly no problem areas and seeing them derail frequently. As per the ?? of truck mounted couplers ,I do have some truck mounted on 85ft cars with no problems but I do like the appearance of cars being close coupled with diaphragms.The real guys do it anyway. But in most cases it comes down to the issue of track radii, and accurate levels,as before I model USA HO railroads.I live in the western highlands of Panama, Chiriqui ,district.is there anyone else out here, gets a bit lonely, Regards to all keep up the website, John
Ray Couplers should not be coming apart at all. What type of coupler are you using?? If that happens alot, I would change all your couplers to relieable ones that work better. YES it may be expensive to do this but don’t you want a train that looks great and work great also? Check your track work for bumps I.E. hills and valleys in the track work. In other words = is your track level and
flat where you say it comes apart?