Branchline Passenger Cars

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
1

Hi, Does anyone have better way to assemble the car end diaphragms ( than what is recommended by Branchline) ? I’ve thought of using the Walthers 933-429, but they look horrid.Any help would be appreciated. Thanks, Mike

2

They are garbage. You don’t need/want to know how to assemble them. Throw them away.

I use ALM diaphragms. They come with assembly instructions.

http://www.americanlimitedmodels.com/diaphragms.htm

Mark

3

Looks like the way to go. Thanks to Mark.

4

The Branchline diaphrams are great if you know how to build them. I have them on all my BL cars with narry an issue.

David B

5

I’m going to agree and disagree with everyone on this topic.

The Branchline diaphragms can be built as designed and do work fine - with other Branchline cars.

BUT, if you want to couple them to other brands of cars, and you desire all your cars to have diaphragms that touch and stay touching all the time during operation, you are going to want the American Limited product on all your passenger cars.

AND, you are going to want to do a little testing to fine the best coupler/diaphragm relationship for each brand of car you put them on.

For me personally, nothing kills the appearence of passenger equipment like diaphragms that leave gaps between cars or only touch some of the time.

But that’s just my standard, that I apply to my models, I know others who are less picky.

Sheldon

6

I agree with Sheldon, especially that a passenger train should look like a snake if one’s curve radii permit it.

Mark

7

This is why I choose to run mostly 72’ freelanced cars even though I have 36" radius and largr curves.

Sheldon