I am a railway modeler in the UK who has just dipped his toe into the exciting world of US Railroad modelling. At the present time I am having problems understanding the different coupling systems that are used in the US and was wondering if there is a web site somewhere that could explain how to convert Model Power, Tyco, Life Like and earlier Bachmann to the new E-Z mate 2 couplings which my brand new SD40 has. My biggest problem is because of access to American rolling stock and couplings, Bachmann in the UK is the first choice?
Please can any one advise me.
Cheers Jon
I would go with Kadee couplers any day, if they are available across the pond. I THINK you just open the coupling box, and put the coupler in (and spring, if appicable). Did the couplers come with a sheet of paper? Other people can probably help you more,
Morgan
Yes, go with kadee for sure, The E-Z mate couplers work fine for awhile but then the little plastic springs give out and your trains just fall apart. Also Ive learned the hard way that the plastic couplers in long trains just cant handle the stress and snap. Kadee all the way.
The OLD standard became the ‘X2F Horn hook’.
An ‘’'aftermarket standard became the metal KD #5 among better modelers.
Today’s ‘De Facto’ coupler is the KD-compaible plastic-knuckle coupler. A knock-off of the KD that doen’t vioate their patents.
The NMRA was formed to set standards for a new coupler - the X2F being one -and lnustry politics took it and ran, without it’s being approved. I think the problem was KD’s insistane on OEM royalties - still today.