Can someone please tell me what types of cars use lower-shelf couplers, and what era? Am I correct in assuming only tank cars use the upper and lower shelf coupler?
Thanks, Ernie Carlson
Couplers were being converted about 25 years ago. In the Mississauga train derailment, the inquiry noted that these couplers were in the process of being installed, so that it would not put it in a recommendation. So starting about 1980, they should be on some of your tankers.
Any car that could cause a disaster if punctured should have the upper shelf. I think they have a similar idea for passnger couplers.
ive noticed the newest bnsf reefers have shelf couplers bnsf62
Jeff Wilson, in his Freight Cars book, published by MR, states Type F on tank cars carrying hazardous commodities since 1970 and SF since 1978. Kadee quotes excerpts of the 1980 “The Car and Locomotive Cyclopedia” withType H for passenger service as alternate in 1937 and standard in 1947. Type F became available in 1947 and adopted as an alternate in 1954. Get a packet of the Kadee 118 coupler for more full and complete explanation.
Reviving an old thread here, but now I’m looking for an answer. Are certain car types required to use lower shelf couplers? I’ve been noticing an awful lot of cars have them now. Hoppers, gondolas, reefers, well cars, and some boxes. Not everything, but it seems to be the majority of cars i’m seeing. And locos too. Thanks, Greg
If you buy a set from Kadee they have a little bit of history along with the instructions. As I recall, the double shelf is now required for tank cars. New locos I’ve seen are equipped with the lower shelf. Passenger cars are required to have shelf couplers and have been that way for a while.
The biggest issue with modeling them is to uncouple easily. With freight cars, you can easily use the Rix magnets or track magnet, even a pick. With passenger cars having diaphragms you cannot come in from the top and so having a track magnet or angled pick seems to work best. The good thing with modeling them is that you avoid accidental uncoupling on your long cars.
Richard
Double shelf couplers are required on tank cars. They have been getting applied to other car types, but likely as “stick a coupler on this thing and get it out of the shop” deal, not as a requirement. I think one of the big tank car lessors that also has a fleet of covered hoppers for plastic service has been putting the double shelf couplers on most everything that comes through the shop door. Keeps their inventory down, only have to stock 1 coupler.
Bottom shelf couplers are becoming more common. To my knowledge, they are not a requirement.
Passenger trains have Tightlock couplers, with the extra tabs on the side to help keep things together. Double shelf couplers and passenger cars don’t mix, as the diaphragms interfere with the upper shelf. Sometimes you can get lucky and get them apart, but tearing up the passenger car could happen as well.
Rotary couplers for coal trains and such look similar to the Tightlock.
Even though it is great to model the prototype and use shelf couplers, you really need quite decent trackwork that is relatively flat and/or allows for long, gradual upeasings and overeasings at your grades. Watch the coupler action when entering grades, especially on 2 differing length cars. A shelf coupler can actually cause a truck to be raised causing a derailment.
Good info. Thanks. I’m hoping Sergent will get more compatible shelf couplers soon. I want to try them out.
The corollary to that is using regular couplers can cause unintended uncoupling if the track work has too quick elevation changes. Using them has helped in some bad track areas us avoid unintended uncoupling for very long cars.
Richard
Hi Ernie!
Lower shelf couplers are mostly found on newer built covered hoppers, gondolas and locomotives. Double-shelf couplers are standard on all tank cars and can be also found on some covered hoppers designated to handle a chemical or petroleum product. Standard draft gear couplers are found on boxcars, covered hoppers (built prior to 2000), flatcars, gondolas (built prior to 2000), open-top hoppers (non-rotary), and older locomotives.
I use all three types of couplers on my layout depending on what kind the car specifies and I use an uncoupling pic to uncouple the cars. Since I am a professional railroader I have access to the UMLER system and it allows me to determine if the model railcar number actually exists, has been renumbered, what type of coupler it is equipped with and wheel size. You can learn about the UMLER system at www.railinc.com if you are interested. Also www.rrpicturearchive.net has pictures of almost every railcar rolling around the system.
Hope this helps and happy modeling!
Tim G.
Norfolk Southern Locomotive Engineer
Thanks Tim, Great info. Still haven’t determined if there is a regulation that requires the use of Lower Shelf couplers. But as I said initially, I see them on an aweful lot of cars, maybe it’s becoming a defacto standard. Don’t know for sure. I’m a locomotive engineer also, so I’ll try to register for that UMLER system also. Sounds like a fantastic resource. What brand of couplers do you use? I started installing some Kadee 119 shlef couplers on my Atlas 17,600 gal Corn Syrup tanks cars. They look decent. I wanted to install them on my Intermountain 19,600 gal Corn Syrup tank cars but discovered that Intermountain uses a narrower shank that is more scale size. Kadee couplers don’t fit the Intermountain draft gear, and I don’t want to downgrade the Intermountain “scale” draft gear to KAdee big draft gear. I’m still considering using Sergent couplers. I ordered some Sergent Narrow Shank SE couplers to try on my Intermountain tanks. Still hoping Sergent gets their equipment fixed and I can install some Sergent lower shelf couplers on my covered hoppers. Thanks, Greg
Hi Greg!
What RR do you work for? At work we use an internal system that accesses the UMLER database.
For modeling I use both Kadee and McHenry scale couplers and I use Athearn Genesis scale truck wheelsets for most of my equipment since the roller bearings actually move. I still have a number of cars that need to be updated. To make things simple I plan on purchasing the Micro Mark Car Card system since it comes with bad order waybills. Cars that need new scale couplers and wheelsets will receive bad order tags to route them to the shop on my layout. For Kadee couplers I use either #158 for standard draft gear couplers and #119 for couplers with a double-shelf (tank cars). I use McHenry #21 for lower shelf couplers, #41 for standard draft couplers and #71 for double shelf couplers (non-hazmat cars).
If you model present day such as myself I have found out the following manufacturers are producing models with correct car numbers actually roaming around the US.
Atlas Gold Line (modern equip)
Athearn RTR and Genesis (new modern equip)
Exact Rail (new modern equip)
Intermountain (newer equip)
Walthers (new modern equip)
Let me know if you need anything. Glad to help!
Tim
Hi Tim, Thanks for responding. I work for BNSF in Seattle. I’m branching in to HO scale, I also do N. I also like the current era. I like that I can walk around the yards and industries and see what is happening, what goes where. I haven’t checked out the Genesis trucks, but definitely will. I did order some Sergent double shelf couplers to try out on my Intermountain corn syrup cars, can’t wait to try them out. Take Care, Greg
If you have the time, look through this pdf from the AAR–it is a summary of the standards and recommended practices of the AAR. Section B covers couplers. I couldn’t keep taking the time to figure out which Document it’s in within B and what time frame but this document does address a new pin for type F couplers.
http://www.aar.com/aar_standards/pdf/MSRP-A1.pdf
Hope this helps.
Richard
Guys,
Thanks for the info, & those that are modeling them, please update the results!
Once I gain emplyment, these are near the top of my order list too…
Thanks again! Excellent Topic!!!