Magnetic brake line and MU cable for HO scale

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
1

The ongoing search for realism.

For years I’ve imagined my rolling stock having easy-to-use couple-able steam and brake lines, and locomotives with couple-able MU cables. Using tiny magnets and some heavy thread or other product glued to the magnets and installed on every car seemed the best prospect.

The only ready-to-use product I’ve found like this is offered by Pacific Western Rail Systems (www.pwrs.ca), which exactly matches what I’ve long imagined. Here’s a link to a demonstration video on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vI6t4TIiMwE. The video does not appear to be from the manufacturer, and I am in no way afffiliated with them or offer myself as an expert, representative or advocate for them, so I have no stake in providing the above links or information. I just want to know more.

So I’m asking if any of you have experience using, installing, maintaining, operating with and/or creating your own such magnet-based version of products like this. If so, your willingness to share that experience will be much appreciated.

I take note of one aspect of using such a product that raises serious questions for me. In all the product information coupler trip pins are always removed. I’d love to read any discussion of the pros and cons of sacrificing coupler trip pins to be able to use these lines and cables.

Specific questions: do such lines using magnets really require trip pin removal? Is the magnet strength such that they’d really interfere with trip pins left on the couplers, or anything else along the right-of-way? Would trip pin uncoupling operate as intended even with these lines & cables installed?

I love the improved prototypical appearance of these cables. But I wonder about drawbacks. If anyone wants to contribute your thoughts about advantages an

2

I live close enough to PWRS that I get in there several times a year and buy most of my stuff there as I don’t need to pay to ship. They had a demo track in the office way back when these things came out and I started playing with it and can only say they are very cool.

Can’t help with any of your questions though.

3

This product line could add a lot of realism, and the video showing the product is intriguing. However, it did not seem to be in big demand at the time it was introduced. If you google it, all references to this item are from around 2015. Thus, it seems that the manufacturer decided not to bring this item to the market. If you ask me, that is a shame. I would have loved to try it.

4

PWRS/NARC has just received a new batch. I think they do well selling these.

https://www.pwrs.ca/product_search.php?Page=1&f_Manufacturers[]=11&f_ProductTypes=null&f_Keywords=&f_HasSound=0&f_HasDCC=0&InStock=1&NewArrival=1

5

**

a friend just recieved some & loves them**

6

With free rolling cars I think that the magnets would not separate when uncoupling, especially when uncoupling from a single or small cut of cars.

If the Kadee pins are left in place the magnets would probably stick to the pins instead of to each other. You would also have the appearance of two hoses instead of one.

I would like to have a way of coupling the walkway chains between units.

Mark