|
Broken couplers are a problem for many model railroaders
and are often caused by hitting the bumpers too hard. This problem can be solved by
the addition of two small nails just before the bumpers. Placed exactly two and a
half ties from the bumper, the nails are inserted so they catch the axel of the car
and keep the coupler from hitting the bumper. This could save you many couplers and
lower your level of frustration too. In the photo the nails have been painted red
to make them easier to see.
A Broken Or Stuck Coupler
Couplers must be free to swing from side to side (some are sprung to one side,
or made so they return to center). Broken or stuck couplers can force cars off the
track. If a coupler won't budge when you try to move it from side to side, then
don't force it. More than likely it will need professional repair.
Remove Trains With Drooping Couplers For
Repair
When traveling on grades, cars near the head end of heavy trains, are subjected
to an incredible degree of pull. This can force one knuckle up and out of the
other. When the opposite coupler goes down it can loosen until the actuating pin
snags things between the rails. Remove any cars with drooping couplers until they
are repaired.
Cause Of Model Train Derailment
Identified
Derailments and accidents can happen frequently with model train layouts for any
number of reasons. Regardless of how good the trackwork is on your model train
layout - derailments still happen.
Sometimes model train derailments are caused by a super-light flatcar being
shoved behind a heavy boxcar, or a hopper with out-of-gauge wheelsets somewhere
waiting to pick a switchpoint or be forced off the track. S-curves on model train
layouts can also prove a hazard for passenger cars.
|
.JPG "kadee couplers")
