Coupling compatibility

[Dave S]

1) I guess this is the wrong place to meet women.

2) My only experience to date with models... railways that is ...is hornby.
Planning a new layout hornby will again be my core trains / rolling stock.

Should I be considering other OO m/f's or is that a pain with differing couplings?
...and if so, can they easily be swapped for hornby type? (e.g., with screwdriver) or are they made to deter this and use hollow type rivets or moulded in needing specialist tools?

I've yet to check out electric uncouplers. Are they generic, m/f wise or do you have to hornby version to work with hornby etc?

I'm thinking I should try and stick to one region, GWR, so need to cast my net a little with other m/f's for variety, but at same don't want to introduce problems.

TIA
Dave

[Walkingthedog]

I ran all makes of UK outline and they all coupled together. Eventually, just to standardise, I changed all couplings to narrow tension lock versions, but it wasn’t actually necessary.

Others will say they don’t work, but for me they did, for many years.

[dtb]

With regards to OO gauge I have coupled many wagons and coaches together without issue, manufacturers such as Hornby, Bachmann, Dapol, Mainline, Airfix, blah blah blah. Dapol couplings can sometimes droop a little on some wagons and loco's, The Class 68 as an example as it wouldn't couple to Hornby Mk3 coaches very easily. I didn't like Hornby Mk3 coaches so I sold them.

A lot of Hornby wagons have the larger D coupling but these are compatible with the small narrow NEM couplings that most manufacturers use currently. For my Bachmann / Hornby period coaches I use the Hornby close coupling or the shorter Roco version which closes the gap between coaches as these just clip into the NEM pockets on the coaches.
Most manufacturers now use NEM couplings that can be changed as the coupling clips into a pocket, again as I do not buy Hornby wagons I am unable to comment if the larger D coupling can be changed as easily.

There are many resources on the web for you to familiarize with the different systems and types, here is one example,
https://rail-record.co.uk/which-coupler ... auge-rail/

Welcome to the site and happy modelling

[Dave S]

Thank-you WTD and DTB.
WTD, " UK outline" , not a familiar expression tome, does that mean any world m/f that sells models of UKl trains?
I guess there is a business imperative there, as they will want to exploit the home market with its own m/f to compete with.

DTB I wasn't aware of the coupling names so you have educated me.

I have spent 2 weeks researching DDC options and technicalities leaving me frazzled and not enjoying what should be a pleasure.
As a distraction I've started buying ebay items, to bring back some of the fun.

That's a great link DTB. Before posting, different images didn't tell me about compatibility, so went through 20+ pages of several forums with no luck.
It is good to know hands on perspective of real folks.

I haven't come across Dapol before, so assumed they are foreign....seems I am right as an Englishman, being made in Wales!
As I'm after GWR it is a good omen.

Thank-you too for the warm welcome.
The last time I did railway modelling, there was no forums, no internet and calculators were new out and could display what to put on rolling stock - 710.11345.

Dave

[Walkingthedog]

I used UK outline because I had a few Heljan UK locos and Bachmann make other than UK products. I did end up with a Bachmann USA loco but they use completely different types of coupling.

[IanS]

Take care with E-bay items - some of the older ones have rivets holding in the couplings or have them moulded on as part of the bogies (the bit that holds the wheels on coaches).

Also with E-bay items older ones from Hornby Dublo range have a different style coupling and some run a special 3 rail track.

Again, older items may have difficulty on modern points as their wheels have larger flanges.
Track is another difficult item to buy online. One reason is that postage costs are high due to weight if you buy a lot from one source. The other is that, apart from differing types some of the older ones rust (made of steel) and need technical knowledge to clean properly.

Having said all the downfalls of e-bay and other sources of 2nd hand items they are still cheaper than new items and some whilst no longer the bargains they were a couple of years ago are still better value than a £300+ new one.

DCC isn't really a nightmare, it is just more expensive. A simple layout on DCC will look and run the same as DC to the observer. Until you wish to add sound and other features like realistic braking and acceleration DC is ok. Older models can be converted. I'm spending a lot of time do just that. It's still cheaper than buying new and it enhances old skills (soldering) for me.

Take care and look at pictures very carefully before you bid on e-bay or elsewhere and you should be ok. A lot sold for 'spares or repair' are perfectly good and easy to make into working DCC locos.

[Walkingthedog]

Quick note about changing couplings. As I said I eventually changed all my couplings to narrow tension lock. Any coupling can be changed, some easily and some take a bit of thought.

[Dave S]

Thank-you WTD and Ian.

Ian: I'm avoiding the Triang prefix and dublo as very old.
On wheels I'm going for peco streamline 100 so believe that avoids the problem.
I had no problems in mid seventies and assume it's the same rai now, though going for live frog this time over insulfrog..or new unifrog.

I have bought a small batch from local seller where I colected.
As you say, postage can be near 50% of cost of item, so trying to buy in batch.
I'm also noting bland "used" comment rather than "runs well" and box indicative of care.

DCC - I've done seperate post, so I'd best not expand on that in this thread.

I'm budgeting £4k, that is doing it on the cheap, plus loft costs (extra boarding, plumbing to move tank etc).
I'm happy to convert old to DCC but have yet to research whether the smaller trains (Pannier tank and 040) have the free space inside the body.

Your thoughts and wisdom are appreciated, adding to comfort factor I'm on the right track.

Dave

[brian1951]

I have loads of new peco track back in the U.K. but posting it is a pain, even when im giving it away.

[Dave S]

From a seller perspective (generally not MR) I don't like ebay, some dubious buyers say good rec'd not working or not as described etc and ebay rules favour buyer unreasonably. I therefore prefer to sell or give away via gumtree with collection so buyer can inspect goods and no trips down to post office and checking for safe arrival at destination. That usually means lower sale cost, but I prefer that to headache of aforementioned minority.