Accumate HO a better coupler for On30?

[hminky]

I have a "what I did" about putting Accumate HO standard couplers on Bachmann On30 freight cars for improved appearance and performance at:

http://www.pacificcoastairlinerr.com/accumates/



Thank you if you visit
Harold

[Rod]

Wow! That does look better! Does the Accumate have a split shank or a moveable jaw? I can't see how they open and with no spring it looks puzzling. I really like the look, especially after you remove that rigid arm under the coupler that is used for the magnetic coupling. I never had my magnets in the right place and am always uncoupling by hand. Thanks again, Harold! Rod Bauer

[hminky]

The coupler is split design. It hand uncouples better than all the other HO couplers and couples easier. I just haven't removed the "magnetic gladhand thingy" yet. It just pulls out.

I will have an installation article on the 2-8-0 shortly.

Harold

[Ken Schei]

Hi, Harold,

Another great article!  Keep up the good work.  I've experimented with the Accumate couplers and I agree that they couple and uncouple better than the Kadee clones.  I also agree that the Accumates are close to proper size for most NG couplers, which are the 3/4MCB types with a knuckle height of 6-1-3/4", and which is most appropriate for most of the Bachmann On30 prototypes. 

However, the D&RG narrow gauge used the Type D coupler, which was standard for standard gauge prior to 1932.  The Type D coupler has a 9" knuckle height, which is most closely replicated by the Kadee On3 (S) coupler.  I use both the On3 and HO couplers interchangeably and they interface well for me.  I also use the On3 couplers for any standard gauge models, which is accurate for the earlier 20th-century prototypes.  All of this is well documented by Bruce Metcaff.  Like you I hand uncouple and I clip off the wires to look more realistic.

Cheers, Ken