Hello Chaps

Any news of "Rheneas" yet?  I'm banking on him being released whilst I am visiting the Californian relatives!

Hello All
I am fascinated by these conversations about the different coupling methods used in US and Europe.  This is especially in relation to the locomotives and rolling stock initially brought to support the Allies and later for Germany's reconstruction.

Buffers, combined with some sort of chain coupling, stems from the earliest days of railways/tramroads/waggonways (the different terminology we use would fill a book!)  Europe kept with them, in gradually improving forms right up to, and beyond the end of steam.  This included sprung buffers and couplings which could be tightened  to hold the wagons or carriages safely together.  The flat car, or wagon in these photographs, has "screw couplings".

Knuckle couplings (still with buffers) came along later, perhaps influenced by American practice.  Often they were  fitted as well as screw couplings and were hinged so they could be moved out of the way, if an adjoining vehicle did not have them.  As passenger trains in fixed units, like the ICE in Germany and the Inter-City 125 in the UK, began to appear, buffers as you see them in the photographs, disappeared to be replaced by a variety of different coupling devices.  If it was necessary to couple two fixed units together, one device, called a "Scharfenberg" (not sure about the spelling) is used in the UK.  This automatically couples the units, as well as brakes, driving controls, door controls and lights.

Talking of lights;  Yes British Railways did not use headlights, until relatively recently. Even now, they are to warn people on the ground of the trains approach, not for the driver to see where he is going.  The purpose of the old style oil lamps, was so that the signalman, could tell which type of train it was, and, with a red light at the back, that nothing had become detached.  With those primitive chain couplings and only the engine and guards-van brakes, to stop a freight train, broken couplings were a problem 

Then of course there are the narrow gauge railways.  "Norwegian" or "chopper" couplings were most popular, but, with no exaggeration, probably as many different types as there were railways!!     

Hope that isn't too boring, chaps (and ladies).  I am sure there are others out there who know more than I do.

Hello

Would it be possible to expand the FAQ relating to Scale and Gauge, to cover metric equivalents please?  For example 4 feet 81/2 inches = 1435mm

Also could the narrow gauge definitions include H0e (?H0n30) and H0m please?

As an aside, did you know that 00 came about in the UK because the smaller outline of British railway locomotives made it difficult to fit 12v electric motors into H0 (1/87scale) boilers.  The slight enlargement to 1/76 scale made it feasible.  Some finescale modellers use true scale track at 18.82mm wide.  Many UK modellers still use H0 track, so technically, all UK standard gauge models are narrow gauge!

Hello Fellow NG Modellers.

Chris, what an excellent "Forney" you have produced using the "Skarloey" chassis.  Although I am not personally interested in North American NG or short lines, I can only admire your skill in drawing up the etches for your chosen model.  There will be hordes of NG enthusiasts in the UK who will be envious of your efforts.
"Skarloey" can be converted into its real-life prototype, "Talyllyn" and a kit of 3D printing and brass etches are available from www.narrowplanet.co.uk  to make the cylinders and motion more authentic.

Bachmann Europe does not have the licence for Thomas & Friends in Europe, so the narrow gauge stock cannot be sold commercially in the UK.  My "Skarloey" was send by a long-suffering sister-in-law from California. I hope this will extend to "Rhineas" should Bachmann decide to produce a model!

Finally, the scale gauge conundrum.  At exhibitions, I have a little display board with 009, N gauge and 00/H0 standard gauge track,  together with standard gauge locomotives in 00 and N gauge and one in 009.  This helps to explain how N gauge and 009 gauge engines will run on the same track,  but are not the same scale, whereas, despite the size difference 00 and 009 engines are the same scale but not the same gauge!! Sorry I cannot send a picture "the uploader file is full" I will try to send it separately