LGB logging disconnects

[GovB]

Looking at buying a pair of LGB logging disconnects (w/logs), #47750 & #47757, that have hook & loop couplers. Is there an easy way to change them to Bachmann compatible couplers? Has anyone done this and did you like the results?

Thanks, GovB

[Charlie Mutschler]

The question may be what prototype the LGB disconnects come closest to.  Disconnects were, often, equipped with lower couplers than common carrier equipment.   Pacific Car & Foundry, in Renton, Washington offered two versions of their "Hercules" disconnected truck - a low Hercules, and a high Hercules.  The low one had lower couplers, but the high Hercules had couplers that matched the common carrier equipment.  My recollection is that the H-O disconnects offered by Kadee for these many years are basically a model of the PC&H high Hercules.  Now, how this was handled on narrow gauge railroads is another question.  I don't know if there were narrow gauge disconnects equipped to couple to common carrier three foot gauge equipment.  I don't recall seeing any reference to such, but that's no proof that it didn't exist. 

So what did the loggers do?  Use an offset link and pins to slotted knuckles, or an extended knuckle on the locomotive. 

Happy modifications. 

Charlie Mutschler
-30-

[Tom Lapointe]

I have a couple of sets of the LGB disconnect trucks, one string as "empties", the other as "loads".   I cut up some limbs pruned from the large maple tree in our backyard, so I'm hauling genuine "logs'.

In my case, I've equipped virtually all my locomotives (& most of my rolling stock) to G-gauge Kadee couplers.  The LGB disconnects are a "partial" exception to this rule; I installed  Kadee's only on the end trucks of a 6 truck (3 "cars") string, retaining the original LGB link-&-pin couplings (& "roosters", the long poles that interconnect pairs of trucks to form cars) on the others.  These 2 video clips will show a bit of them; the first 2 cars immediately behind the loco (an Accucraft live-steam Shay) are Bachmann "skeleton" cars, the remaining 3 are the LGB disconnects.   ....

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If buying new, you may also want to look at Accucraft's disconnect trucks, VERY nicely detailed!                                                    Tom

[Tom Lapointe]

Ooops!  Guess the YouTube "embedding" DOESN'T work here on the Bachmann BBS!   Just click the links to view the videos.  Tom

[Danny Sheehan in Oz]

You will have no problem replacing the LGB Hook & Loops with Bachmann Knuckle couplers, I have done this on one end and used the supplied Link & Pin couplings between the cars.  LGB couplings are at the same height as Bachmann.