These cars come with Pullman style talgo mount trucks. Due to the drawbar arrangement, the shortest usable couplers are the Kadee 23 or 43.
USING CAD DRAWINGS a thorough evaluation is made.
First the car must be measured. The end sill to end corner references is .063" = 5.488" and the coupler box front to end sill = .012". The box front to post front is .176" and the post OD = .125" for box front to mounting center = .239". This yields a reference to mounting center = .188". Found from Measuring Couplers, the 23 pulling face to mounting center = .445. Subtracting yields PF-REF = .257 = 22.4" for 44.8" spacing or about 1.5 times the prototype.
Note: Adjust brightness and contrast for optimum viewing.
KADEE 23 WITH 44.8" SPACING
There will be a diaphragm space = .194". Since the American Limited Heavyweight (ALH) are .134" compressed and .204 extended, they will fit.
Since these cars are commonly used on an 18" radius, an end detail relationship drawing is shown.
Note: Adjust brightness and contrast for optimum viewing.
WITH KADEE 23 & ALH DIAPHRAGM ON 18" RADIUS
The pivot point is .008" from pulling face in the pulling position. If they cause problems, the plates may be narrowed.
Since some of these cars can be used as headend cars with other full length brands, examining close coupling is desirable.
Note: Adjust brightness and contrast for optimum viewing.
PROTOTYPE 15" SPACING WITH #5
Since the endsill to mounting center = .368", this will require body mounting. On the lower right the short dashed Walthers diaphragm will fit, but the heavier dashed ALH will not. Shimming Kadee box will be necessary and possibly some trimming of centersill ridges near head.
Note: Adjust brightness and contrast for optimum viewing.
PROTOTYPE 15" SPACING WITH WALTHERS DIAPHRAGM ON 36" R.
There is about .022" clearance at the plate.
Using the same optimum spacing as the Bachmann Spectrum cars = .1969 = 17.15", the next drawing shows the horn at the endsill and the ALH diaphragm does not fit.
Note: Adjust brightness and contrast for optimum viewing.
OPTIMUM 17.15" SPACING WITH #5
The endsill to mounting center = .343" and the ALH is .002" past the pulling face, for a no-go.
BACK TO COUPLER EXAMPLE INDEX
BACK TO 20TH CENTURY
