Standardisation of couplings

[Dave Cooper]

Hi All - a quick update...

I went to a large(ish) exhibition in Bristol recently but, surprisingly, found no couplings for sale !

There was quite a bit of advice (and, some expected bias) on the various forms /types available. However, I notice that Dundas Models (see advert on the back page of 009 News) has some Greenwich couplings and accessories available so I think I'll pop an order off to them.

The trip wasn't wasted however as I found a very reasonably priced 2-car DMU for the standard gauge section of the layout !

Thanks for all the excellent tips /feedback so far.
Dave

[Hobby]

TBH it's unlikely you would find any at a mainstream exhibition rather than a narrow gauge one. Narrow Gauge is still specialist stuff and as such extras for it won't be sold at mainstream shows. Even some of the smaller NG shows won't have them. Best to order stuff like that online!

[B.Meldon]

To add to this I have just done some measurements of the coupling heights of various ready to run H0e items. This is the measurement to the underside of the loop. The underside of the loop is also where the slope on the pin needs to start.

Roco:
Small four wheel wagons: 5.8mm (This is what I use as a guide as they can not be changed)
Larger bogie wagons: 5.8mm

Egger-bahn:
Four wheel trucks: 5.8mm (1963 onwards, first to use these couplings)
Four wheel vans: 5.8mm
Four wheel bogie coaches and wagons: 5.8mm
Tram coaches: (Bogies mae by Lima) 5.8mm
Locos: 5.8mm (No loop fitted.)

Jouef:
Decauville V Skip: 4.4mm
Decauville toastrack coach and log wagon: 5mm

Bemo: 5.8mm. (Others will need to confirm this as I do not have many Bemo items with the original couplings.)

Liliput:
5.8mm (Note the couplings tend to start to sag over time in the pivot and in the NEM socket.)

Tillig: 6.3mm. (Measured on the locos that do not have a loop.)

New Minitrains:
Wagons and coaches: 5.8mm
Locos: Most are higher than 6mm, but as I have altered all my ones I can not measure them now.

Perhaps others could add the Peco 009 items as I have none to measure.

So going by the above it would appear that most RTR H0e manufactures use 5.8mm coupling height.

If anyone has any other measurements please do let us know.

B Meldon

[Dave Cooper]

Thanks both - points noted.

Just had a look at my (very limited) NG stock and 5.8mm is do-able with a little tweaking here and there, So, I think this will be a good reference point for me.
Regards,
Dave

[Scott Rixon]

You'll get fairly quick with the Greenwich coupling with time and practice. I normally batch build a load so I have some in stock.

They are however worth the effort to get right, the pleasure of hands off shunting is really nice. As they also do the NEM version, it's not that hard to upgrade some RTR stock. I even managed to retro fit some roco bolsters with Greenwich at each end of a rake.