Rolling Stock
This is a gallery of all of my engines and rolling stock. It is mostly RTR stuff but there are a few kits and I've dabbled in scratch building too.
All rolling stock is fitted with Kadee Couplers
Locomotives
All of my locomotives are named after Goons except for the ones that have names already.
Grytpype-Thynne
45xx class Prairie tank 2-6-2T by Bachman - rebadged to early crest
Moriarty
44XX Class 2-6-2T Prairie Tank. White metal kit of unknown make that I purchased cheap from a shop. I had to replace the chassis with a Perseverance compensated chassis kit and Romford Wheels. My first (and only) brass kit. Grytpype's evil (and slightly grotty) sidekick.
Bluebottle
Pug 0-4-0T Saddle tank by Hornby
Henry
14XX 0-4-2T by Hornby
Albert Hall
Hall class 4-6-0 by Triang - retired
Eccles
J72 Class 0-6-0T by Bachman
Seagoon
55XX Class 0-6-0T Pannier Tank by Bachmann
The Black Adder - Sir Edmund Hall
Hall Class 4-6-0 by Bachmann
Vanguard
Class 42 "Warship" Bo-Bo Diesel by Bachmann
Little Jim
56xx Class 0-6-2T by Bachmann
Coaches
Coaches so far:
Minnie
BR ex GWR Autocoach by Hornby. Always goes with Henry.
Collet 2nd and 3rd coach
By Bachman
Collet 3rd/brake Composite
By Bachman
4 Wheel Composite
Ratio kit 612
4 Wheel All Third
Ratio kit 610
4 Wheel Third/Brake
Ratio kit 613
Wagons
Tevan
Scratch built body on Peco Wonderful Wagon Chassis
Four Plank Wagon
Cooper craft kit
Fish Bloater
Parkside Dundas kit. 1 of 2.
Cattle Wagon
Cooper Craft kit
5 Plank Coke Wagon
Ratio kit
Fruit van
Bachman
Three different Brands of Mogo van
Mogo car transport van
Cooper craft kit
Mogo Car Transport Van
Bachman
Mogo Car Transport Van
Hornby, repainted early BR Bauxite
Tank wagon
Hornby
Conflat
Bachman
Provendor Wagon
Coopers Craft kit. These high sided open wagons were specially built by the GWR to carry feed for the many horses that were used throughout the system for various duties including light shunting.
Vent Van
Bachman
Toad Brake Van
Bachman
Toad Brake Van
Bachman
Kadee Couplers
I use Kadee couplers on all of my stock. Their design is based on the US knuckle coupler. These pictures are just to show you what they look like. Installation is quite involved and varies widely from model to model. Bachman stock tends to be easier to convert because the tension lock couplers are usually screwed on whereas Hornbys' are usually moulded on and must be cut off, which is a bit irreversible if you ever want to sell it in future. Newer stock of both brands now come with NEM pocket couplings that can be replaced directly with Kadee 30 series couplers but even here the coupler height may vary.
Tevan & Shunters wagon
WR Brake van
Hornby tanker wagon and loco
couplers from above
Hornby 1436 loco (Henry)
Bachman 4566 loco (Grytpype)
even though this one came with NEM pockets they were far too high and I had to mount the couplers underneath with a screw.
Sounds like a whole lot of trouble doesn't it? Here's a few reasons why I use them:
- They always work (unless they're on a weird curve).
- Delayed uncoupling: allowing you to uncouple on the main line then push the train into a siding and leave it there.
- Magnetic uncoupling: no mechanical interference and nothing to snag on when the train goes past.
- Much less obtrusive than the normal Tension lock coupling. (Although some argue they are not suitable for British trains, being modeled on an American prototype).
- They allow closer coupling as long as the curves aren't too tight (You'll notice I don't have any curves under 55cm radius on my layout).
- You can pick up a wagon from the middle of a train without taking the whole train with it. Try that with a tension lock!