Model Railroading > Speaking of Couplers - New Kadee #118 SF Shelf Coupler

Hm.. seeing the thread tonight about couplers and whatnot, I've posted a couple of pix of the NEW Kadee #118 SF-style (top and bottom shelf) couplers that Kadee was handing out samples of at the NMRA National Train Show back in Seattle a couple of weeks ago..

Here are the pix:

http://www.pbase.com/image/31687179

and

http://www.pbase.com/image/31687231


In the photo below, that's an original-style #58 scale coupler mounted on the locomotive to the left. The New #118 is shown on the ground and mounted on the tank car.

Cheers,
Harry

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Sweet.

1 question:

prototypically accurate? (do they work like the real thing)


Robby F. (Mr. MRL) - Ultra Packs Please??? also for the #58.

What is the purpose of having the shelf on these couplers regarding the prototype?

Thanks

Vince

To keep the couplers from doing nasty things when a car derails. They were first deployed on tank cars. The shelves make it more difficult for the couplers to be disengaged during an accident. Without them, a detached coupler would act like a Lawn Dart and puncture the car next to it (also before the double-skinned ends now required on at east some types of tank cars). With them, the cars are more likely to remain attached, producing the now-familiar accordion-style pattern of derailed cars along the ROW.

The shelves on the coupler keep the car from rolling over during a derailment. They also keep the cars coupled together when the drop a truck off the rail. Droping a car off the rail would usally lower the coupler enough that the coupler on the other cars would puncture the derailed car. They are required on all tank cars and I'm sure that there are a few more that they are showing up on.

Amtrak 30

Double-shelf couplers are generally found only on tank cars, though I'm sure there are exceptions. The shelves prevent couplers on adjoining cars from riding up in a derailment and puncturing the end of the tank car.

If memory serves, this began with a proposed new standard coupler for all cars - the Type F, which has one (bottom) shelf - when two type F's are coupled, the shelves interlock to prevent ride-up. The problem with that design is that existing cars with Type E's weren't retrofitted with Type F's, and a Type E could still ride up and over a Type F.

To fix this, the "double-shelf Type E" was developed for installation on tank cars. The top and bottom shelves prevent separation of Type E couplers, while the bottom shelf interlocks with a double-shelf E or an F, thus protecting the car from punctures by a separated coupler of any type.

I'm sure that I got at least *part* of all that wrong, but that's the general idea.

Emailing the LHS, I remain:
B-Dubya

Any indication when these will be available, Harry?

Modelling a propane railway, I remain:
B-Dubya

Yeah, WHEN?? Got a multitude of tank cars that need 'em.
John D.

According to an e-mail I received from Kadee, these will be announced when their web page is updated next month.
They are also coming out with a "Manual Un-coupling" tool which will be announced at the same time.
gtr

Kadee's gonna start selling bamboo skewers? :^P

A bit askew myself, I remain:
B-Dubya

On the sample pack I've been fooling around with, the top and bottom shelves do prevent excessive up-and-down motion somewhat, but only when the couplers are pushed against each other. Not a bad looking coupler, and one that's been needed for a long time, espcially when you consider all of the new tank car models coming out. KD was also handing out samples of a new plastic manual uncoupling tool at the Seattle show; haven't had a chance to experiement with it yet, though.

PE

MrMRL Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Sweet.
>
> 1 question:
>
> prototypically accurate? (do they work like the
> real thing)
>
>
> Robby F. (Mr. MRL) - Ultra Packs Please??? also
> for the #58.

I'm trying to understand why Kadee based the design of this coupler on a #5 and not on the semi scale #58. Based upon those pictures posted, I have a feeling these are going to look hugely oversized when coupled with a #58 coupler. Perhaps a semi scale version is in the works?

It occurs to me - they probably found that a double-shelf #58 won't couple with a #5, and they're big on making sure that their couplers all work together.

I can live with it...

A bit slow on the ol' uptake today, I remain:
B-Dubya

unit Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I'm trying to understand why Kadee based the
> design of this coupler on a #5 and not on the semi
> scale #58. Based upon those pictures posted, I
> have a feeling these are going to look hugely
> oversized when coupled with a #58 coupler. Perhaps
> a semi scale version is in the works?

Yeah.. was wondering that myself. From my first impressions (see photo links in the original post), the sprung knuckle itself is roughly #5 sized, but the other side of the coupler shank opposite of the spring is only slightly larger than the #58, however. I was hoping that they would have chosen a #58 knuckle as well.

Best Regards,
Harry

tracktime Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> unit Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > I'm trying to understand why Kadee based the
> > design of this coupler on a #5 and not on the
> semi
> > scale #58. Based upon those pictures posted,
> I
> > have a feeling these are going to look
> hugely
> > oversized when coupled with a #58 coupler.
> Perhaps
> > a semi scale version is in the works?
>
> Yeah.. was wondering that myself. From my first
> impressions (see photo links in the original
> post), the sprung knuckle itself is roughly #5
> sized, but the other side of the coupler shank
> opposite of the spring is only slightly larger
> than the #58, however. I was hoping that they
> would have chosen a #58 knuckle as well.
>
> Best Regards,
> Harry


The explaination given is Seattle was that the shelf coupler is larger.

Dave

In case you haven't noticed, Kadee has "improved" the #58, and I think the 78, also by redesigning the knuckle to eliminate the unsightly gap. The "improved" 58's are in packages with black printing, the old ones had red printing.

Huge improvement.

They kept it below the radar to protect dealer stock.

Dave

I noticed, and my dealer is aware of it so that as he starts seeing them, he can advise customers.

Meanwhile, I just preordered five packs of the #118. Sheesh, the last thing I preordered was a first-run Genesis SD70I!

Hoping this order turns up faster, I remain:
B-Dubya

dh30973 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> In case you haven't noticed, Kadee has "improved"
> the #58, and I think the 78, also by redesigning
> the knuckle to eliminate the unsightly gap. The
> "improved" 58's are in packages with black
> printing, the old ones had red printing.
>
> Huge improvement.
>
> They kept it below the radar to protect dealer
> stock.
>
> Dave

yep.. the newer #58s are awesome! From my conversations with the folks at the Kadee booth, Kadee did not announce or commit to anything about improving the #78 yet, but hopefully they will do the same knuckle improvements to improve the looks on that one too.

Best Regards,
Harry

dh30973 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------

> > unit Wrote:
> >
> --------------------------------------------------
>
> > -----
> > > I'm trying to understand why Kadee based
> the
> > > design of this coupler on a #5 and not
> on the
> > semi
> > > scale #58. Based upon those pictures
> posted,
> > I
> > > have a feeling these are going to look
> > hugely
> > > oversized when coupled with a #58
> coupler.
> > Perhaps
> > > a semi scale version is in the works?
> >
> The explaination given is Seattle was that the
> shelf coupler is larger.
>
> Dave

Hmm.. but is the knuckle on a shelf coupler really THAT much larger in proportion to a standard coupler on the prototype?? Just asking! =)

Cheers,
Harry

tracktime Wrote:
> Hmm.. but is the knuckle on a shelf coupler really
> THAT much larger in proportion to a standard
> coupler on the prototype?? Just asking! =)
>
> Cheers,
> Harry

Good point, Harry. I'm no expert, but I would think the actual prototype knuckle size on a standard versus a shelf coupler would be the same.

Now, If only Kadee would offer a shelf coupler based on the 58, we'd be set. The #5 size is a big honker.

John

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