Today I'm going to talk about the model railroading learning curve which I've found over the years can be quite sharp depending on the project.
After getting frustrated with my early attempts with knuckle couplers I went all in with the Kadee Height Gauge, shims, 2-56 screws etc.
Another of the other issues I had when converting these cars to body mounted knuckle couplers was that I didn't extend the coupler box out as far as I should have. It worked OK but didn't look that great. I saw this car liked the way it looked and tried to inexpensively copy the cushion coupler look.
A search of my parts box to see what I had on hand to facilitate this endeavor revealed some old long talgo coupler shanks from a pair of cabooses and a pair of coupler box extensions from a 57' Reefer that my son wanted cut off from one of his cars.
On car #1 I've installed a pair of Kadee #5s into the long caboose shanks with 2-56 screws and attached them to the frame with another pair of 2-56 screws using the washer as a spacer to match my Kadee coupler height gauge. Sure wish I thought about this 20 years ago! A pair of IHC building shutters and two Kadee #233 gear box lids per bolster got this car to be stable. Finally!!!
Car #2 got a pair of Kadee #58s, caboose talgo shanks, some plastic shims and the 233 gear box lids.
Car #3 got the old BB 57' reefer coupler boxes, a pair of Kadee #5s some plastic shims and the 233 gear box lids.The RF&P cars being tested at the head end of a train are pulling out of track #3.
Being shoved back into track #3. So far so good.
The trio of RF&P cars are now back in service looking better and working reliably. And they are sitting straight!!!
I renumbered the cars a long time ago and thankfully that worked out OK. After so long in the box it's nice to see the cars in service.
Making a turn at Terminal Yard. And not leaning over!
All told I spent a couple of hours tinkering with these cars to get them to run reliably. It went from a project to an odyssey that I was determined to complete. As I noted most of the aggravation I caused myself. Fast forward 15 or so years thru the learning curve and this conversion is now a snap for me.
Thanks for reading!
Nice work on the cars. The N.Y.C.T.L. repair shops must have worked some long O/T to get it going. Nice cars as well.
ReplyDeleteThanks Sir Neal!! The fixing of the mess I made of the cars was indeed time consuming but I really liked these cars so in the end it was worth it to me.
ReplyDeleteNice job getting those cars back on the rails. Your knowledge of the various couplers, pockets, etc. is extensive!
ReplyDeleteThanks Ralph!! The coupler knowledge didn't come easy. Lots of trial and error over the years.
DeleteI spent part of my teens in RF&P territory and got to railfan it fairly well. Great job on those cars, which are some of the best values in the hobby!
ReplyDeleteThanks John! It was nice to undo the original 'improvements' I made to them. Need to learn more on your RF&P rail fanning!
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