 Joined: 05/07/2020(UTC) Posts: 326 Location: Mississippi, Vancleave
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Marklin couplers work great, but they are far from prototype. Marklin noted for their fine detail, has not produced a coupling that is close to prototype. That being the case, we have to adapt different couplings such as Kadee. In reality, railroads don't have automatic uncoupling. cars are coupled together manually. All countries in Europe use the English buffer and chain system. The English coupling system doesn't appear to be applicable to use on models. The AAR coupler in the USA is the best all-around coupler in use and is well represented in model form by the Kadee coupler. It is therefore the obvious coupling to choose for American models. European models have to rely on weird forms of couplings, the Marklin being one of them. In Europe, when cars have different couplings, a transition car is used with different couplings on each end to match the different couplings used; this happens at borders. So; what is the correct coupling to use on European models? Obviously Kadee couplers are not correct although there are some trains fitted with AAR style couplings. Passenger trains seem to still use the English coupling along with all cars with buffers. Marklin couplers seem to be the right ones for Marklin trains, so I have to stick with them. It just seems a shame that we can be so prototypical with the model, trackwork, etc, but can't get a coupling that is prototypical.
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 1 user liked this useful post by Mr. Ron
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You have been a member since:: 10/02/2006(UTC) Posts: 3,997
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when they first brought out the close coupler (1980s) they made a very prototypical coupler that connected two NEM pocket coaches. You have to choose between being able to easily couple and uncouple cars, or, have prototypical couplers. |
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2 users liked this useful post by DaleSchultz
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 Joined: 10/09/2019(UTC) Posts: 151 Location: England, Chichester
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Originally Posted by: Mr. Ron  Marklin couplers work great, but they are far from prototype.
All countries in Europe use the English buffer and chain system. The English coupling system doesn't appear to be applicable to use on models.
It just seems a shame that we can be so prototypical with the model, trackwork, etc, but can't get a coupling that is prototypical. When I was modeling British fine scale, it was common to fit locos and rolling stock with prototypical 3-link or screw link couplings. It was quite a delicate operation to couple and uncouple cars using all manner of homemade tools. With practice you could become pretty proficient at it. I guess if you want the convenience of automatic coupling and buffers you just have to go with Märklin type couplers and add their unrealistic appearance to the long list of compromises we modelers make in order to enjoy our hobby.  |
Marklin - "The train set I never had as a child."
Keith Bowman |
1 user liked this useful post by Bogenschütze
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 Joined: 04/12/2013(UTC) Posts: 2,261 Location: Hobart, Australia
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Originally Posted by: DaleSchultz when they first brought out the close coupler (1980s) they made a very prototypical coupler that connected two NEM pocket coaches. You have to choose between being able to easily couple and uncouple cars, or, have prototypical couplers. I support Dale’s comment  I use Brawa 2250 in such circumstances. They are not “current-conducting” and can only be used with NEM pockets. https://az95169.vo.msecn...2-447e-93f2-3fbd8e3e7069Whilst they are best suited to permanently coupled consists, they can be uncoupled into units of, say, three or four wagons for storage though this is somewhat inconvenient. 
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1 user liked this useful post by PJMärklin
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Joined: 23/07/2014(UTC) Posts: 8,475 Location: ENGLAND, Didcot
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Originally Posted by: Mr. Ron All countries in Europe use the English buffer and chain system. Umm, no they don't, they use a screw link coupling. The chain system was only used in early English trains, and nowadays would only be found on stock in preserved railways. It is the screw link coupling that Marklin has done as mentioned by Dale, primarily as a conductive coupling for coach lighting, but could be used for any wagon with an NEM coupling pocket.
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Joined: 04/12/2013(UTC) Posts: 2,261 Location: Hobart, Australia
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Originally Posted by: kiwiAlan
... It is the screw link coupling that Marklin has done as mentioned by Dale, primarily as a conductive coupling for coach lighting, but could be used for any wagon with an NEM coupling pocket.
Hello Alan, Are these the couplers to which you referred, or are there newer items? Philip 
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Joined: 16/02/2004(UTC)
Posts: 15,443
Location: DE-NW
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Originally Posted by: kiwiAlan Originally Posted by: Mr. Ron All countries in Europe use the English buffer and chain system. Umm, no they don't, they use a screw link coupling. Some ore trains use automatic couplings. Roco made acceptable replications of this type of coupler. Rail cars use Scharfenberg couplers of different sizes. Kato made an operational power-conducting model of the regular Scharfenberg couplers and used them with their Limburger Zigarre rail-cars. A new type of automatic couplers is currently tested in Germany and Austria. Narrow gauge trains use a different type of couplers. And there may be others I never heard of or forget to mention. Originally Posted by: kiwiAlan ... It is the screw link coupling that Marklin has done as mentioned by Dale, primarily as a conductive coupling for coach lighting, but could be used for any wagon with an NEM coupling pocket. The coupler can be seen here between the coaches: https://www.haertle.de/M...epaeckwagen+Spur+H0.html |
Regards Tom --- "In all of the gauges, we particularly emphasize a high level of quality, the best possible fidelity to the prototype, and absolute precision. You will see that in all of our products." (from Märklin New Items Brochure 2015, page 1) ROFLBTCUTS  |
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Joined: 23/05/2021(UTC) Posts: 252 Location: England, Guildford
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Buckeye couplers have been used on British passenger stock for many decades, these couple on impact with the various pipes and jumpers connected by hand. In more recent decades the type of automatic couplers are fully hands off as they incorporate all those various other connections. Loose coupled trains were eliminated in the 1970s here in the UK on British Railways, container trains use buckeyes as well. Probably only preserved railways have other methods of coupling.
The Pritchard Patent Product Company (Peco) produced a buckeye automatic coupler shortly after WW2 which Meccano Ltd applied to their post war Hornby Dublo range of trains, so I suspect that that was the most true to type model coupler.
Märklin prewar had a buckeye looking coupler on their range of 00/H0 trains but I’m not sure how well that worked.
Lines Bros/Rovex developed their tensionlock couplings for Triang Railways which is basically what most manufacturers use in modified form - who came up with it first I don’t know. Currently Triang Railways masquerade under the name ‘Hornby’ since the name was purchased in the early 1960’s when the manufacturers of Hornby Dublo went bust.
Personally I don’t find the Märklin close couplings very reliable and converted most of my fleet to the relex type, I found the Fleischmann type to be better still, using them in the semi fixed consists. I remember when a friend converted all his Fleischmann to Kadee couplers (at vast expense) and a while later converted them back again for the sake of operational efficiency rather than looks.
Z gauge from Märklin, my current interest, has the very out of scale but mostly efficient lateral hook type - almost buckeye like - couplers which are functional. North American Z manufacturers apparently have other types which are a mystery to me, why fix what isn’t broken?
ChrisG
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2 users liked this useful post by Mman
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Joined: 11/02/2006(UTC) Posts: 696 Location: Cheshire, UK
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Originally Posted by: H0 Part number E313790 for 10 couplers. Non-current-conducting, non-automatic, but the most realistic-looking option. I use these a lot, mainly for goods trains. Years ago, these were sold in boxes with the part number 7204. Nigel |
Märklin collector since age 5.
H0 Collection from 1935 to today. |
4 users liked this useful post by Nigel Packer
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 Joined: 21/12/2012(UTC) Posts: 1,485 Location: Hrvatska
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Piko presented his I clutch about 50 years ago, it's a pity it didn't come to life!    Pico was then behind the "Iron Curtain" and could not be found in the west. I will put more pictures later.
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1 user liked this useful post by 1borna
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Joined: 21/12/2012(UTC) Posts: 1,485 Location: Hrvatska
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1 user liked this useful post by 1borna
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Joined: 05/07/2020(UTC) Posts: 326 Location: Mississippi, Vancleave
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Very similar to the coupler used by Mantua in the U.S. many years ago. Very reliable, but not too prototypical.
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 Joined: 30/08/2002(UTC) Posts: 1,288
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Originally Posted by: Mr. Ron In reality, railroads don't have automatic uncoupling. cars are coupled together manually. All countries in Europe use the English buffer and chain system. Here’s a glimpse from the near future:  |
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2 users liked this useful post by PeFu
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