N Gauge Couplings

There are two main N gauge couplers:

- Arnold. (Rapido)

- Kadee/Micro Trains (US) Generally these are replacements, made to look like US prototype couplers and made to operate better than the Rapido type.

Lima used to show a coupler like the HO European coupler - rigid base for pushing with a hook sticking up, and a movable loop in their catalogues originally. I don't know if any of these were actually produced, every Lima N gauge model I have seen has Arnold Rapido couplers.

For HOe/OO9 (narrow gauge field and industrial types) which runs on N gauge track the coupling is much like the Lima one described above. Most likely you have some of these - sell them and buy proper N gauge models.

Normal for UK outline models.

Probably Microtrains (also known as Kadee). Popular in the USA as it looks moderately like their real couplers. Has some following in the UK. A nice coupling system. Operates by magnets, either above the sleepers (looks horrid, but that's what the instructions say) or BIG magnets below the track (use the O-gauge ones!, it does work).

Dunno, unless its something folded from etched brass, even then hard pushed to work out what it is from the description.

Mostly easy.

If un-fussy about the bogie type, then either Ebay or ask Bachmann Farish whether spare bogies are available.

Alternatively, run the rakes of vehicles with common couplings inside the rake, and Arnold couplings just on the ends to connect to your locomotives.

Not if the housing has been hacked about, though someone with some skill could probably reconstruct things.

Err, its not a DG is it, or a BB (which is a bit like a DG). Both are operated by a magnet below the track, and can be uncoupled, then propel the wagon along a siding and leave the wagon behind. DG:

If neither of them, then it might be an MBM, which I think are still available via the N-gauge society.

DG and BB available from the respective makers, email me via the 2mm Scale Association contacts page.

- Nigel

You don't have to use those huge ferrite magnets. You can use tiny rare earth magnets to do the same job.

Cheers David

Nigel,Greg & David

Thank you for your help as it has helped to clear up a few issues.

Despite my poor description I have checked the links below by Nigel and he did correctly identify DG couplings on one set of of wagons, which are afix eitehr by a brass plate direct onto the wagon base, or via the odd square block.

The other now type do look like the couplings in the picture on left accessed via the link below - but at least these appear to be removable via a small brass screw,

Thanks again Martin

DG's are decent couplings if setup correctly - the webpage given previously has a fair number of clues. You need an electromagnet directly below the track to operate them (a single coil wrapped around a piece of metal, with the metal poking up to just below sleeper level). Reverse a train over the magnet, turn it on as you wish to uncouple, and continue along the siding. Stop where-ever you wish to leave the wagons.

However, if you've a number with Microtrain type, plus the odd-balls below, then you might want to fit Microtrain couplers to all the "not Arnold" wagons. You can get Microtrain couplers as a complete block which screws onto the base of a wagon.

- Nigel