Alan,
I also want modern couplers but I prefer the AAR Type-F safety couplers. I have a BNSF line, less than a mile from my home & an UP line less than 2 miles away. Both have predominantly unit coal trains. All the locomotives on both UP & BNSF seem to have Type-F not the safety shelf couplers. I assume that the couplers between the cars are rotary couplers, which visually seem closer to Type-F than Type-E shelf couplers. Even though Type-F (with interlocking) or Type-E with (single or double safety shelfs) have different safety features, I learnt through Google that all AAR couplers must be capable of operating together.
I have collected the documentation on these type-F couplers & I plan to make detailed 3D CAD models as time allows. I will make it in 1:1 scale & will scale it down to O-Scale when complete. I also need to look into the reasonable level of detail & manufacturing options as I get further along in this project.
These are just my opinion,
Thanks,
Naveen Rajan
A great breath of FRESH air!! HA! Ha!
I want the F&E couplers. The F couplers are on most all modern coal trains as you correctly stated.
The BNSF runs MANY coal as well as Ethanol trains on the CSX double tracks that run from the east coast to at least Chicago. This line runs through my hometown of Bremen,IN.
The F couplers come built with the lower safety shelf as I understand it,&from the drawings I've seen as well as you also correctly stated,they've got the interlocking feature. The SF couplers are the dbl shelf couplers only built in the F coupler style that have the interlocking feature for extra safety.
The E couplers with the upper and or lower safety shells or without any shelfs at all,couple with the F couplers. I see the BNSF also seems to use the F couplers with lower shelf on their modern diesels,too.
Are you hoping to build a Kadee type coupler or a working model such as protocraft offers? Protocraft's model has no shelfs & isn't the type E model such as San Quan makes plastic models of. I think Protocraft's model is closer to what history calls a "Sharon" type design. It performs the same function as all couplers but just a different design on the "thumb" side of the coupler.
I like the idea of using cut levers on my couplers to uncouple with. I have to use a magnet on my HO Sergent couplers,but HO's smaller & would be harder to use cut levers on. O scale is larger & would be easy for cut levers.
If you haven't already seen Sergent's website,it's a great place to give you a great close up of all couplers including the type H coupler used on passenger cars.
I'm hoping to group modelers that model the modern together,maybe even make a group out of.(?)
Here's my email if you'd like to stay in touch that way:ahummel72@yahoo.com
Thanks again,
Al Hummel