Do the hi rail versions have the normal 3 rail couplers?
thanks,
dave
Original Post
Replies sorted oldest to newest
@ David1...they have a dummy plastic coupler...the only big minus point for these cars...but easily remedied by switching to the included fine scale coupler...
They have none operating "Janney" or American couplers..
Is this the same on both freight and passenger cars also? Sorry for the basic questions but i will be buying my first European electric and I would like to have the same 3 rail type of couplers as my American engines and freight cars.
@ David1...the engine are no issue they use the same proto-couplers as other hi-rails MTH engine...passenger if I remember properly do have metal operational couplers in hi-rails version (forgot if they have thumb or not)...the freight hi-rails couplers are the same as US couplers, except well plastic and non-operational so you have to lift the car from the rails to hook them, also no switching possible with uncoupler tracks...really don't get why MTH did them this way...can live with plastic one but non-operational was for me a big blunder...maybe they thought that anyway most of these cars will be operated in 2 rails with either Lenz style couple or fine scale..well even in 3 rails easy to add a Lenz style coupler...but still a strange decision !!!
Lafondue,
Thank you for your precise answer. Although I run mostly scale sized American engines. The European trains have always been an interest to me beings my grandparents were from Germany. Thanks again for your response.
Dave
Kind of disappointing that the U.S. type couplers are not functional, but I don't do a lot of switching anyway so I just live with it. The couplers are body mounted, which probably explains why MTH chose to use dummies. There is no provision on the trucks to mount couplers, and of course the older style 4-wheel cars have to have body mounted couplers anyway. The scale-wheel versions have European 2-rail couplers, and both versions are provided with scale link-type couplers that you can install yourself. Here are some pictures. Top is a modern tank car with hi-rail wheels and dummy Lionel type knuckle couplers. Next two are a scale-wheel version with the Euro coupler.
Attachments
Images (3)
