I've been wondering about this for awhile now--Why do all the train manufacturers make small unusable couplers on the front of every steam engine except for switchers? Does anyone know?
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Great question. I actually would like to know that as well because someone asked me awhile back and I did not know what to say.
Lets see who knows.
Pete
One of the great illogical mysteries...wondered that as a kid on the front of my #999
Marx engine.
For the same reason there are small non-working bells, whistles, steam pipe details on most steam loco models.
Yep. It was originally an attempt to make the front of locomotives that were not intended to push things look a teeny bit more like the real thing. Even Lionel knew those giant couplers were out of scale.
Many of the locomotives have a standard lobster claw dummy in the box in case you want to double-head. As mentioned, it was for appearance.
Originally Posted by ADCX Rob:
For the same reason there are small non-working bells, whistles, steam pipe details on most steam loco models.
I know you were serious, but for some reason I found your response funny.
Pete
GRJ, that's only a few MTH Premier locos, correct?
Robert,
that's only a few MTH Premier locos, correct?
Also the RK Imperial Triplex, and all of the RK and Premier 0-6-0's and 0-8-0's, as well.
I think that if you've paid for the engine you ought to have the option to install an operable front coupler.
They all have that option. It just depends on how much time & resources you want to spend. I put a regular Lionel coupler on the front of my 2055 for double heading when I was about 12.
On some of the models it would require disassembling and installing new parts to get a working front coupler.
How many steps would that involve?
Andrew
Lets suppose for a minute that you have a tunnel on your mainline and during the winter water seeps in and turns to ice on the roof. You can't run your ice breaker car behind the tender because the ice would rip up the cab of the engine and you don't want to have to run the engine backwards --so--you mount it in front of the engine, thus clearing the ice from the roof. Just sayin'
I too put a working front coupler on the front of a steam engine. Well, it was a plastic dummy coupler, but it worked well for double-heading. Take a 2043 engine...
To parapharse an auld Scotsman who gave me directions to a historic site nearby in Ireland (he ran a bar, meaning they were as unintelligible as these will be):
Take ye aye a 14-gauge solid copper wire, and aye strip ye the insulation off it. Then take ye a first turning in it, bending ye wire up at ye left end (fireman's side, do ye see?). From there, run ye wire out radial to ye center of rotation of yer engine as she rounds the curve. When ye have gone far enough (if it works, ye went just fer enow) then have ye wire make a right turning.
Running ye wire on ye arc aboot yer aforesaid center of rotation to another point of ye turning, as far to yer right (engineer's side) as the last point of ye turning was to ye left.
But make ye no turning here before aye its time!! First look ye for a long shank plastic dummy coupler. Now saw ye off most of ye shank. Then bore ye crosswise in what ye've left ye hole just large enow to fit a #14 copper wire through. Do ye now just that with what wire ye got there, and be ye yet sure ye've got yer non-working jaw opening on yer correct side. Now its time to take ye yer second little turning to ye right.
Runs ye back down ye right-side radial, and turns ye yer wire up. Ye'll find yer copper wire uprights fit from below into yer flagholders, them that's as ye put yer Scottish flags in. Bend ye the tops of yer wire uprights in some way as will keep ye whole caboodle snug on ye locomotive. Slather ye a wee bit of grease on ye arc of ye wire so ye coupler can slide on it. Check that ye coupler can be rotated up and back to lie on ye cowcatcher when it is ye have ye no use for it.
Couple up by ye hand of course, and ye will be surprised how well ye 5 minutes to rig ye this will work for ye.
You'll also not be surprised that the Scots invented the steam engine, and it worked. You'll also know (from the path the coupler follows-- it will work on 0-27-- exactly why the manufacturers do not put working couplers on the front of steam engines bigger than switchers. BTW, I can't remember if I had to drill holes in the pilot, or if the whole contraption really did fit into the flagholders. I hated to make irreversible changes, although I think the front coupler is still on the 2043.
--Frank
