Question about trucks without tabs

I have a set of Weaver N&W cars that have the same style of truck, mounting system, and coupler on them.  I thought they appeared to be activated with an electromagnet or something.

The Weaver trucks had a short 7'-0" wheelbase and didn't look right under the cars so I replaced them with K-Line/Lionel trucks with an 8'-0" wheelbase and a scratchbuilt mount so I could use Kadee couplers.

The K-Line/Lionel trucks I bought also have the pivot (where the truck mounts to the mounting plate) centered on the truck whereas the Weaver trucks have an offset pivot.

I guess they figured most (?) folks keep their passenger trains coupled all the time and didn't need a good means of uncoupling them.

It appears from the picture, that the center of the truck, ahead of the roller pick-up, is part of the coupler trip mechanism.  Run it across an un-coupler track section and see what happens.  Interesting  Mike CT

I have a set of passenger cars with the same trucks.  These trucks do not have a finger tab to uncouple them.  They only have the actuator you found on the bottom of the truck. When the plate is over a RCS track, the magnet will pull on that plate to open the trucks. 

This truck is the postwar style where it can only be opened by the magnet of a UCS track or similar. If you use your fingernail and pull down on the circled edge of the couple plate - that will open the coupler. Not very helpful while the car is on the track however.

bigo426 has it right, Lionel has been using that truck/coupler design on aluminum passenger cars since the 1950's and a similar design on plastic O27 passenger cars since the late 40's.  None ever had a manual uncoupling tab.

FWIW, the Menards boxcars with the metal trucks have the same kind of scheme, and they have the same issue, no decoupling tab.

I just lift the end and set the coupler into the next car's coupler.

This is another example of convenience vs more realistic look. Many wanted realistic cars, railings, couplers, etc. Now the reverse is taking place of wanting the old styles.

That is why manufacturers go bananas.

Joe,

Actually you need a "UCS" as the older RCS was designed for the sliding shoe couplers and does not have an electromagnet. 

Bill

A wire with a 90 degree bend and a flattened end might allow you to get into that space while the car is on the track.

These trucks were developed prior to the addition of uncoupling tabs to Lionel's freight car trucks in the mid 50s. For whatever reason, they have never been updated to include that feature.

Well that solves that mystery, thanks guys!

I bought the aluminum set to run behind the new Lion Chief+ Atlantic Coast Lines FT AA and FT B unit I have pre ordered. Should be a good match.

I like extruded aluminum set more that the smooth sided all purple set that's out there too.

Apparently in the real world this paint scheme was a nightmare to maintain and had to be repainted all the time because of the purple paint fading. 

I really dislike the coupler design on these trucks, and, unfortunately, Lionel has gone to a similar design on it's newer freight cars. They (the couplers) can't be adjusted or reasonably "fixed" when they need it. Everything need fixing, occasionally. I tried, broke the coupler head off accidentally (and I am anything but new at this), and had to buy a new truck - not just the coupler - to get the flat car back on the road. This even affects my purchasing decisions.

However, you could shape a piece of brass, epoxy it to that flat shaft that disappears into the back of the coupler head on your passenger cars, near the head at a convenient spot, and you would have a tab that you could push to uncouple the car. The motion would be toward the car, not down toward the track, much like the new trucks I was berating above. In fact, the tabs on those new tucks are another irritant - the motion is awkward, the car wants to move when you push the hard-to-find tab, and the blasted "air hose" gets in the way (I remove mine).

But, that's a way you could get tabs on your cars. Not a hard project. Paint the tabs black and there you have it.