A modest proposal for those of us who would like to be able to switch cars with - say - our USRA Mikados:
- Pilot made as separate, screw-on piece (mostly true, anyway).
- Front truck/pilot engineered with compatible mounting hardware.
- Mount for a tucked-in as possible O-gauge dummy coupler; scale coupler comes mounted as is done now.
(2 "cowcatchers" maybe - but not so clunky a setup as with the WBB scale Hudsons.)
- If you choose, do the swing-mount setup; if not, leave it alone.
- The big Weaver PRR passenger Sharks have a sprung pilot - it is frame-mounted and does not
swing - unless the coupler moves enough to require it. This would probably be the route to take.
Lots of engineering, but that's what designers are for.
Just a thought. I scratch bash locos regularly, and this sort of thing just comes to mind. I'm sure that
I'm not the first to suggest it.
A "reference" design can be seen in the -rear- pilot/coupler on the K-line 4-6-6 tank loco.
