Given the ingenuity I've seen on this forum I won't be too surprised if someone has already done this. This is my solution though and I call it the Switching Assistant. I have a small layout with lots of spurs and 036 curves and run DCS and Legacy. To help with switching operations I wanted something that would move cars around without coupling to them and would always make a lined up coupler-to-coupler connection anywhere on the layout. With PS2 and 3 switchers this works sometimes but often I get a connection where I don't want one and on curves the couplers don't line up and I'm pushing bumper-to-bumper which looks dumb and can end in a derail.
Here's what I came up with. First picture shows a fairly standard MTH freight truck with a swivel coupler arm and that little fork that is sometimes used for caboose rollers. I removed the coupler arm from another truck and after a Dremel cut and drilling operation had something that fit the fork slot and could be bolted on with a machine screw. Then I removed the knuckle pin on the added arm and took off the knuckle. Completed unit is on the right.
I made two of them so I could connect one to each end of an NW2 switcher. Now I can position cars anywhere I want on the layout and best off all park another engine on a straight and use the NW2 to push couple a car or car string to that engine at very low speed. When I don't need the assistants the NW2 can drop them off for future use. Been using it for a couple days now and it works like a dream!
. Thanks for sharing this!
