Lafondue
Thanks for sharing with us Swiss fine scale railroading. One question - what kind of couplers do European modelers use? Do they couple automatically or manually like the prototype?
Ed Rappe
Glad you enjoy it.
As for couplers, well on this layout and in Om in general, prototype screw couplings is used, yes they are a bit a pain to operate and they are 2 per side.
Now as a good compromise in Om scale, Kadee couplers are very well accepted and are fairly common too (Bemo has them as their default couplers and Model Rail include them with every of their models).
The reason is that the RhB (as well as other meter gauge railways) use a single midle bumper and a screw coupling on each side, so that the kadee coupler act a bit like the bumper with included coupling..it's visually not too distracting and of course the ease of use is a great plus..no need for pliers to couple or uncouple cars or engine.
A picture of an original RhB coupler..
In regular O scale, the coupler of choice here is the Lenz style one, not perfect (slighly oversized) but do offer bullet proof operation, perfect close coupling (bumpers to bumpers) even in curves and ease of operation (automatic coupling/ uncoupling).
Otherwise the fine scaler use prototype screw couplers...
Seem some use also Kadee style.
Sincerely
