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Hello everyone, sorry for the late nite posting, about 3 months ago I purchased a Brass Caboose (an Overland Models, New Haven NE-6 Steel Caboose) from Brasstrains.com. A very nice caboose, except for one problem; the caboose had no couplers. I attempted to find something that would work, I purchased a set of Atlas O, and a Lionel Set of knuckle couplers that didn’t fit at all.  I finally called Brasstrains and the guy I spoke to told me that’s how some of them come and if I wasn’t happy just send it back. There wasn’t anything that greatly disturbing about the answer, it was the tone of his voice that I didn’t appreciate. It led me to think that some of the cars that they sell come without wheels and axles, and if you didn’t like that you could send it back for a refund also.  Enough of the cold customer service, my request is for anyone who might have come across a similar problem, their solution or a solution that I could use to put a Lionel type knuckle coupler on the caboose so that it can be put on a track to run.  Thanks once again, if there is anyone out there who hasn’t crashed out yet at this late hour within the sound of my text, I apologize for the late night post.  Thanks - MARSHELANGELO

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  • Brasstrains.com Caboose
Last edited by marshelangelo
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How is the truck mounted? Can you post a photo of the bottom of caboose? 

If you want a moving coupler it will have to attach at the truck pivot. A fixed coupler with a box on the body floor could be something like a Kadee.

Passenger cars have long arm couplers - the non-scale trucks on the Polar express cars have a bolster that fits between the side plates to hold the coupler - plastic snap in piece

Just some ideas to get you started

 

I have and continue to apply a variety of trucks and couplers to a variety of brass cabooses, converting them to three rail operation.  It can take imagination and creativity.  In the glory days of Weaver, l used a lot of their no longer available 7XX series trucks and Lionel compatible couplers.  Available trucks now seem much more expensive.  Occasionally you have to remove part of underframe to mount three rail couplers and trucks, and caboose's steps may limit swing for tight radius curves.  Most brass cabooses are made for two rail operation and not engineered for tight tinplate radii.  This sends you into "model railroading", beyond out-of-the-box three rail train running.

Good Evening, it seems that I have a tendency for late night texting, and I apologize again.  In response to Moonman’s request for a photo of the bottom of my caboose, I submit this photo. As seen, I’ve already changed the chrome scale wheels to black hi-rail wheels. Overall, I hope this photo helps. Thanks again everyone. — MARSHELANGELO 

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  • The bottom of my O scale Brass caboose

<looks at the scale city designs site>

If I were in your position, I'd try the SCD dummy couplers pictured above first. Since they don't come with coupler boxes, I imagine a set of Kadee 805's (also available on their site) would provide that hardware, assuming these couplers were desgned to fit the Kadee boxes. At this point, you're only in for $11-ish, which is probably the cheapest solution. Assuming everything fits, and the caboose in question being fairly short, you may be able to get away with body mounted couplers (I imagine if you've bought a brass caboose, you're not running less than say, 054 curves).

---PCJ

marshelangelo posted:

Good Evening, it seems that I have a tendency for late night texting, and I apologize again.  In response to Moonman’s request for a photo of the bottom of my caboose, I submit this photo. As seen, I’ve already changed the chrome scale wheels to black hi-rail wheels. Overall, I hope this photo helps. Thanks again everyone. — MARSHELANGELO 

No problem with activity gaps - we know there is various schedules

Thanks for the photo. 

It does look like you could use railride's idea as there appears to be a plate for a coupler box. 

Probably at this point, a refund would have seemed better but I’m probably past the refund period, I’m determined to make it work, and I’m in need of Lionel type couplers, not Kadee’s. My smallest radius is O-36 on the 2nd & 3rd levels and O-72 & O-81 on the 1st level.  I’ll probably take the train over to Nassau Hobby or Trainland and see what I can rig up. I have to get this done, I won’t be beaten. Thanks everyone for your help. Any other ideas and I would still appreciate it.—-  MARSHELANGELO

Greg, a Kadee #805 should fit those mounting plates, and it will mate to a Lionel knuckle coupler. Operationally, the caboose is a short-wheelbase car and should run OK if mated to another car of short-to-average wheelbase, i.e. 40 scale feet (10 inches) or less.  Are the holes tapped? If not, use a 2-56 tap and screws just long enough to accomplish the mounting. 


Another option is Atlas caboose trucks. Malcolm Byrd uses these on his custom-built cabooses and they look pretty good.  

marshelangelo posted:

"I’m in need of Lionel type couplers, not Kadee’s. My smallest radius is O-36 on the 2nd & 3rd levels and O-72 & O-81 on the 1st level.  I’ll probably take the train over to Nassau Hobby or Trainland and see what I can rig up. I have to get this done, I won’t be beaten. Thanks everyone for your help. Any other ideas and I would still appreciate it.—-  MARSHELANGELO"

If you are really hooked on Lionel style knuckle coupler you can always get a non operating one that goes for a cheaper piece of rolling stock and mount it with a screw through the hole. The mentioned Kaydee should get you by for now, and will look nice on the back end when your done. 

Hey Guys, (BOBBYD & THE GN MAN) Thanks a million for the x-tra info, I feel better about the situation and I will certainly look into that info deeply and bring this project to a conclusion.  Thanks again, all of you who got involved, I can always count on the forum guys to clear the fog around a situation before I act incorrectly.  Your help and expertise are deeply appreciated. - MARSHELANGELO

Hey fellas, after checking my page again after a couple of days, I’m gonna try several options, I’ll try the Kadee’s and see what happens. Hopefully everything will work out, again your expertise is well appreciated. I’m indebted to you guys and the forum members forever, I don’t ponder too long on what the outcome will bring to any situation I have. Much thanks - MARSHELANGELO 

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