Yesterday, I was looking at the new MTH 2013 catalog and I looked at some of the Premier motive power being offered: British, German and French steam; and modern electrics.
Then, I looked at European rolling stock - nice, highly detailed pieces and small...
There is some longer car types but, the smaller sizes seems to have left an impression on me. Yours might not be as small, but they leave me with a similar impression.
I know North American rolling stock has increased, in size, over the years; but, the equipment I see(in real life) is generally... on the larger side.
A while ago, my wife bought me an older style refrigeration car(a Pacific Fruit Express car) she doesn't know there's a different re: the different era's and the corresponding sizes and styles...
That car looks ridiculous sitting on my layout, next to my modern equipment. I thought it might not be true to scale so, recently, I asked my dealer? Apparently, it carries scale proportions.
Re: the coupling systems - A couple of years ago, while I was driving, I came upon a broken train. It was separated near the midway point. I approached it from the rear and drove up to the front. I asked one of the crew members... what had happened, and he replied, a coupler had broken... This particular railroad carries a spare coupler on the engine, for this type of situation. The crew member said the coupler heads are quite heavy, especially, if you have to pack one a fair distance, up to the damaged car. These guys had a company truck drive the coupler to the damaged car.
Re: European electric engines - yes, Davy, they are quite capable. Many of today's modern electrics will out-perform 4400hp diesel-electric locomotives.
For example, Siemen's is a well-known builder of powerful electric locomotives.
Rick
