Adapting old LMR carriages to fine scale chain couplings

[What About The Bee]

Here is generation 3.

When testing the previous generation, I found that if the locomotive stuttered, the consist would accordion forward. If the drag chains were too high, they would be forced up and off the peg, decoupling the carriage.

As you can see, the horizontal member is now at the height of the plate, and the top of my peg has a slight inward angle.

I subjected these to violent testing. I coupled the old Hornby to the new Hornby carriage using the drag chain. I then rapidly moved the new Hornby carriage back and forth on the track, attempting to decouple. It would not!

Mission Accomplished

Final Design

Bee

[threelink]

A very neat and workmanlike design. I have no experience of the Hornby moulded coupling chains, only of 3 and instanter links but can say from that experience that uniformity of drawhook height is essential to avoid unwanted uncoupling when a train bunches up or draws out. The business end of your coupling is similar to my home made drawhooks for use with three links. I agree with your comments about tension locks - horrid things.