Buffers, well sort of

[Madman]

This is the first year I am actually performing shunting duties on my railway. Battery power has spurred me onto it. Anyway, I am shunting LGB small freight cars. Not the Actual field railway cars with the small wheels, but the ones with the standard size wheels. For shunting operations I have found that A-symetrical couplers work better for me (hook on one coupler only). However, I am having some problems on less than level track where one coupler rides up over the car's coupler it is pushing.

I have some idea of what I want to do, which is to increase the height of the loop face. But what to use I am not sure of yet. Maybe some sheet metal formed to the curvature of the loop face. Or perhaps a piece of plastic formed and glued to the top of the loop face.

I am up for suggestions.

 

[ge_rik]

Don
I too enjoy shunting operations and although they look unrealistic have retained LGB hook and loops until I find something as reliable which is more prototypical (and cheap!). The only time I've experienced problems such as yours is when one coupling is lower (or higher) than its neighbour or when one has worked loose and so drops below its normal operating height.

Mind you, I tend to run only shortish trains (max ten wagons). I assume as you're USA-based your trains are likely to be longer (and hence heavier) which might put more strain on couplers.

Rik

PS - you'll see some of my shunting on this video which includes some propelling moves - http://youtu.be/9qjiueamhGo

 

[Madman]

The weight could be the problem Rik. I noticed that the problem only occurs at a couple places. One, in particular, where the track has a slight hump. Most likely the geometry of the track is causing the pushing car to raise up slightly, hence mounting the coupler ahead. I should try pushing a smaller number of wagons by breaking the train into sections before I fine tune it into individual sidings.