Dave,
I disagree with your comment that the extra width Kadee's S (and possibly other scales) coupler box is necessary for most model railroad use. The Kadee coupler box scales out to 24" wide. Many prototype draft gear are 10" wide. The many S draft gear I have made for years are 15" wide but I am sure could be slightly narrower without issue, using an unmodified 802. I would dare say I have more cars equipped (40ish +) with a narrower draft gear that anyone on this list. Again - no problems. The amount a S coupler (and trucks for that matter) actually moves in normal operation is surprisingly little. I have studied it! If you have 1 of my X29 it has VERY little truck pivoting before the wheels hit underbody details. I have run them through #4 turnouts without any problems. The **only** reason the Kadee coupler box is so wide is for DELAYED uncoupling. I decided a long time ago this was not important to me and have discounted any efforts to support it on my models. Lastly I have shown that even with a 15" wide draft gear you can modify an 802 in about 1 minute to get the same wide swing needed for delay uncoupling. Now back to our quarterly steel cage death match coupler debate... Thank You, Bill Lane Modeling the Mighty Pennsy & PRSL in 1957 in S Scale since 1988 See my finished models at: <http://www.lanestrains.com/> http://www.lanestrains.com Look at what has been made in PRR in S Scale! See my layout progess at: <http://www.lanestrains.com/My_Layout.htm> http://www.lanestrains.com/My_Layout.htm Custom Train Parts Design <http://www.lanestrains.com/SolidWorks_Modeling.htm> http://www.lanestrains.com/SolidWorks_Modeling.htm PRR Builders Photos Bought, Sold & Traded (Trading is MUCH preferred) <http://www.lanestrains.com/PRRphotos.xls> http://www.lanestrains.com/PRRphotos.xls ***Join the PRR T&HS*** The other members are not ALL like me! <http://www.prrths.com/> http://www.prrths.com <http://www.lanestrains.com/PRRTHS_Application.pdf> http://www.lanestrains.com/PRRTHS_Application.pdf Join the Pennsylvania Reading Seashore Lines Historical Society It's FREE to join! <http://www.prslhs.com/> http://www.prslhs.com Preserving The Memory Of The PRSL
