I went over to the Bluebell Railway yesterday, and called in at a well-known model railway shop near Arundel on the way home. UK readers will know the one I mean! I bought several building kits for the OO/HO tramway I'm rebuilding, and an Atlas U25B for the forthcoming Gonnabe (OK) in N . . . So far, so good! In the same cabinet of "new" items, I saw an Atlas caboose in NP markings, and it has Rapido couplings [[So it's no value to me!]]. Surely, this must be an old item the shop hasn't managed to sell yet, or are Atlas still offering a choice? Regards, Pete Davies
I think Atlas still offers them with MT or Rapido couplers. I've seen both styles at a couple of hobby shops in/near the Denver area. Not a hard job to replace couplers. Others may have more. Corrections wecome, if I'm wrong!
Atlas dropped MTL option and went to all Accumate about 18 months ago amybe 2 years. The last NP with Rapido should have been the EV cabeese from about 4 years ago.
One of the benefits of Unimate couplers is they fit in the Rapido pockets. That allows you to to guy any Rapido coupler'd product and have a ready knuckle conversion.
I don't think anyone is making rolling stock or locos anymore equipped with rapido couplers. Instead the worm has turned, and it seems almost everything has knuckle couplers of one make or another, and all seem to be interchangeable. I have seen some boxes with "spare" rapido couplers option in case they are the ones needed by a particular customer. I think that is thoughtful, as I would be we would all be surprised as to the number of guys out there who still opt for rapido couplers. I know I still accept in my passenger fleet the use of these couplers because by nature these are strong, reliable and easily hid. It takes a very strong eye to see what kind of coupler is used on a passenger car when it goes by, as compared to freight cars. Ken "FloridaBoy" Willaman
The loco I bought has some "spare" Rapido couplings, but I was very surprised to see US outline stock being offered new with that arrangement. Regards, Pete Davies
Pete I throw this in as you are a modeler, in the UK, that frequents UK shops. As such, you may have insight here. I bought a Dapol Terrier. It's awesome. Aside from being neat looking, it's a great little runner(when used as intended, got pull a few small cars). To the point. It came with dummy knuckle couplers that puts into the standard NEM clip. Are these couplers any good? If so, are they available in bulk? Thanks
Sorry, Marty, I haven't a clue! :thumbs_down: A Terrier wouldn't have been in keeping with what I was doing in UK outline and only the last two or three freight items had NEM pockets. The only dummy knuckles I bought were Kato types. Regards, Pete Davies
