Awesome video Roy! I have about 30 of these nicely made coal porters from Kato and knowing that I don't have to pull my hair out trying to couple them is great! Cheers!
Roy, thanks for the "Quick Tip." So often the way to solve a problem is to use something that has a different main purpose, like the re-railer in this case. I'm looking forward to more of your "Quick Tips".
Hi Roy, very neat tip. I never thought of using a re-railer to couple dummy couplers, thanks for sharing the video. Years ago when I had a large home layout, one of the trains that ran across my layout was the LEF&C Unit coal train. During that era Roundhouse which was still owned by Model Die Casting, was making the LEF&C 50' Thrall High Side Coal Gondola's in N scale. This was also the time in N scale history when many manufacturers were still selling N scale locomotives and rolling stock with the Rapido N scale coupler. Like you mentioned, it would have been very expensive to convert all the cars to Micro-Trains couplers, so I choose a very low cost and drop in replacement dummy coupler from Red Caboose. I never thought of using a re-railing ramp, I used the old tried and true method you showed at the beginning of your video. Although those Lake Erie, Franklin, and Clarion Thrall High Side Gondola's no longer see service on my current layout, I keep them as a reminder of my past layout. Cheers, Rich S.
Thanks for your comment, Jack. As they say, every problem has one or more solutions. I think that's just as true in model railroading as it is with anything else in life. ...Roy
Nice tips, thanks. I have only one set of those cars, and I’ve wondered myself why they came with those seemingly useless couplers. Makes sense that they’re really not meant to run individually with other random cars. Great video as always. Looking forward to the next one! Cheers from Canada! 🇨🇦
Thank you for this tip RoyS! I have a set of these KATO UP bethgon coalporters. I'm going to just change out the one coupler on the lead car, like you did, and use the rerailer tip for coupling all the rest.
Thanks, Ken. A few weeks ago, I received a gift of a bunch of older freight cars with Rapido couplers. I'm in the process of replacing the trucks and couplers on those cars for Micro-Trains. ...Roy
Ahhhh!!! That's a good tip! What I do is just push both together and they just couple up the same way as putting it on the rerailer. I may have a slight incline on my layout but who knows lol
Thanks Roy. I've had the same issue with Athearn tank cars and I don't even think they are dummy couplers, but the lift and drop method works so the rerailer idea should do too.
Thanks, Mark. Good to hear from you. I think I would replace the existing dummy couplers if I wanted to use the coalporters in ops. The dummy couplers work fine as long as I continue to run these cars in unit trains. ...Roy
Thats a great tip roy, the one downfall to kato is their couplers. I didnt know their were 2 types. My kato autoracks have the ones that open always thought they where dummies as well.
Thanks, Ian. You're right about Kato's couplers. Kato's locomotives are the very best, except for those crappy couplers that need to be swapped out for Micro-Trains. ...Roy
great tip there roy my boy !!! they can be a pain in the butt but they do stay coupled and are solid when coupled but not very good if you are doing any yard work or switching in an operation session. good to see ya hope the layout is coming along. jim
Thanks for your comment, Jim. It's always a delight to hear from you. I think I would install Micro-Trains couplers on them if I wanted to do yard or industrial switching with them. Otherwise, the dummy couplers are fine for running them in unit trains, with 2 equal trains: loads running westbound and empties running eastbound. All is well here. I trust the same is true there. ...Roy
The existence of dummy couplers on Kato's coalporters comes as a surprise to many people. It certainly came as a surprise to me. Thanks for your comment, my friend. ...Roy
Coffee time. Great tip Roy! I suspect you change couplers on the Kato engines to micro trains to accommodate everything else also. I like to match couplers for the trains cars makes it much easier. Of course my Kato unit trains just stay as is. I don't mix any brands with them.
You're right, Craig. Coffee and videos just go together naturally. Some of my Kato locomotives already have Micro-Trains couplers. Eventually, they all will. ...Roy
Thanks Roy. Ever since I have gotten into this hobby I find all the different couplers that different brands and older rolling stock have very frustrating. Pretty much all of my rolling stock is Micro Trains Line and my locomotives are all Kato. I hav been slowly switching out a bunch of rolling stock I got talked into buying with Micro Trains couplers but it is slow going. Thanks and Cheers 🍻
Thanks, Gary. I would switch all of my coalporters to Micro-Trains couplers like you have done, if I wanted to actually switch them somewhere on my layout, for example, at a coal mine or power plant. But I only run them as unit trains with no switching anywhere on my layout, just as there is no switching of coal trains on the prototype Evanston Subdivision. So, the dummy couplers are fine for what I do. ...Roy
Hello. A very informative video. I think the kato coupler is good. I lift the car a little. I use kato a lot because the quality is very good. I have a lot of fun with it. Greetings from the Altmark in eastern Germany Holger🇺🇲🚂🇺🇲
That is very interesting, I just got my 1st 8 car Coalpoter set, have not railed them as yet...the layout table is not ready. Thank you for the heads up though like yourself, on my own terms my scene is not goint to be protoypical but hopefully represent the Wyoming/Utah envrironment to suite my KATO N Scale UP Big Boy and the two GP70ACe's I have with a V16 track set to begin with.
Hi! Just came here from Ron's Trains & Things - and am I glad I did! Your site is amazing. I could lay here & watch your videos for hours, and if I'm not careful it could happen (*-*) ! Thanks so much for all the interesting videos. God bless!
Thanks for your very kind comment, littledeer. I want you to know how much I appreciate it. Also, thanks for watching. It's a real pleasure to share the hobby of model railroading with you. Take care. ...Roy
I just bump them together with a little more force than usual. Sometimes it takes a few bumps and sometimes I have to kind of wiggle the cars side to side a little, but they always couple within a few seconds with no lifting and re-railing and without having to position one at the end of the ramp.
I wonder if that tip was actually in the instruction of the cars when you got. I only say that because well, who reads directions? Especially for a train car. It’s not like you need to read directions to couple cars. Good video Roy, I’m sure many people will benefit from this.
Kato is pronounced “Kah-to” since it’s a Japanese company. I overheard a story at my local train store about a Japanese man looking at a Kato locomotive and ask him if he could get one out of the case. The guy asked “Do you want this “Ka-to” and he the Japanese man looked him straight in the eyes and said “It’s pronounced “Kah-to”!”. I know you probably don’t care but I thought I would just inform you on the correct pronunciation of the brand. Otherwise great video Roy!
On the contrary, my friend. I care very much. For years, I've been trying to convince everyone that we should pronounce it "Kah-toe" and not "Kay-toe" but I continue to hear people pronouncing it incorrectly everyday. Most people don't seem to care, but I feel we should pronounce it correctly. ...Roy
@@n-scaleunionpacificevansto6569 okay I just looked back at this comment and it looks very passive aggressive and sorry if you took it the wrong way. I wrote this at one in the morning so I wasn’t fully aware of what I wrote. Also yes I believe people should care about the pronunciation.
No problem, my friend. To me, the mispronciation of Kato sounds like chalk screeching on the blackboard. I've noticed that every time I want to say "Kato," I have stop and think about how to say it, and even then, it seldom comes out sounding exactly as I want it to. ...Roy
Hey Mr. Roy i call them the Kissing couplers there short to the Prototype like the Real couplers on the Real coal porters Kato mentions this they can easily be coupled Roy by doing what kissing the coupler take 2 cars and kiss the couplers the Couplers will lift up or will Drop down and they'll hook up easy as for hooking to the Engine if you have A Kato coupler on a Engine it will easily hook to the Coal porters and other Kato Cars but if you have Microtrains on your Engine cutting the coupler away from the Truck and installing a Microtrains will work perfectly But that is what I use to do with my Kato coal porters I'd kiss 💋 the Couplers.. That was a Great Video and if your wanting to hook additional sets of 8 putting a Microtrains on just one end of each set you can string several together.. I'm going to get me some more Sets and thats what I'm going to do Mr. Roy I just need the drill Tap to tap the Hole... Take Care Roy Again that was a Great Video..
Thanks, my friend. I appreciate your comment. I've tried to couple them many time by bumping them together gently - or "kissing" them, as you say - generally without a lot of success. Maybe my "gentle" bumping has just been too hard. In any case, I really like them, and enjoy running them in long unit trains, as loads in one direction and empties in the opposite direction. In fact, my layout was originally designed around the idea of being able to do that. Right now, I have 40 of the Kato coalporters, but I guess you can't have too many of them. They look great. Some of my Kato locomotives already have Micro-Trains couplers on them, but hopefully they all will have them eventually. ...Roy
Yup they Are fun Roy And boy do I love my 1111 Sir that Engine at first I thought was a little Cartoonish but after Getting Man I'm was thrilled with Roy this Engine was A DCC but no sound I bought an addition U.P. Engine the 9041 that Engine had Lok Sound Installed in it I pulled the 9041's shell and done the Required trims to 1111 so it could slip onto to the Frame and does it look & Sound Good but I haven't had much Time to Run my Engines on my Layout Roy will actually i got to Run my Engines after I had the Tube Removed from Stomach then a Few Days after that my Rock my momma Had to go to the Hospital Her Sodium Level Dropped and she collapsed onto our Kitchen floor what caused this Roy it was her Water Pill 💊 it Drained her and thats where her Dizziness was coming From she had A headache as Well the Docs actually took her off 2 Meds the Water Pill & she was on 300mg Blood Pressure Pill and this pill had a Bata Blocker in it she's just on a 40mg pill Now and a Colesteral pill & thyroid pill Thank goodness they got it figured out for Mom and she doing pretty Good she got or is getting more Spunky and I love 💘 that And no more Dizziness it does take her a bit to Get up and we have to use my pops big Arms to help her of the Toilet and she'd rather not have help but she's getting 100% help And I'm so glad she's Home... But we should be doing some Railroading maybe this Weekend and here in our City there having a Train Show so me & pop are gonna go for a Bit and we'll get some Video of the Show.!! Allen D Roy if its OK I'm gonna Put it on UA-cam then I'll put a Link on your Channel again if thats ok to do that Sir..
A pleasure, George. Actually, here's how I use my 40 coalporters: I divide them into two trains of 20 cars each. One train with loads runs continuously westbound, and the other as empties runs continuously eastbound. I intentionally built my layout with a helix at each end and a staging yard to make the illusion of loads going in one direction and empties going in the opposite direction look realistic. ...Roy
Roy I do appreciate your tip but what about when you need to split up some and drop off on different tracks do to space constraints. I to have a bunch and in my yard there isn't enough room for them all. Chris. I'm not meaning to sound like I'm criticizing but it is a pain in the back side.
Exactly, Chris. Thanks for your comment. As I mention in the video, this suggestion works for running your coalporters as a unit train (same origen and same destination for all the cars in the train with no switching or making drop-offs along the way, as explained starting at minute 3:49 in the video). That's why these Kato coalporters come with dummy couplers. But to split them up as you plan to do, then it's best to replace them with functioning automatic couplers (preferably Micro-Trains couplers). ...Roy
Yeah Roy I plan on it. I didn't understand why they didn't couple until your video. I still think it sucks though 😕. Anyway thank you for the explanation as to why. Sorry I sounded like I was complaining to you, wasn't my intention. Let's just keep having fun, right. Chris
Thank you so much. I bought a set of these and was really upset because I couldn’t get them to couple. Now I’ll be able to use them. Two questions. What Micro-Trains coupler should I use for the lead car? And do you have any tips for connecting the Kato inter modal cars that share a truck and wheels between cars? No matter what I do I can’t make theirs work. Thanks again for the great info.
Good to hear from you, Harvey. If I remember correctly, I used a Micro Trains Barber Roller Bearing Truck with coupler (003 10 41) on that lead coalporters. That's what I've used on most of my freight cars. As for connecting Kato intermodal cars, they are a real pain. I think you might find a video by Mike Fifer on this topic to be helpful: ua-cam.com/video/632K7Gm4BI4/v-deo.html ...Roy
This one helps a lot as I am currently working on metal wheelsets and couplers that actually work! Thanks for the education, Prof Roy! I do have a question...I see your coalporters are all pointed in the same direction (yellow marking forward). I tend to do the same thing. I do wonder if this is what happens on real trains. Your thoughts? Thanks again, Roy! Know you can...John
John, coal porters are unloaded with huge rotaries that lift and turn the cars over to unload them. That's why they must all be facing the right direction. ...Roy
@@n-scaleunionpacificevansto6569 Great video and what a simple way of coupling, thanks for that! I wanted to mention the "double end" rotary coal car, it can be positioned in the middle of your unit consist, with 1/2 of the yellow ends facing west and the other 1/2 facing east so to speak. happy hunting for double end rotary!
Thanks, Tom. Yep, they're meant to run together as a unit train and not mixed together with other types of cars in manifest trains. Most of the trains running on my layout are types of unit trains because that's "modern era." ...Roy
Hey roy just wanted to asked what do you use to uncuped the cars becuse I tried to uncuped my amtrak coaches but I don't want to damage it so what do you use to uncuped the cars?
Better buy Athearn Bethgon coalporter than Kato but kato lighter than Athearn abit heavy. Athearn use Altas trucks or Mc Henry trucks with metal wheel look nice I have 45 Athearn Bethgon Coalporter with one locomotives running without no problem
One of the things I like about Kato rolling stock is that it comes with metal wheels. I can't speak about Athearn because I don't own any of their rolling stock. ...Roy
Nice 'tip' ! Using the re-railer is a great solution to a 'problem' a lot of us have encountered. Thanks Roy !!!
Thanks, James. It's a pleasure to share this quick tip with you. More are coming. ...Roy
Tips like these are always a bonus for the modelling community. Nice one Roy!
Cheers, Bob
Thanks, Bob. As always, the best part of the hobby is sharing it wirh others. ...Roy
Awesome video Roy! I have about 30 of these nicely made coal porters from Kato and knowing that I don't have to pull my hair out trying to couple them is great! Cheers!
Thanks, Piero. Sharing the hobby is how we model railroaders learn from each other. ...Roy
Roy, thanks for the "Quick Tip." So often the way to solve a problem is to use something that has a different main purpose, like the re-railer in this case. I'm looking forward to more of your "Quick Tips".
Thanks, my friend. A pleasure to share the quick tip with you. More are coming. ...Roy
Great tip Roy, thanks for sharing. That’s a good looking train running on the layout too. - Steve
Thanks, Steve. Running a train was tons of fun. I need to do it more often. ...Roy
@@n-scaleunionpacificevansto6569 you and me both. Sadly most of us spend more time working on our layout than actually running trains! - Steve
Hi Roy, very neat tip. I never thought of using a re-railer to couple dummy couplers, thanks for sharing the video. Years ago when I had a large home layout, one of the trains that ran across my layout was the LEF&C Unit coal train. During that era Roundhouse which was still owned by Model Die Casting, was making the LEF&C 50' Thrall High Side Coal Gondola's in N scale. This was also the time in N scale history when many manufacturers were still selling N scale locomotives and rolling stock with the Rapido N scale coupler. Like you mentioned, it would have been very expensive to convert all the cars to Micro-Trains couplers, so I choose a very low cost and drop in replacement dummy coupler from Red Caboose. I never thought of using a re-railing ramp, I used the old tried and true method you showed at the beginning of your video. Although those Lake Erie, Franklin, and Clarion Thrall High Side Gondola's no longer see service on my current layout, I keep them as a reminder of my past layout. Cheers, Rich S.
Genius! I also have struggled with this. Thank you.
Thanks, Randy. I'm glad it's helpful. ...Roy
I always thought Roy was a bit of a genius, this proves it, great tip & THANKS
You're too kind, Ronald. I'm speechless. ...Roy
@@n-scaleunionpacificevansto6569 Thank God you'll never be speechless LOL and Ron is fine, Ronald is to formal
A clever idea Roy.
Thanks, William. A pleasure to share it with you. ...Roy
Hello Roy. Brilliant. Thanks for the super helpful tip. Enjoy your day. See ya.
Hiya Norman! I always enjoy hearing from you. It's fun to share our discoveries with others in the hobby. ...Roy
As always the simplest solution makes sence, thanks for the tip👍👍👍👍
Thanks for your comment, Jack. As they say, every problem has one or more solutions. I think that's just as true in model railroading as it is with anything else in life. ...Roy
Nice tips, thanks. I have only one set of those cars, and I’ve wondered myself why they came with those seemingly useless couplers. Makes sense that they’re really not meant to run individually with other random cars.
Great video as always. Looking forward to the next one!
Cheers from Canada! 🇨🇦
Thanks, Dexter. They're beautiful cars, but coupling them together can be frustrating. ...Roy
Thank you for this tip RoyS! I have a set of these KATO UP bethgon coalporters. I'm going to just change out the one coupler on the lead car, like you did, and use the rerailer tip for coupling all the rest.
Thanks, RoyE. It's always a pleasure to share the hobby with you. I trust the tip will work out for you as well. ...RoyS
GReat Tip, always pissed me off them darn couplers. Thanks for the tip!
Thanks, Owen. I hope the tip helps. ...Roy
Hi Roy! Thanks for the video and for sharing. 😀
Thanks, Bartholomew. A pleasure to share it with you. ...Roy
Will keep this in mind when I order my fist set
I hope it helps, George. ...Roy
Excellent as usual
Thank you, Ken. I appreciate that. ...Roy
Great tip Roy. There are lots of us out there that have rolling stock and passenger cars with Rapido couplers.
Thanks, Ken. A few weeks ago, I received a gift of a bunch of older freight cars with Rapido couplers. I'm in the process of replacing the trucks and couplers on those cars for Micro-Trains. ...Roy
@@n-scaleunionpacificevansto6569 I didn’t mention that I bought the big package of micro trains trucks and couplers to do the same thing.
Thanks for the tip. You always have the most interesting and entertaining videos.
Rich
Thank you, Rich. You are very kind, and I want you to know that I appreciate it. ...Roy
Thanks Roy for the tips. I'll try it. Gary
Thanks, Gary. It's always tons of fun to share what we've learned with others. ...Roy
Very nice tip! Thanks for sharing
Thanks, Michael. A real pleasure. ...Roy
Ahhhh!!! That's a good tip! What I do is just push both together and they just couple up the same way as putting it on the rerailer. I may have a slight incline on my layout but who knows lol
Thanks for sharing your experience, Yuri. That's how we learn from each other. ...Roy
Great tip Roy
Thanks, Robert. I appreciate your comment. ...Roy
Thanks Roy. I've had the same issue with Athearn tank cars and I don't even think they are dummy couplers, but the lift and drop method works so the rerailer idea should do too.
Thanks, Mark. Good to hear from you. I think I would replace the existing dummy couplers if I wanted to use the coalporters in ops. The dummy couplers work fine as long as I continue to run these cars in unit trains. ...Roy
Thats a great tip roy, the one downfall to kato is their couplers. I didnt know their were 2 types. My kato autoracks have the ones that open always thought they where dummies as well.
Thanks, Ian. You're right about Kato's couplers. Kato's locomotives are the very best, except for those crappy couplers that need to be swapped out for Micro-Trains. ...Roy
Great tip Roy! Thanks for sharing. Dave
Thanks, Dave. It's always a pleasure to share the hobby with you. ...Roy
Very neat tip! - Jason
Thanks, Jason. I hope it's helpful. ...Roy
great tip there roy my boy !!! they can be a pain in the butt but they do stay coupled and are solid when coupled but not very good if you are doing any yard work or switching in an operation session. good to see ya hope the layout is coming along. jim
Thanks for your comment, Jim. It's always a delight to hear from you. I think I would install Micro-Trains couplers on them if I wanted to do yard or industrial switching with them. Otherwise, the dummy couplers are fine for running them in unit trains, with 2 equal trains: loads running westbound and empties running eastbound. All is well here. I trust the same is true there. ...Roy
Nice tip. Very original.
Thanks for you comment, Bob. I appreciate it. ...Roy
Another good video. i never knew that they used dummy couplers on the cars like that. I always figured they were just lower quality couplers
The existence of dummy couplers on Kato's coalporters comes as a surprise to many people. It certainly came as a surprise to me. Thanks for your comment, my friend. ...Roy
Great tip Roy....Thanks. Bob
Thanks, Bob. It's a pleasure to share this tip with you. ...Roy
Coffee time. Great tip Roy! I suspect you change couplers on the Kato engines to micro trains to accommodate everything else also. I like to match couplers for the trains cars makes it much easier. Of course my Kato unit trains just stay as is. I don't mix any brands with them.
You're right, Craig. Coffee and videos just go together naturally. Some of my Kato locomotives already have Micro-Trains couplers. Eventually, they all will. ...Roy
Interesting, thanks for the tip.
You're very welcome, Christopher. Thank you for eatching. ...Roy
Thanks Roy. Ever since I have gotten into this hobby I find all the different couplers that different brands and older rolling stock have very frustrating. Pretty much all of my rolling stock is Micro Trains Line and my locomotives are all Kato. I hav been slowly switching out a bunch of rolling stock I got talked into buying with Micro Trains couplers but it is slow going. Thanks and Cheers 🍻
Thanks for sharing your experience, Patrick. Most of my locos are Katos, too, and I prefer to buy Micro-Trains freight cars. ...Roy
I changed all my coal cars to micro trains couplers, don't forget to trim your air hoses Roy then tend to get caught up at the frogs...gary
Thanks, Gary. I would switch all of my coalporters to Micro-Trains couplers like you have done, if I wanted to actually switch them somewhere on my layout, for example, at a coal mine or power plant. But I only run them as unit trains with no switching anywhere on my layout, just as there is no switching of coal trains on the prototype Evanston Subdivision. So, the dummy couplers are fine for what I do. ...Roy
Hello.
A very informative video. I think the kato coupler is good. I lift the car a little. I use kato a lot because the quality is very good. I have a lot of fun with it.
Greetings from the Altmark in eastern Germany
Holger🇺🇲🚂🇺🇲
Roy Very interesting! My UK n scale stuff has Peco couplers. Good enough for now. Regards Stephen.
Thanks, Stephen. I think most people will be inclined to swap out those Kato dummy couplers for automatic Micro-Trains couplers. ...Roy
Peco makes couplers never knew that
That is very interesting, I just got my 1st 8 car Coalpoter set, have not railed them as yet...the layout table is not ready. Thank you for the heads up though like yourself, on my own terms my scene is not goint to be protoypical but hopefully represent the Wyoming/Utah envrironment to suite my KATO N Scale UP Big Boy and the two GP70ACe's I have with a V16 track set to begin with.
Good video ,, Interesting and informative👍😉
Thanks, Kevin. The best part of the hobby is sharing it with others. ...Roy
Hi! Just came here from Ron's Trains & Things - and am I glad I did! Your site is amazing. I could lay here & watch your videos for hours, and if I'm not careful it could happen (*-*) ! Thanks so much for all the interesting videos. God bless!
Thanks for your very kind comment, littledeer. I want you to know how much I appreciate it. Also, thanks for watching. It's a real pleasure to share the hobby of model railroading with you. Take care. ...Roy
I had no idea 🤷♂️ haha thanks 😊
Ha! Now you know, Sean. ...Roy
@@n-scaleunionpacificevansto6569 thanks Roy 🤣
I just bump them together with a little more force than usual. Sometimes it takes a few bumps and sometimes I have to kind of wiggle the cars side to side a little, but they always couple within a few seconds with no lifting and re-railing and without having to position one at the end of the ramp.
I wonder if that tip was actually in the instruction of the cars when you got. I only say that because well, who reads directions? Especially for a train car. It’s not like you need to read directions to couple cars. Good video Roy, I’m sure many people will benefit from this.
You're right, Steve: Who reads the directions? ...Roy
Kato is pronounced “Kah-to” since it’s a Japanese company. I overheard a story at my local train store about a Japanese man looking at a Kato locomotive and ask him if he could get one out of the case. The guy asked “Do you want this “Ka-to” and he the Japanese man looked him straight in the eyes and said “It’s pronounced “Kah-to”!”. I know you probably don’t care but I thought I would just inform you on the correct pronunciation of the brand. Otherwise great video Roy!
On the contrary, my friend. I care very much. For years, I've been trying to convince everyone that we should pronounce it "Kah-toe" and not "Kay-toe" but I continue to hear people pronouncing it incorrectly everyday. Most people don't seem to care, but I feel we should pronounce it correctly. ...Roy
@@n-scaleunionpacificevansto6569 okay I just looked back at this comment and it looks very passive aggressive and sorry if you took it the wrong way. I wrote this at one in the morning so I wasn’t fully aware of what I wrote. Also yes I believe people should care about the pronunciation.
No problem, my friend. To me, the mispronciation of Kato sounds like chalk screeching on the blackboard. I've noticed that every time I want to say "Kato," I have stop and think about how to say it, and even then, it seldom comes out sounding exactly as I want it to. ...Roy
Thx for the vid.
I cut them off and body mounted M T 1015 couplers
Hey Mr. Roy i call them the Kissing couplers there short to the Prototype like the Real couplers on the Real coal porters Kato mentions this they can easily be coupled Roy by doing what kissing the coupler take 2 cars and kiss the couplers the Couplers will lift up or will Drop down and they'll hook up easy as for hooking to the Engine if you have A Kato coupler on a Engine it will easily hook to the Coal porters and other Kato Cars but if you have Microtrains on your Engine cutting the coupler away from the Truck and installing a Microtrains will work perfectly But that is what I use to do with my Kato coal porters I'd kiss 💋 the Couplers.. That was a Great Video and if your wanting to hook additional sets of 8 putting a Microtrains on just one end of each set you can string several together.. I'm going to get me some more Sets and thats what I'm going to do Mr. Roy I just need the drill Tap to tap the Hole...
Take Care Roy Again that was a Great Video..
Thanks, my friend. I appreciate your comment. I've tried to couple them many time by bumping them together gently - or "kissing" them, as you say - generally without a lot of success. Maybe my "gentle" bumping has just been too hard. In any case, I really like them, and enjoy running them in long unit trains, as loads in one direction and empties in the opposite direction. In fact, my layout was originally designed around the idea of being able to do that. Right now, I have 40 of the Kato coalporters, but I guess you can't have too many of them. They look great. Some of my Kato locomotives already have Micro-Trains couplers on them, but hopefully they all will have them eventually. ...Roy
Yup they Are fun Roy And boy do I love my 1111 Sir that Engine at first I thought was a little Cartoonish but after Getting Man I'm was thrilled with Roy this Engine was A DCC but no sound I bought an addition U.P. Engine the 9041 that Engine had Lok Sound Installed in it I pulled the 9041's shell and done the Required trims to 1111 so it could slip onto to the Frame and does it look & Sound Good but I haven't had much Time to Run my Engines on my Layout Roy will actually i got to Run my Engines after I had the Tube Removed from Stomach then a Few Days after that my Rock my momma Had to go to the Hospital Her Sodium Level Dropped and she collapsed onto our Kitchen floor what caused this Roy it was her Water Pill 💊 it Drained her and thats where her Dizziness was coming From she had A headache as Well the Docs actually took her off 2 Meds the Water Pill & she was on 300mg Blood Pressure Pill and this pill had a Bata Blocker in it she's just on a 40mg pill Now and a Colesteral pill & thyroid pill Thank goodness they got it figured out for Mom and she doing pretty Good she got or is getting more Spunky and I love 💘 that And no more Dizziness it does take her a bit to Get up and we have to use my pops big Arms to help her of the Toilet and she'd rather not have help but she's getting 100% help And I'm so glad she's Home... But we should be doing some Railroading maybe this Weekend and here in our City there having a Train Show so me & pop are gonna go for a Bit and we'll get some Video of the Show.!!
Allen D Roy if its OK I'm gonna Put it on UA-cam then I'll put a Link on your Channel again if thats ok to do that Sir..
thanks for the tip......do you run 40 car unit trains?
A pleasure, George. Actually, here's how I use my 40 coalporters: I divide them into two trains of 20 cars each. One train with loads runs continuously westbound, and the other as empties runs continuously eastbound. I intentionally built my layout with a helix at each end and a staging yard to make the illusion of loads going in one direction and empties going in the opposite direction look realistic. ...Roy
@@n-scaleunionpacificevansto6569 thanks....that gives me an idea for my layout
Roy I do appreciate your tip but what about when you need to split up some and drop off on different tracks do to space constraints. I to have a bunch and in my yard there isn't enough room for them all. Chris. I'm not meaning to sound like I'm criticizing but it is a pain in the back side.
Exactly, Chris. Thanks for your comment. As I mention in the video, this suggestion works for running your coalporters as a unit train (same origen and same destination for all the cars in the train with no switching or making drop-offs along the way, as explained starting at minute 3:49 in the video). That's why these Kato coalporters come with dummy couplers. But to split them up as you plan to do, then it's best to replace them with functioning automatic couplers (preferably Micro-Trains couplers). ...Roy
Yeah Roy I plan on it. I didn't understand why they didn't couple until your video. I still think it sucks though 😕. Anyway thank you for the explanation as to why. Sorry I sounded like I was complaining to you, wasn't my intention. Let's just keep having fun, right. Chris
so the dummy couplers are really smarter than we think?
That seems to be the case, Sparky. And they're probably smarter than the guy who created this video, too. LOL! ...Roy
Thanks for sharing 🚂🚞🚞🚞🚞🚞🚞🚞🚞🚞
Those are kato I didn't think they did that🙄💥
So far, I've only encountered them on Kato's Bethgon coalporters, Kevin. On nothing else. ...Roy
Thank you so much. I bought a set of these and was really upset because I couldn’t get them to couple. Now I’ll be able to use them. Two questions. What Micro-Trains coupler should I use for the lead car? And do you have any tips for connecting the Kato inter modal cars that share a truck and wheels between cars? No matter what I do I can’t make theirs work.
Thanks again for the great info.
Good to hear from you, Harvey. If I remember correctly, I used a Micro Trains Barber Roller Bearing Truck with coupler (003 10 41) on that lead coalporters. That's what I've used on most of my freight cars. As for connecting Kato intermodal cars, they are a real pain. I think you might find a video by Mike Fifer on this topic to be helpful: ua-cam.com/video/632K7Gm4BI4/v-deo.html
...Roy
This one helps a lot as I am currently working on metal wheelsets and couplers that actually work! Thanks for the education, Prof Roy! I do have a question...I see your coalporters are all pointed in the same direction (yellow marking forward). I tend to do the same thing. I do wonder if this is what happens on real trains. Your thoughts? Thanks again, Roy! Know you can...John
John, coal porters are unloaded with huge rotaries that lift and turn the cars over to unload them. That's why they must all be facing the right direction. ...Roy
@@n-scaleunionpacificevansto6569 Great video and what a simple way of coupling, thanks for that! I wanted to mention the "double end" rotary coal car, it can be positioned in the middle of your unit consist, with 1/2 of the yellow ends facing west and the other 1/2 facing east so to speak. happy hunting for double end rotary!
@@uxd8964 Thanks, UDX. I appreciate that info and will be watching for double-ended coalporters. ...Roy
Ok didn't make sense but then it did and kinda logical !
So if you have a line of cars that are always to gether, that could be a thought too !
Thanks, Tom. Yep, they're meant to run together as a unit train and not mixed together with other types of cars in manifest trains. Most of the trains running on my layout are types of unit trains because that's "modern era." ...Roy
Hey roy just wanted to asked what do you use to uncuped the cars becuse I tried to uncuped my amtrak coaches but I don't want to damage it so what do you use to uncuped the cars?
Chris, I use either a Rix Pick or a pointed bamboo stick. Gently, of course. ...Roy
@@n-scaleunionpacificevansto6569 oky thx Roy also will a toth pick work as well or not?
@@chrisscott8934 I think so, Chris, although a toothpick may be a little short to use comfortably. ...Roy
@@n-scaleunionpacificevansto6569 ok thanks I I tried that but If doesn't work then I go with the other pick brand you minchend
Kato couples drive me nuts!!!
Agreed, Mike. They don't play well with other brands of couplers. ...Roy
Better buy Athearn Bethgon coalporter than Kato but kato lighter than Athearn abit heavy. Athearn use Altas trucks or Mc Henry trucks with metal wheel look nice I have 45 Athearn Bethgon Coalporter with one locomotives running without no problem
One of the things I like about Kato rolling stock is that it comes with metal wheels. I can't speak about Athearn because I don't own any of their rolling stock. ...Roy
oddly i got mine to couple, hmmm maybe im specail, also i have another brand that wont couple lol in a box 2 4 packs daennitt
A "quick" tip in 6 minutes 23 seconds.
I'm a man of few words, Alan. Haaaaa! ...Roy