Our group has recently acquired 2 ex-Canadian National coaches from the BC Rail Royal Hudson equipment that was sold recently. The cars are currently equiped with Type E couplers and draft gear. Quite some time ago I recall reading in Private Varnish of a particular type of tightlock coupler that was made to fit into the Type E coupler pocket.Anyone have any info on availability, costs etc. Also, is it worthwhile to look for used couplers? Are there any Canadian suppliers out there? Any help will be appreciated.

gandmferguson@shaw.ca

"I recall reading in Private Varnish of a particular type of tightlock coupler that was made to fit into the Type E coupler pocket."

I was the author of the Private Varnish article, which I no longer have a paper copy of, but I believe I've got an electronic edition. I will send you an address and phone number at which you can ask more detailed questions.

Members of the Bluewater Michigan Chapter, NRHS, had ten custom-length Type "F" couplers cast up around 1986 for 1937 and 1942 "Canadian Flyer" lightweight coaches. Type "F's" look and work light Tightlock Type "H" couplers (with a bottom shelf added) but are a whole lot cheaper. These cars required extensive redesign of the coupler hanger, in which a stout steel structure was grafted onto the carbody end casting to provide the downward strength that an interlocking coupler requires in order to prevent telescoping and misalignment in a derailment. Modifications to the draft-gear pocket were also needed.

The couplers were a couple grand a car in that quantity if I remember right. I can't recall the supplier, but look under "couplers" in the Pocket List. Some manufacturers will make custom lengths, for a price. In pairs, it might exceed $5,000 a car now.

What kind of ex-CN car do you have? One of the 1954 Pullman-Standard order will not need the special-length drawbars, but can have a used Type "H" installed without much additional work. If you have one of the 1937 or 1942 cars, buy LOTS of welding rod and find someone who knows how to use it.

If you are not going to operate at high speed, nor on a railroad that insists on interlocking couplers, you will not need to replace your Type "E's."

Aarne H. Frobom
The Steam Railroading Institute
P. O. Box 665
Owosso, MI 48867-0665