Working front coupler for BLI M1a and M1b

[BruceG]

My Broadway Limited M1a and M1b are IMO the best steam locomotives I've ever owned.  Their one shortcoming is the inability to double head them.

I believe I've seen several posts that mention replacing the dummy coupler with a working one, but never the details as to what was used and how it was done.  A tutorial by anyone who has successfully swapped out the coupler would be most appreciated.  If one is out there and I've missed it, someone please provide a link.

I've replaced the dummy coupler with MTL Z's on Bachmann 2-8-0's, but destroyed a few pilots in the process.  Fortunately, replacements were available.  Not so with the M1's.  Additionally, the available working area seems even tighter than on the Consolidations.

Thanks for any help you can provide.

[eric220]

I was helping @Lemosteam make a swap out coupler on Shapeways. It's a dummy coupler, but it will mate with MTs and similar couplers just fine, including the tender coupler for double heading. Not sure if he ever released them for purchase or not.

Edit: Indeed he did!

http://www.shapeways.com/product/ASLFQ5US2/broadway-limited-m1-pilot-knuckle-replacement-4pk?optionId=59820199&li=user-profile

[BruceG]

Thanks Eric. I've ordered a set.

[atsf_arizona]

Will those also work to replace the N scale Bachmann Spectrum 2-8-0 front coupler?

If so, will the coupler be at the right height?

Thx.

[eric220]

@Lemosteam can correct me if I'm wrong, but they were designed specifically for the coupler pocket on the BLI M1. If they fit anything else, it would be pure coincidence.

Edit: I just checked, and no, they will not work. The clips on the connie's coupler are thinner (vertically) and wider apart. I couldn't get the M1 replacement into the slot, and even if I had, the clips wouldn't have been able to grab the back of the box.

[atsf_arizona]

Eric220,

Thx very much for checking.  Nice to hear from you - I still remember our visit back several years ago.

[eric220]

@atsf_arizona as do I.  I hope all is well with you.  I miss seeing more regular contributions from you.

[atsf_arizona]

Thx, Eric.  Yes, busy with work.  It's 2016 after all - not very much time avail to be posting.  But will when I can.

The Wayback Machine still has a lot of my old extinct ATSF Arizona web site, for what it's worth:

https://web.archive.org/web/20151002184727/home.comcast.net/~j.sing/

OK, now back to original topic of this thread, which is "Working front coupler for BLI M1a and M1b".

[Lemosteam]

@Lemosteam can correct me if I'm wrong, but they were designed specifically for the coupler pocket on the BLI M1. If they fit anything else, it would be pure coincidence.

Edit: I just checked, and no, they will not work. The clips on the connie's coupler are thinner (vertically) and wider apart. I couldn't get the M1 replacement into the slot, and even if I had, the clips wouldn't have been able to grab the back of the box.

This is correct.  They were designed specifically for the BLI M1.

Sorry I never made an official announcement here.  Thanks @eric220 for pointing folks to them.

[BruceG]

I received the dummy couplers from Shapeways yesterday.  Eager to try them out, I blackened one up with a sharpie, installed it, and took the two locomotives to our club to run.  The coupler worked perfectly, even on our fairly tight curves.  The double-headed M1's easily pulled 50 cars up a 2+ % grade.  Not surprising, since either one alone will pull 30 cars.

This was my first 3D printed product, and I'm extremely happy with Shapeways.  Fast order fulfillment; excellent product; ordered four and received six. 

Thanks @eric220 for the suggestion and @Lemosteam for a great product.

 

[Lemosteam]

I received the dummy couplers from Shapeways yesterday.  Eager to try them out, I blackened one up with a sharpie, installed it, and took the two locomotives to our club to run.  The coupler worked perfectly, even on our fairly tight curves.  The double-headed M1's easily pulled 50 cars up a 2+ % grade.  Not surprising, since either one alone will pull 30 cars.

This was my first 3D printed product, and I'm extremely happy with Shapeways.  Fast order fulfillment; excellent product; ordered four and received six. 

Thanks @eric220 for the suggestion and @Lemosteam for a great product.

 

Wow @BruceG !  Thanks for the compliments!