Reply To: Couplings -some conclusions

If you are running coach sets of BR Mk1s or later, then Kadees are the obvious choice of couplings as they look like the prototype.

Also Bulleid coaches and probably many others.

But not for pre-Grouping coaches.

Apart from costing a fortune, they look horrible on most freight stock unless you are into the very modern era.

So you may need to have separate locos with different couplings for goods wagons.

As for minimum radius for Mk1 coaching stock, I am afraid you are looking at a large radius for it to look good; 4’/120cms+?

Note that to be prototypical, running line curves of less than 6′ radius require check rails!

Also if you are going to propel shunt such stock without derailing e.g. in carriage sidings, you are looking at an even larger radius.

And to propel them through a reverse curve i.e. crossover, you probably need C9+ turnouts.

What is your interpretation of ” train integrity”?!