I started coupling N gauge rolling stock using `experimental' home made hooks & fine chain to give a more prototypical look to some of my goods stock without chunky `standard' couplings filling the gaps between & below the wagons. This cost approximately 40 pence per wagon and worked well, but I had to use 5 links instead of the prototypical 3 links used by the real railways. I was then told of proper etched brass scale coupling hooks & dummy screw couplings by Maurice Pearce, I purchased one fret (70 hooks & 70 screw-couplings) of `Scale Link' couplings (SNF030) for a little over 5 pounds and a 1 metre length of `near to scale' chain for just over 3 pounds from Maurice. These have made a vast improvement to the look of the vehicles & locomotives I have converted so far, and only cost a few pence more than my `home made' couplings which did work but looked far to `chunky' I think I'll use the home made ones on my OO models instead.

I purchase the coupling chains as a 1 Metre length which is already chemically blackened and very close to scale. I cut each 4th link of the chain to produce 3-link coupling chains, these are simply hooked onto each wagon and fixed by applying a small amount of slow setting super glue on the end of a track pin to the bottom inside face of the coupling hook, dropping the chain in and lightly pushing the chain into place with a cocktail stick or track pin. Using slow setting super glue allows time for positioning of small detail parts before the glue `takes hold'. I use `Humbrol super glue thick' which sets in 30 - 45 seconds. The chains on `old stock' are also brushed over with a couple of different shades of brown acrylic to simulate rust, which will come off as the couplings are used, so the most used wagons will simply have more black chain showing than those that have been on less workings.

I am looking into the possibilities of mechanical and electro-magnetic means of controlled uncoupling of chain link couplings, my findings will be added here `as they happen'.

I have already fitted most of my locomotives with chain couplings on the front bufferbeam, retaining the standard coupling on the rear, this will allow both standard and converted chain linked wagons to be hauled by each locomotive. The locos have a `Scale Link' coupling hook fitted with a screw coupling hanging from it (swinging freely). The screw couplings are purely aesthetic as all chain coupled stock have 3 links of fine chain with which to make the connection for hauling the train. I have retained two locomotives with standard couplings on both ends for workings requiring the loco to `run round' a train of `standard coupled' stock. Once I get the controlled uncoupling hooks working I will be able to haul a train with chains to its destination, Uncouple the chain link coupling and run the loco round it's train, using the standard coupling to re-couple to train, using the standard coupling for hauling the train on its return journey back to the `fiddle yard' where I will `run the loco round' it's train again and manualy recouple the loco on the Chain coupled end of the train ready for it's next working.

The REAL railways did it this way for centuries, and the parts are available in N gauge. So there is no reason we can`t do it in N gauge! Is there?!

For further information on Scale Link couplings and other detailing goodies currently available in N gauge contact Maurice Pearce at Osborn's Models. Or your local model shop.