Category: Coupler Only

Manufacturer:

A.C. Gilbert

Category:

Coupler Only

Model Number:

520

Scale:

S

Product Type:

A.F.-compatible

Material:

plastic

Color:

black

Sold:

assembled

Introduced:

1954

Notes:

The #520 was produced from 1954 through 1956. It was designed to convert existing link coupler trucks to the new knuckle coupler trucks. The #520 was packaged in a tan envelop as show in the photo and contained two knuckle couplers and split rivets to attach the knuckle coupler to the older-style link trucks. The brass tube was used to remove the existing link coupler from the truck assembly. From a collector's standpoint, the value of this item requires the original packaging.

Manufacturer:

A.C. Gilbert

Category:

Coupler Only

Model Number:

26521

Scale:

S

Product Type:

A.F.-compatible

Material:

plastic

Color:

black

Sold:

assembled

Introduced:

1957

Notes:

These were sold in 1957 and 1958, in only one variation.

Package included everything shown in the photo.

Manufacturer:

AdapterCoupler

Category:

Coupler Only

Model Number:

Diesel Drawbar/Coupler Adapter

Scale:

S

Product Type:

A.F.-compatible

Material:

metal

Color:

black

Sold:

assembled

Notes:

These adapters are made to operate with the early A.C. Gilbert ATSF PA and PB units (circa 1950-1952), which were originally delivered with a link coupler and fiber drawbar between the units.

Manufacturer:

American Models (click for web site)

Category:

Coupler Only

Scale:

S

Product Type:

A.F.-compatible

Material:

plastic

Color:

black

Sold:

assembled

Notes:

Designed to be used with American Models' Trainmaster locomotives.

Manufacturer:

American Models (click for web site)

Category:

Coupler Only

Scale:

S

Product Type:

A.F.-compatible

Material:

plastic

Color:

black

Sold:

assembled

Notes:

Designed to be used with American Models' U25B locomotives.

Manufacturer:

American Models (click for web site)

Category:

Coupler Only

Scale:

S

Product Type:

A.F.-compatible

Material:

plastic

Color:

black

Sold:

assembled

Notes:

Designed to be used with American Models' PA locomotives.

Manufacturer:

American Models (click for web site)

Category:

Coupler Only

Scale:

S

Product Type:

A.F.-compatible

Material:

plastic

Color:

black

Sold:

assembled

Notes:

Designed to be used with American Models' PB locomotives.

Manufacturer:

American Models (click for web site)

Category:

Coupler Only

Scale:

S

Product Type:

A.F.-compatible

Material:

plastic

Color:

black

Sold:

assembled

Notes:

Designed to be used with American Models' E8 locomotives.

Front and rear coupler.

Manufacturer:

American Models (click for web site)

Category:

Coupler Only

Scale:

S

Product Type:

A.F.-compatible

Material:

plastic

Color:

black

Sold:

assembled

Notes:

Designed to be used with American Models' SD60 locomotives.

Manufacturer:

American Models (click for web site)

Category:

Coupler Only

Model Number:

CPL601

Scale:

S

Product Type:

A.F.-compatible

Material:

plastic

Color:

black

Sold:

assembled

Notes:

This operating coupler is designed to be used with freight cars.

Manufacturer:

American Models (click for web site)

Category:

Coupler Only

Model Number:

CPL602

Scale:

S

Product Type:

A.F.-compatible

Material:

plastic

Color:

black

Sold:

assembled

Notes:

This operating coupler is designed to be used with passenger cars.

Manufacturer:

American Models (click for web site)

Category:

Coupler Only

Model Number:

CPL603

Scale:

S

Product Type:

A.F.-compatible

Material:

plastic

Color:

black

Sold:

assembled

Notes:

This operating coupler is designed to be used with cabooses, the GG1, and some other locomotives.

Manufacturer:

Baker

Category:

Coupler Only

Model Number:

Automatic Coupler

Scale:

S

Material:

metal

Sold:

assembled

Introduced:

1945

From their 1945 ad in Model Railroader magazine.

Manufacturer:

Baker

Category:

Coupler Only

Model Number:

Mechanical Ramp

Scale:

S

Material:

metal

Sold:

assembled

Introduced:

1945

From their 1946 ad in Model Railroader magazine.

Manufacturer:

Inventive Models (click for web site)

Category:

Coupler Only

Scale:

S

Product Type:

Type E

Material:

brass

Color:

various

Sold:

assembled

Introduced:

2023

Notes:

When Frank Sergent, of Sergent Engineering, retired, he released his coupler design into the public domain. This coupler is based on that design, and works on the same principle, i.e. you unlock the coupler head using a external magnet. Like the original Sergent Engineering design, the tiny spring is provided to help keep the coupler in position. The flat back can be used with a separate spring to keep the coupler centered within the draft gear box. Smoky Mountain Model Works has draft gear boxes available for these couplers.

This version is the generic no-locklift coupler.

This version is with the bottom locklift.

This version is with the top locklift.

This is the bare-brass version, shown closed (left) and open.

The bottom locklift version shown in bare brass.

This photo shows the blackened no-locklift version.

Smoky Mountain Model Works draft gear box with Inventive Models coupler installed.

Manufacturer:

Kadee (click for web site)

Category:

Coupler Only

Model Number:

#714

Scale:

HOn3

Product Type:

Type E

Material:

plastic

Color:

black

Sold:

as a kit

Notes:

This is a coupler that Sn2 modelers use. Also available in "rust" color as part #713.

Kadee #713.

Manufacturer:

Kiwi Trains

Category:

Coupler Only

Scale:

S

Product Type:

NZR Coupler Circular

Material:

3D-printed plastic or brass

Color:

various

Sold:

assembled

Introduced:

2014

Notes:

Specific to the New Zealand Railway.

Manufacturer:

Kiwi Trains

Category:

Coupler Only

Scale:

S

Product Type:

NZR Coupler Square

Material:

3D-printed plastic or brass

Color:

various

Sold:

assembled

Introduced:

2014

Notes:

Specific to the New Zealand Railway.

Manufacturer:

Mark's Model Works (click for web site)

Category:

Coupler Only

Scale:

Sn42

Product Type:

NZR Coupler Circular

Material:

brass

Color:

unpainted

Sold:

as a kit

Introduced:

2024

Supplemental:

Instruction Sheet

Manufacturer:

MTH Electric Trains (click for web site)

Category:

Coupler Only

Model Number:

35-1107

Product Type:

A.F.-compatible

Material:

plastic

Color:

black

Sold:

assembled

Introduced:

2014

Notes:

These are identical to the ones that S-Helper Service originally provided. They are the same ones that came with MTH's freight cars factory-installed.

These are the couplers that come factory-installed on MTH's freight cars, shown here with the truck. The flat plate with the mounting hole and the four protruding pins are what make this coupler be truck-mounted, which allow for operation on much tighter curve radii.

Manufacturer:

S-Helper Service

Category:

Coupler Only

Model Number:

00005

Scale:

S

Product Type:

A.F.-compatible

Material:

plastic

Sold:

assembled

Notes:

Intended to be used as a truck-mounted coupler for freight cars.

Manufacturer:

S-Helper Service

Category:

Coupler Only

Model Number:

00295

Scale:

S

Product Type:

A.F.-compatible

Material:

plastic

Sold:

assembled

Notes:

Intended for use on the S-Helper Service's SW9.

Manufacturer:

S-Helper Service

Category:

Coupler Only

Model Number:

00359

Scale:

S

Product Type:

A.F.-compatible

Material:

plastic

Sold:

assembled

Notes:

Intended to be used as a truck-mounted coupler for the S-Helper Service extended-vision cabooses.

Manufacturer:

S-Helper Service

Category:

Coupler Only

Model Number:

01310

Scale:

S

Product Type:

A.F.-compatible

Material:

plastic

Sold:

assembled

Notes:

Intended for use on the S-Helper Service's ore car.

Manufacturer:

S-Helper Service

Category:

Coupler Only

Model Number:

01670

Scale:

S

Product Type:

A.F.-compatible

Material:

plastic

Sold:

assembled

Notes:

Intended for use on the S-Helper Service's 2-8-0 tender.

Manufacturer:

San Juan Car Company (click for web site)

Category:

Coupler Only

Model Number:

5115

Scale:

On3/On30

Product Type:

Type D

Material:

plastic

Color:

various

Sold:

assembled

Magazine Article:

NASG's The Dispatch, January 2022

Notes:

These are bigger than S-scale couplers, but offer a different method of centering, which some find easier to use than the Kadee springs. They fit the Kadee S-scale draft gear box. They are compatible with most other brands of couplers used in S. #5115 is black, and #5114 is brown.

Manufacturer:

Sergent Engineering

Category:

Coupler Only

Scale:

S

Product Type:

Type E

Material:

metal

Color:

unpainted

Sold:

as a kit

Introduced:

2007

Supplemental:

Detailed Photos and Description

Notes:

This is the original Sergent Engineering S-scale coupler. A magnet is required to lift an internally-captured metal ball that opens the coupler. These couplers are not compatible with other brands' couplers.

Side view of the assembled coupler.

Coupler head open.

Coupler head closed.

This photo shows the coupler fits perfectly into a Kadee S-scale draft gear box.

Manufacturer:

Sergent Engineering

Category:

Coupler Only

Model Number:

EC64K

Scale:

S

Product Type:

Type E

Material:

metal

Color:

unpainted

Sold:

as a kit

Introduced:

2014

Supplemental:

Detailed Photos and Description

Notes:

A redesign of the original Sergent Engineering S-scale coupler. A magnet is required to lift an internally-captured metal ball that opens the coupler. These couplers are not compatible with other brands' couplers. When Frank Sergent retired, he released its design into the public domain. Inventive Models now produces similar couplers based on Frank's design.

This photo shows the coupler assembled and with the head opened up. The orange arrow indicates the big difference from the first version, in that there is a surface against which another coupler pushes to help close the head more easily (there were other differences in this redesign as well).

This photo shows the coupler with the head closed.

The coupler was designed to fit into a Kadee S-scale draft gear box (not included). As provided, these couplers are not self-centering (the flat back of the coupler can be used to enable self-centering with a modeler-provided coupler. The spring shown in this photo (provided) is only used to help the coupler stay in its position. The concept was that they work just like in the prototype, allowing couplers to coupler on curves.

These are the most realistic couplers S-scale has ever seen. However, they require more effort during operations.

Some assembly required!

Manufacturer:

Walthers (click for web site)

Category:

Coupler Only

Model Number:

920-6002

Scale:

HO

Product Type:

Type E

Material:

metal

Color:

black

Sold:

as a kit

Notes:

These are oversized for HO-scale, so they are a good match for S.

Walthers used to sell the draft gear box with these couplers, but in recent years they switched to only selling the coupler and the metal spring part, and the modeler has to provide the draft gear box.

When properly installed on two S-scale freight cars, these couplers produce the prototypically-correct spacing of three scale feet between the cars.

Manufacturer:

Wiseman Model Services (click for web site)

Category:

Coupler Only

Model Number:

S/O258

Scale:

S

Product Type:

Link-and-pin

Material:

metal

Color:

gray

Sold:

assembled

Notes:

This coupler is designed to fit inside of a Kadee #4 draft gear box.