Kadee Wisker couplers! Brilliant! Wish I had seen these before!

[Rob94hawk]

I just happen to get a Jan 08 Walthers cataloge in today and I spotted Kadee whisker couplers! So I decided to check them out online and here's what I found:

http://www.kadee.com/htmbord/page397.htm

If I had gotten this cataloge last week I wouldn't have gotten so frustrated with lengthening the couplers for the Athearn Bombadier coaches with #36 couplers, (which were totally the wrong choice recommended by a member here) I would have chose this instead:

http://www.kadee.com/htmbord/page156c.htm

These look like direct replacements for Bachman and Athearn couplers and even though truck mounted couplers are frowned upon, I may be able to salvage many 1970's Tyco rolling stock from my childhood with these couplers.

I hope these work. Apparently these aren't new. I'm surprised no one here mentioned these.

 

[Rico]

These couplers work great in tight places, and look great on locos or cabeese without the brass plate showing.
I used their talgo truck mounting kit some years ago as a temporary fix to run a car until I could body mount the couplers, it's still running today.

 

[GAPPLEG]

Have been buying and using the #148's for a year now , love they way they operate even compared to #5's. They just seem to center up better .

 

[HaggisKennedy]

I use the whiskers to replace the McHenrys that come with a lot of cars these days. The coupler box for those is a bit shallower, so a regular Kadee with the stamped spring is too thick.

Kennedy

 

[JeffShultz]

Any new coupler installations on my layout are whisker ones - generally either #158 or (for longer cars) #148. The longer cars get the 148 because on certain vertical transitions there isn't enough "face" to the 158 for two of them to stay coupled together as they slide vertically.

Oh - and tank cars are getting #119s.

 

[Rotorranch]

http://www.kadee.com/htmbord/page156c.htm

These look like direct replacements for Bachman and Athearn couplers and even though truck mounted couplers are frowned upon, I may be able to salvage many 1970's Tyco rolling stock from my childhood with these couplers.

I hope these work. Apparently these aren't new. I'm surprised no one here mentioned these.

Whatever coupler you use for Talgo truck couplers, use the Kadee #212 ( I think ) Talgo adapters with them. It helps keep the coupler tight in the pocket.

Rotor