05-28-2012, 06:55 PM
Every now and then, I get a train of Sergent-coupler equipped cars out to do some switching on my shelf layout. Everytime, I'm fascinated with how they work.
During this past iteration of fascination, I took some video. The first is a short, very close view illustrating how the locking mechanism works - I haven't found another video showing this so closely, so I thought it worth sharing.
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lBoLMUSWm90">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lBoLMUSWm90</a><!-- m -->
The second is a nice display of the couplers in action with a medium close up and good light. This is more typical of the "demo" type videos out there, but also shows some of the challenges of working with a magnetic uncoupling device around rolling stock with steel weights.
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CH2ncSzfGxw">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CH2ncSzfGxw</a><!-- m -->
Lastly, a video comparing the relative slack from two identical trains; one with the Sergents, one with Kadee 58's. No tripod for this one, so it's a bit shaky, but still illustrates the point well.
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0NHXZor8onk">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0NHXZor8onk</a><!-- m -->
I have a couple more out there if these don't satisfy your Sergent fix! These are very cool,
As a side note, Sergent will no longer be making these in rust color - apparently the chemicals used for the process are fairly unhealthy.
Enjoy!
During this past iteration of fascination, I took some video. The first is a short, very close view illustrating how the locking mechanism works - I haven't found another video showing this so closely, so I thought it worth sharing.
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lBoLMUSWm90">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lBoLMUSWm90</a><!-- m -->
The second is a nice display of the couplers in action with a medium close up and good light. This is more typical of the "demo" type videos out there, but also shows some of the challenges of working with a magnetic uncoupling device around rolling stock with steel weights.
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CH2ncSzfGxw">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CH2ncSzfGxw</a><!-- m -->
Lastly, a video comparing the relative slack from two identical trains; one with the Sergents, one with Kadee 58's. No tripod for this one, so it's a bit shaky, but still illustrates the point well.
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0NHXZor8onk">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0NHXZor8onk</a><!-- m -->
I have a couple more out there if these don't satisfy your Sergent fix! These are very cool,
As a side note, Sergent will no longer be making these in rust color - apparently the chemicals used for the process are fairly unhealthy.
Enjoy!
Matt Goodman
Columbus, Ohio
Columbus, Ohio