Darned those steam locomotive pilot couplers!

[nachoman]

I like having working couplers on my steam locomotive pilots - but the installation is never easy!

There's usually a problem with the hole in the pilot not being big enough, so I may have to cut or file away at a few details.

And then there is the "cowcatcher" interfering with the trip pin on the coupler. My options are to cut off all the trip pins (all cars have to have them cut off, too), or file away at the cowcatcher for clearance, or extend the coupler away from the pilot.

Now I finally get one that I think will be easy. The hole in the pilot is already the right size. And - it's a switcher pilot so no cowcatcher issues. But now the darned pilot truck hangs up on the coupler box! I'm not sure how to deal with this one. I may have to extend it from the pilot like I did on some other locos.

It's never easy.