Dapol NEM 355 couplers

[nickelplate759]

My Rapido/Electrotren Talgo cars use NEM 355 couplers (Rapido style) on the end cars.    It's come to my attention that Dapol make a knuckle coupler (Micro-trains "compatible) that fits in an NEM 355 socket, which would be an easy conversion (NEM 355 coupler just snap into the socket.
Seems that the part number is Dapol 2A-000-011.

Does anyone know of  a US supplier for these Dapol couplers, or have any experience with them?

[peteski]

Several years ago I bought few of those couplers directly from Dapol, but I don't know of any U.S. distributors.  Those couplers are a bit on a large size, but not as bad as Bachmann "boxing gloves".

[nickelplate759]

Thanks @peteski .
DM-Toys (Germany) has the 5-pair sets in stock, and I was about to order some more Talgo cars, so I'll probably just get them there, although I only need 2 pairs.

[Mark5]

Apparently, the Dapol couplers result in a much lower coupler height when compared to typical North American (Microtrains, etc) couplers: http://www.nicklebyhouse.co.uk/index.php/rolling-stock3/couplings

[nickelplate759]

Apparently, the Dapol couplers result in a much lower coupler height when compared to typical North American (Microtrains, etc) couplers: http://www.nicklebyhouse.co.uk/index.php/rolling-stock3/couplings

Darn - that's a deal-breaker, judging by the pictures.

[peteski]

I bought my Dapol knuckles several years ago, just in case I might need them someday, but I never actually tested them.  I just dug them out, and I didn't even realize I had 2 different versions.  One is a simple 1-piece casting, similar to the dummy Red Caboose couplers. The other one is similar in appearance to McHenry or Bachmann coupler where the knuckle opens up and has an external spring.  Similar to what is shown in Mark's link.  Sort of like an attempt to make the coupler magnetically operated (since the NEM 355 pockets either do not swing sideways or are too stiff to swing  just from the force of the magnetically operated trip pin).

The bottom line is that I just tried mine and Mark is correct. They are too low to work. Not sure why Dapol produced those in the first place, since they are useless for coupling with standard MTL couplers.  They could have probably made them using offset shank (like MTL does on some of their couplers) to match the standard MTL height.

[nickelplate759]

My current workaround is a dummy knuckle fastened to the shank of an NEM 355 Rapido coupler (with the Rapido head removed).
It's ugly, but it seems to stay coupled.