Securing trailers to BLMA intermodal cars....

[ljudice]

OK - I looked at putting some Athearn 28' pups on a BLMA 89' flat today and no-go. 

The hitches do not look like they can be adapted to the oversized pin on most trailers (Ath for sure, DLX as well)

What to do?? Shave off the pins and use "container glue"?   Buy a bunch of hitches and move trailers around that way?
Just use glue?   The BLMA hitches are really nice but it does not look like you can bore a gigantic hole in them
to fit any of these trailers???

- lou

[pennsyfan1361]

You could shave off the old  pin and drill a small hole for a new pin and use small wire for the pin.                             Rich

[jereising]

I snipped off the trailer pins, drilled for an .030" rod, glued it in, then slightly enlarged the hitch hole to accept the rod. 

The hitch hole doesn't want to be all that deep, so you don't need much .030" rod sticking out.

Works very well for me.

[ljudice]

This is why I ask here before doing anything...   Much better idea than mine!

Thanks!

- Lou

[nkalanaga]

Rich and Jim:  That's what I've done for years.  Even back in the 70s one brand's trailers wouldn't fit anothers hitches, and since I was building many of my trailers, I settled on 1/32 inch brass wire, as it was cheap and readily available.  Hitches, and tractors, with larger holes were plugged and drilled, trailers had the pins replaced, and every trailer fits every hitch.  But not every car, as I have some with wheels that won't fit the rub rails on CC or Arnold flats. 

The Arnold flats actually used pins on the hitch and a hole in the trailer.  Try mating anything else to THAT!  Those hitches had to be rebuilt...

[cfritschle]

I also "standardized" my trailer kingpins years ago, but I use Atlas track nails.  The head of the nail provides for additional surface area for the super glue to stick to, and they are also cheap. 

I use side nippers to remove the excess nail length.

Carter

[Philip H]

Carter, couldn't you do the nails upside down so there's a more prototypical pin that slides in?

[milw156]

I shave the plastic pin, drill a hole & use MT coupler screws, trim the length & use a tiny dab of caulk to keep them in place. though the wire is much cheaper!

[rochsub]

OSHA has guidelines for safely securing scale trailers to railroad intermodal equipment.

http://www.OSHA.us.gov/keepitonthecarandofftheballast.htm


Daryl

[ljudice]

OSHA has guidelines for safely securing scale trailers to railroad intermodal equipment.

http://www.OSHA.us.gov/keepitonthecarandofftheballast.htm


Daryl

Hey, if a trailer falls off and kills a spider or a cave cricket, how are they going to sue me or file an OSHA report?

[3DTrains]

Aside from the suggestions for the kingpin, a small piece of modeling clay will hold the trailers, plus you can remove the trailers later without affecting the paint or plastics.

[jereising]

Hmmm...

N scale come-alongs. 

Need scale chain...

Hello David Smith...

[cfritschle]

Carter, couldn't you do the nails upside down so there's a more prototypical pin that slides in?

Philip,

It would if you could slide the pin into the hitch, but even then I think the nail head would look too large when the trailer was in stand alone mode. 

The trick to making this work well is to have the pin fit snuggly into the hole in the fifth wheel plate.  I have modified my Micro-Train hitches by filling the large "standard" hole with round styrene rod, and then drilling a hole in the center of the rod with a no. 62 drill bit.  I have done the same with all of my semi-tractors that have the large hole in the fifth wheel plate.

I have also used movable model glue at the contact points if the nail does not result in a snug fit with the hitch.

Carter

[Ike the BN Freak]

Hey, if a trailer falls off and kills a spider or a cave cricket, how are they going to sue me or file an OSHA report?

The family of the spider or cave cricket could...

[nkalanaga]

Carter:  Sounds like we both have the same idea.  I drill the holes in the trailers for a tight fit, and the wire doesn't need to be glued in.  The hitches are drilled a little loose, your #62 sounds about right, so that if the pin, or hole, isn't exactly straight the trailer won't be forced to lean.