Just announced: KD replacement steps for the BLI PRR P70 Heavyweights

[Lemosteam]

Keystone Details announces three new replacement step/coupler pocket sets to swap into your new BLI PRR P70's for a more appropriate diaphragm gap.  The first is a short coupler location designed for use on no less than 16" track radii.  The second is the long coupler location for track no less than a 12" radius.  The third is a slightly longer location to allow for the depth of an American Limited diaphragms should you choose to install them.  These steps are only designed for use with a Mictro-Trains 2004/4-1 underslung coupler (001 02 051 or 052 assembled) to put the coupler at proper height from the rails.

Mounting instructions can be found here

From this:


to this:


Link to the short version (1.87mm between diaphragms)


Link to the Long version (1.37mm between diaphragms)


Link to the American Limited Diaphragms

[Cajonpassfan]

John, these are clever, even if I have zero need for Pennsy coaches here on the west coast. I’m sure the Pennsy guys will love them.
A question for you (or anyone): I do have other heavyweights (MT, RR, PRB etc) and find that minimum radius, in my case 18”, is not necessarily the most critical factor on long passenger cars with bodymounts; it’s the nasty little es curves on short crossovers and yard ladders where the cars’ ends swing past each other as they change direction. So... how do the 18” mount versions do on say #7 Atlas crossover, or #5 yard ladder track adjacent to the main?
Thanks, Otto

[Lemosteam]

@Cajonpassfan , maybe @nickelplate759 can answer,  he uses these on his CC/RR cars alot.

I can Show these through an old Atlas C80 #4 and New Atlas C55 #5 later.

[nickelplate759]

@Cajonpassfan , maybe @nickelplate759 can answer,  he uses these on his CC/RR cars alot.

I can Show these through an old Atlas C80 #4 and New Atlas C55 #5 later.

Afraid I don't have anything useful to add.  I've carefully avoided any S curves w/o 6" of straight track between them, my yard ladders use #7 and my crossovers use #10.

That said, I've got plenty of problem areas, but that primarily shows up when I foolishly copy a body-mount passenger car to a truck-mount one, especially one spot where there is 16" radius curve w/o easements (gonna have to relay that).

On my layout most important thing isn't coupling distance, it's coupler swing.  If that's not wide enough (or too stiff), wheels are on the ties in short order.

[Cajonpassfan]

Yep, that’s what I’m struggling with, but I just hate gaps between passenger cars. Most of my passenger trains (8 ATSF, 4 UP, lightweight, heavyweight and mixed) run in fixed trainsets, (other than head end cars which tend to be shorter anyway) and so I’m beginning to wonder whether truck mounted couplers between semipermanently coupled cars with diaphragms are a lesser evil than bodymounts requiring the dreaded gap....  Of course heavyweights’ step assemblies get in the way of the swing....
Thanks for your thoughts,
Otto K.

[nickelplate759]

To be clear, I really only have problems when I mix body and truck mounted couplers.   I hate the lack of steps, so I was delighted when John @Lemosteam offered the Rivarossi replacement steps.

[Lemosteam]

@Cajonpassfan see the album. Video through Atlas C55 #5's coming out of a curve, crossing over into another curve.

First pics show the gaps on a slight curve. Also is a sequence of photos staged at the reverses and curves through the turnouts.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/tCaYBFSfDNT7P4Hy9

[Cajonpassfan]

Thanks John! Look good!
Otto