Challenger front coupling

[buzz456]

Has anyone noticed that the challenger does not have a front coupling so you can't use it as a helper? Or am I missing something?

Buzz

[dmcdriver]

You're not the only one. I noticed this too. I had to couple the helper Challenger at the end of the train, facing backwards.

[buzz456]

We need to tell the boys. I'll do that. This'd be a great helper.

Buzz

[Evictoria]

I came across this in the Challenger User's Manual (pdf):

Please Note
The front coupling of the Challenger Steam Locomotive, while usable to connect to other vehicles, does not have a visually connected state. This will result in a gap appearing between the Challenger and any rail vehicle that is coupled to its’ nose.

[buzz456]

Hey thanks. I'll check it out as soon as I get done with this run.

[buzz456]

Yep.


Oh you are so good Tori. It works and away we go. Thanks for the great info.
Regards,

Buzz

[dmcdriver]

I came across this in the Challenger User's Manual (pdf):

Please Note
The front coupling of the Challenger Steam Locomotive, while usable to connect to other vehicles, does not have a visually connected state. This will result in a gap appearing between the Challenger and any rail vehicle that is coupled to its’ nose.

Thanks Tori for pointing this out. This just proves why everyone should read the documentation included. (Which I obviously didn't) I've been spending tons of time pulling a long freight up Tennessee Pass with a Challenger and an Atlantic up front, and the other Challenger tacked on in reverse at the back of the train, stopping along the way to pick up additional cars. This required me to uncouple the trailing Challenger, go couple to the extra cars and then back up to recouple the helper Challenger at the end. It didn't even occur to me that the helper Challenger would still couple at the front, even though the front coupler is invisible.

And once again, I win the top prize in the Dumbest User of RailWorks Contest.

Rich

[buzz456]

Hey, I was with you until informed by Tori. If I worked at a story I bet I could out dumb you.

Buzz

[Evictoria]

To be fair, real railroad experience brought me to this information rather quickly. A U.S. steam loco (I don't know nuttin' 'bout no U.K. stuff) had a "hidden" front coupler. On the Challenger, that "hump" you see near the top center of the cowcatcher (plow) opens and the front coupler slides out and locks in place when needed.

Knowing this, and having noticed no couple on the front of my new Challenger back in January, I quickly assumed that animation of this retractable head was probably difficult; in turn this sent me straight to the manual.

The guys in the maintenance shop are probably pretty irritated with you guys running your steamer in reverse so much! (I don't know what the wear-and-tear difference was, but I read that running in reverse a lot was frowned upon).

Happy simming (and steaming),
Tori

[AlanCh]

A U.S. steam loco (I don't know nuttin' 'bout no U.K. stuff) had a "hidden" front coupler. On the Challenger, that "hump" you see near the top center of the cowcatcher (plow) opens and the front coupler slides out and locks in place when needed.

Nothing hidden over here - but then we didn't have cowcatchers to hide behind. As far as I can remember, all UK steam locos had front couplers, even our streamliners. This photo of mine http://alan-lewis-chambers.fotopic.net/p18627999.html shows one of the UKs most powerful 4-6-0 locos heading a short passenger train tender first.