The cable is designed to connect to the pickups included on the flatbed truck, to make up for the short wheelbase. On the 48DS I've seen, that's paired with a rigid bar connection plugged into the NEM socket on the locomotive, and the clip socket on the truck, rather than the pair of tension locks seen there; but I don't know if changing over to regular couplings was a running change, or a modification by the owner before you received it to review. The rigid bar and connecting wires are a bit of a mixed blessing, in my experience- it certainly improves connectivity on express points or curved points, but when connected that way the truck does *not* seem to reverse around curves - including points - very well when propelled by the locomotive, and the connecting wire on its own is liable to foul conventional tension locks. Personally, I replaced the rigid bar with a pair of magnetic Hunt couplings instead, which seemed to give the best combination of results, although it does mean having to be sure not to forget about the wires, when lifting the locomotive from storage to track or vice-versa by hand, as they certainly aren't meant to be load-bearing if you forget and only pick up the locomotive and not the truck, or vice-versa. On the flip-side, the locomotive doesn't really need *that* much of a sprint to be able to 'jump' the dead-zone on express points without the wire- the wheelbase is only *just* too short- the wire just provides for the ability to maintain the excellent slow-speed running that the Ruston is so good at, over the express points as well. If the owner is lucky enough to have had the time, space, and wiring expertise to set up his or her layout with electrofrog points throughout, then that connecting wire would be entirely superfluous, so that may be why it was removed. They're lovely little models and beautifully detailed. Certainly not the best at climbing a gradient with a load, and if you happen to use either tension lock uncoupling ramps or the Hornby travelling post office ramp system anywhere on your layout, sadly, those are places that the 48DS has to avoid, in my own experience, anyway, since the undercarriage of the locomotive quite simply sits far too low to clear either, and the poor thing will end up stalled, high and dry, unable to move, but this can't really be helped, fitting a mechanism into so tiny an engine as this, although it's unfortunate, given that the uncoupling ramps at least, are still current Hornby product. I've not tried getting them over the remote controlled uncouplers in their lowered position though- but it doesn't *look* like they would work.
Hello, The Rushton is well made and designed, After I filmed the video I found out the owner had cut the connecting wire as he wanted to run the 48DS without the flatbed. He only has a temporary track, so he can design the track to make it work for it. Thanks for all the feedback, Hope you enjoy the over videos, Karl and Debbie
Very nice Karl
Very good Karl.
Short wheel base so not a surprise that she struggles on some points.
Price will be the main factor obviously.
Happy Modelling
Hello Mons, yes tiny loco - but she works well. I think you are still paying a lot for a new one!
Take care Karl
The cable is designed to connect to the pickups included on the flatbed truck, to make up for the short wheelbase. On the 48DS I've seen, that's paired with a rigid bar connection plugged into the NEM socket on the locomotive, and the clip socket on the truck, rather than the pair of tension locks seen there; but I don't know if changing over to regular couplings was a running change, or a modification by the owner before you received it to review.
The rigid bar and connecting wires are a bit of a mixed blessing, in my experience- it certainly improves connectivity on express points or curved points, but when connected that way the truck does *not* seem to reverse around curves - including points - very well when propelled by the locomotive, and the connecting wire on its own is liable to foul conventional tension locks. Personally, I replaced the rigid bar with a pair of magnetic Hunt couplings instead, which seemed to give the best combination of results, although it does mean having to be sure not to forget about the wires, when lifting the locomotive from storage to track or vice-versa by hand, as they certainly aren't meant to be load-bearing if you forget and only pick up the locomotive and not the truck, or vice-versa. On the flip-side, the locomotive doesn't really need *that* much of a sprint to be able to 'jump' the dead-zone on express points without the wire- the wheelbase is only *just* too short- the wire just provides for the ability to maintain the excellent slow-speed running that the Ruston is so good at, over the express points as well. If the owner is lucky enough to have had the time, space, and wiring expertise to set up his or her layout with electrofrog points throughout, then that connecting wire would be entirely superfluous, so that may be why it was removed.
They're lovely little models and beautifully detailed. Certainly not the best at climbing a gradient with a load, and if you happen to use either tension lock uncoupling ramps or the Hornby travelling post office ramp system anywhere on your layout, sadly, those are places that the 48DS has to avoid, in my own experience, anyway, since the undercarriage of the locomotive quite simply sits far too low to clear either, and the poor thing will end up stalled, high and dry, unable to move, but this can't really be helped, fitting a mechanism into so tiny an engine as this, although it's unfortunate, given that the uncoupling ramps at least, are still current Hornby product. I've not tried getting them over the remote controlled uncouplers in their lowered position though- but it doesn't *look* like they would work.
Hello, The Rushton is well made and designed, After I filmed the video I found out the owner had cut the connecting wire as he wanted to run the 48DS without the flatbed. He only has a temporary track, so he can design the track to make it work for it.
Thanks for all the feedback, Hope you enjoy the over videos, Karl and Debbie
That's a really nice-looking loco, Karl. On another note, my grandson has just uploaded a new video, 'The Postman' ...CheersJames 🙂👍
Thanks James, I've just watched it! - very well made video, thanks Karl.
@KarlAndDebbieTrains thank you, Karl 🙂👍