I got my first look at N-Possible couplers, a new scale-size N-scale coupler, at Tim Horton’s place just before Christmas. He had a pair of box cars on a test track, and I was immediately impressed by how well they coupled, and then easily uncoupled with a pick. While I could barely see them without my reading glasses, I was astonished by how small they were.
Gary Hinshaw is all in on these little marvels, and Tim and I stopped by to see his progress shortly after Christmas. He was never happy with the operation of MicroTrains couplers on his big hill, and after putting N-Possibles through the test, he leaped in with elan. He demonstrated their superior operation by pushing a train backwards up his Tehachapi Loop, which would have dropped cars all over the roadbed before replacing the couplers. Gary has nearly finished converting his 400-car fleet.
I was interested to see if the patent-pending design could be adapted to HO scale, which it can, of course. The proprietor of N-Possible was an HO-scaler before getting shrunk to N-scale, and he’s indicated an interest in extending into HO. However, Gary and the other N-scale super-fleeters are keeping him busy; so it’s going to be a while before we see them. Until then, we’ll just have to be patient, and live with the pretty good offerings we have in HO. There are exciting times ahead, however!
