I noticed that the newest release of the 0-6-0 includes a working front coupler. Will the necessary parts to retrofit older locomotives be available in the parts store? Due to the design of this locomotive it is difficult to add a working coupler to an existing locomotive without major surgery. It would be nice if we could get the replacement parts to add this feature.
Hi Jeffrey,
As with the older 0-6-0s, the new Sound Value USRA 0-6-0 has the front pilot assembly, including the working coupler, attached to the chassis underframe. However, we had to redesign and change the shape of the chassis to accommodate the new DCC tether connection with the tender and other changes to the mechanism. This required a redesigned chassis underframe, so it will still not be a 1-to-1 conversion to the existing 0-6-0, and you will still have to perform some surgery to add the working front coupler.
We can still work on making the necessary parts available from the parts store once the Sound Value version is shipped.