Rodney Pearce/Winterley couplings

Not long ago on the 3mm email group Nick Smith asked about couplings designed by the late Rodney Pearce. Some discussion followed at a meeting of the South West group of the 3mm Society to which Rodney had belonged. I realised that I had a vehicle built by the late Ralph Steuart with this coupling fitted. Going through some of Ralph’s papers we came across his workings on an improvement to the coupling. I tried the coupling out and was very impressed and showed it a fellow member of the Launceston and District MRC. Nigel was equally taken by the concept and – as you do! – did a google search and came across the ‘Winterley Coupling’ designed by John Shaw. He had met Rodney showing his layout Burton Ash – Railway Modeller June 1996 – at an exhibition and was interested in the concept. He took Rodney’s instructions and designed an etched version of the coupling – initially for 7mm – but later for 4mm.

I purchased some of the 4mm couplings and have found with some slight adjustments they will work in 3mm. I have contacted John Shaw and he has kindly written instructions for using with 3mm.

The action of the couplings is shown below;

The real advantage of theses couplings is that uncoupling can be done anywhere and doesn’t need any magnets or ramps in the track. The disadvantage is that the coupling can only be fitted to one end of the wagon. This is fine for me as I only shunt in one direction.

Here is the etch;

Here are the component parts and a finished coupling;

And here are some photos showing the coupling fitted to a wagon;

coupled..

uncoupled…

I am now fitting them to the stock which I am going to use on Lananta.

If anyone is interested in further information, or want to purchase the couplings then go to http://www.winterleyproducts.co.uk

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