Guide to Model Railway Couplings

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Model railway locomotives and rolling stock feature a wide variety of different methods to couple them together. This often depends on the scale of the item in question or the region it is from.

Common Coupling Types (Jump to Section):

Tension Lock / Kadee / E-Z Mate / Screw Link & Three Link / Sprat and Winkle / ‘Goal Post’ / Hornby Dublo / Roco, European & OO9 / X2F or Horn Hook

Tension Lock

The most common type of coupling used on UK model railways in OO and N gauge. These involve a ‘hook’ and loop mechanism, locking under tension.

Several different widths are made, with the most common now being the NEM standard which fits into a pocket on the item.

	OO gauge Tension lock coupling showing separated hook and loop as well as NEM connection.
	OO gauge Tension lock coupling with hook and loop, as fitted to a Lima locomotive.
	N gauge tension lock couplings (known as ‘Arnold/ Rapido’ couplings)
	N gauge tension lock coupling as fitted to a Dapol locomotive.
	G scale Tension lock coupling as fitted to a LGB coach

Kadee

Mainly used on USA/Canadian models, but can be fitted by previous customers to UK and European design models.

Similar to tension lock couplings but a more realistic design based on ‘knuckle’ or ‘buckeye’ couplings (and also known by these terms). Found on OO/HO gauge, sometimes on N and O.

Very similar to the Bachmann USA E-Z mate, see below.

	Kadee coupling showing ‘buckeye’ mechanism, spring and NEM socket connection.
	Kadee coupling as fitted to OO scale locomotive.

E-Z Mate

Bachmann USA produced and branded couplings, mainly used on USA/Canadian models, very rarely seen on other models.

Very similar to the Kadee in operation and size, and compatible with them.

The best way to tell these and Kadees apart is the spring, which is more visible on Kadees.

	EZ mate coupling, with ‘buckeye’ or ‘knucle’ connection to the top right.
	E-Z mate coupling as fitted to Bachmann USA locomotive.

Screw Link / Three Link

Scale replicas of couplings used to connect rolling stock together in real life.

Often used on O gauge and larger scale models, rather than a tension lock coupling.

Consists of two ‘chains’ and a link between them - either a screw (‘screw link’) or an extra link (‘three link’).

	Screw link coupling, showing the two chains and the screw link in the middle.
	Screw link coupling, as fitted to an O gauge steam locomotive.
	Three link coupling with hook and springs (to fit to model)
	Three link coupling, as fitted to O gauge wagon.
	Real life image of screw link coupling connecting a locomotive and a coach.

Sprat and Winkle

A custom style of coupling, not fitted by any manufacturers but occasionally as a customer modification on OO scale UK models.

Quite uncommon but distinctive design with ‘hook and loop’ similar to a tension lock.

Sprat and Winkle coupling as fitted to a OO wagon.

‘Goal Post’

A custom style of coupling, not fitted by any manufacturers but occasionally as a customer modification on OO scale UK models, mainly locomotives.

A single bar across the buffers, or a ‘staple’ protruding from the bufferbeam, with no hook. This is then used for a normal tension lock coupling to ‘hook’ onto.

Note that there is no official name for this type of coupling, but Goal Post is our established term.

	Goal post coupling (bar across the buffers) as fitted to a OO gauge diesel locomotive.
	Goal post coupling (‘staple style’ protruding from bufferbeam) as fitted to a OO gauge diesel locomotive.

Hornby Dublo

An early style of tension lock coupling, fitted to older models from the Hornby Dublo range. Rarely found on other manufacturers and newer models.

Hornby Dublo coupling as fitted to a Hornby Dublo steam locomotive.

Roco, European & OO9

Standard style coupling fitted to N, TT and HO european and australian outline models, introduced by Roco.

Similar in operation to a tension lock with a slightly different hook and loop arrangement.

Also found on OO9 narrow gauge UK outline models and some OO gauge DMUs and EMUs.

	Coupling showing integrated hook and loop
	Coupling as fitted to a HO gauge diesel locomotive.
	Coupling as fitted to a OO gauge DMU (diesel multiple unit)
	Coupling as fitted to a OO9 narrow gauge steam locomotive.

X2F / Horn Hook

Standard coupling used on HO gauge US/Canadian outline models until recently, with Kadee or EZ mate systems replacing them on newer models. Works similar to tension lock couplings with a locking mechanism under tension.

Usually only found factory fitted and rarely fitted as an after-market modification.

	Coupling showing hook and locking bar.
	Coupling fitted to HO gauge wagon.