Using The Unimate RNP No. 51060 Coupler To Close Couple Intermountain F Units

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All factory installed couplers on all Intermountain "F" units leave too much space between units. The space between "F" units is usually more than two times the distance than is found on the prototype with factory installed couplers. To close this space up to a respectable distance use Red Caboose Unimate # RNP-51060 body mounted couplers. These couplers will dramatically close the distance between the "F" units in a consist. The only problem with these couplers is that they can't be automatically uncoupled. So if your "F" unit consist will not be broken down into individual units this is the method of choice.

You can also use these Unimate couplers to close couple individual passenger cars or inter-modal freight cars, remembering that any rolling stock using the Red Caboose #51060 cannot be automatically uncoupled.

 The Intermountain/Red Caboose #51060 Unimate coupler has many uses in N scale. I use this coupler to significantly close the distance between locomotive units.

I also use this coupler to couple long consists of reefers and/or coal hoppers. If you use this coupler, you will not be able to automatically uncouple any locomotives or rolling stock that have these couplers body mounted.

The Unimate #51060 couplers are body mounted on the underside of the "F" unit frame using the original hole for the factory installed body mounted couplers.
 
 The Unimate  RNP #51060 closes the distance between "F" units by one half the distance. This gives the "F" unit consist a more prototypical look.

Intermountain "F" Units With Factory Installed Couplers

Intermountain "F" Units With Unimate RNP #51060 Couplers Installed
 

All Four ATSF F-7 Units Have Unimate RNP #51060 Couplers Installed

All four ATSF F-7 "Units" have Unimate RNP #51060 Couplers installed. These couplers cannot be magnetically uncoupled. All "F"  unit consists on the "new" JJJ&E are never uncoupled.


Below is an Intermountain F-7 "ABBA" consist with the Unimate couplers installed between the units.

In the photo below, the ATSF FT units have a factory installed draw bar between the "A" unit and "B" unit. On the coupling between the two "B" units are factory installed couplers which leaves a wide open space between the two units. To close up this space install a Red Caboose Unimate #51060 on each "B" unit and the space will approximate the distance between the "A" & "B" units.

These couplers were taken off the market some time back, but now are readily available again.

The MSRP for a package of four pairs of RNP #51060 are in the $2.50-$3.00 range which is reasonable. You might have to scout around for individual dealers that have these couplers in stock, but it is worth the effort.