Huh...

I was trying to take the shell off of one of my J class locos to check the wiring on it and couldn't figure out why it wouldn't come up. During the exploratory surgery I removed the cover on the pilot and found a non-functional (not automatic) coupler tucked away in there.

Out of curiosity I reassembled it with the coupler out, and then found that it would swivel in and out without the need to take it apart. I checked the other J class I have and sure enough, push in on the engineers side of the front coupler pocket and the coupler swings right out, swing it the other way and it snaps right back into its recess as if it were never there.

The J class really didn't have much use for a front coupler since they were generally single motive power for passenger trains, but it's nice to know I can double-head them if I want to. Now I'll have to put a decoder in this one since the other one is already chipped. Fortunately I happen to have one that is currently unassigned. Maybe one day I'll even put sound in one, but today is not that day.

This only applies to the Spectrum line of J class locomotives by the way. I have a non-Spectrum J class and it does not have a coupler in the front. Just as well since I don't have any use for the non Spectrum; it is the stereotypical Bachmann mid 80's junk with a split white plastic gear and grossly out of scale proportions.

On a related note, I also have a bid in on a set of Norfolk and Western heavyweight passenger cars, so if I win it I'll have a consist for each of these locos.

Wish me luck!