Coupling up

Someone had asked me about the coupling system used to couple the wagons to the locomotive. 

My efforts hadn't come out too clearly on the video. So, I put a macro lens on my iPhone and despite the dubious quality of the $5 lens I managed to get some close ups that I hope will clear things up.

There are many different types of couplings used to assemble trains on prototype narrow gauge systems revolving around hooks, chains rods, bars, and probably even rope. 

Busch seems to have gone for a representation of a three link chain (feldbahn experts can correct me). One end of the wagon has a pin, and the other end of the wagon, this tiny etched chain link thing. The buffer beam of the locomotive has a pin on it, and to couple the wagon to the locomotive you just slide the link over the pin. It's as easy as that.

1. The link on peat wagon

2. The pin on the locomotive. I expect it's very, very over long.
You can also see a Neodymuim magnet under that. 

3. The link is over the pin the wagon is coupled.

I'm not sure if it's fair to say. "It's as easy as that" for the coupling. There's certainly a knack to it, and a magnifier is certainly going to help. But there are people in the finescale railway modeling fraternity who positively enjoy coupling wagons together using scale three link couplings (that would be me then). The pin on this locomotive looks a bit on the high side to slide the link over using a tiny hook. But I will have a closer look at that, and report back. I'll need to find one of my coupling hooks first. But that's a story for another post in the future.
So that's the basics on the coupling system. Then again, there's that Neodymium magnet on the loco buffer beam, and that's another story too.