Yes they are the Fairway hoses

Yep, same product. Our understanding is PWRS is taking over the product line and working to get them patented.

There's some debate as to whether or not there was prior art around this idea ... so the patent part may not take, but still, it's a really cool product.

I know this idea has been kicking around for years, but it's been a novelty or curiosity, not a mass market product available in number of scales. Looks like that's all about to change.

These are really cool, for sure.

Yes, they've been around as a novelty

Yes, they've been around as a novelty or curiosity for years - we get that.

But they've never been a mass market product before, that will be available in a number of scales (eventually).

The idea has also been refined and improved to make them work as well as possible and as a product anyone can buy, they're very cool.

Like DCC did to model railroad control (even though command control was a niche product for years before), taking a curiosity product mainstream changes things.

Don't shoot the messenger

Don't shoot the messenger here. We're reporting a new product that's coming out. As to who did what when, we don't have all the details - we're just reporters here. The major new development is these have been refined into a mass market product and are now available in HO, and they're coming in N, with other scales to follow.

Like many things in the hobby, getting the full backstory is a community effort and may take a bit to sort out. Our feeling is to appreciate the fact this idea is moving into the mainstream and we all can benefit.

I'm sure the lawyers and the patent office will deal with anything else that needs dealt with, and our approach is to appreciate the advancement and to assume the best.

Good News

Personally I think it's a neat product. While there have been many detailed models over time showing nicely detailed static hoses, finally a working type available to the masses. I don't understand some of the negative statements about these, but then again I can't remember any new product within the last 10 years that didn't have these types of comments. Sad. Bottom line as always is if you don't like, want or need it, then leave it be and move on to what you do like in your world.

With everything that's been introduced to simulate prototype mechanical or sound in the modeling world, these are a welcome addition. Now how many years before someone introduces working hand brakes?

Duane Goodman

What I think is cool is how

Thanks Joe

Thanks Joe.

I do plan to buy them once it gets rolling. I like the idea, with the level of detail from out of the box cars and DCC, this just takes it to the next step. Too bad I didn't invest in Sergeant couplers when I was replacing all those McHenry's and over size Kadees 

Like to point out

These were "officially" announced at the Saskatoon All Aboard Model Train show.  PWRS/NARC were here today for the official public announcement, though PORTERS members knew earlier.  

As to Sergeants, I bought some and installed them on a couple NARC cars and then just finished installing the new brake lines on these same two cars to test out how they would work with Sergeants.   They work very well and look great.  I'll do my best to get something together on my little test and installation in the next couple days, but first I will be doing my annual pictorial of the Saskatoon train show.  

If, or rather when they are

If, or rather when they are made in 1 scale (1:32), I can see a lot of work for me. 

Switching with MagnaLocks

(donning flame suit) I view this as somewhat gimmicky. Sure it's cool to see the air hoses pull away like the prototype, but what does this really get you when it comes to switching? You still need to manually separate the knuckles. Also, how much pull does it take to separate these once the knuckles are apart? Will a car equipped with these stay where you spotted it or will it want to follow for just a bit?

From a show and tell perspective these are cool, but I'll save my coin and use the $25 (MSRP) for more traditional KD's. The KD trip pin serves me just fine.

Not for everyone

John:

I don't think anyone ever would think this product is for everyone. If you're happy with magnets and Kadee trip pins, then great. If we all walked lock-step in everything we did in this hobby, it would get pretty boring.

errr.

But isn't that what the "working" part of the prototype (that actually turns mere vehicles into a railroad) does. At least below the floors?  One standard guage, one clearly recognizable type of spiked track and narrow flange way width, one wheel profile, one type of coupler. . . all looking exactly the same from sea to shining sea.  

No

In a word, No, Andy, it isn't.

It's like what my wife tells me about some identical twins she was around for weeks. By the time the twins lett, she could tell them apart easily. They looked totally different to her.

On the surface technically, things are similar, but once you get to the details, the variations are many. And just like those identical twins, once you get used to the details, the subtle variations look entirely different to the trained eye.

And if you allow for historical modeling, even the gauge, ties, rail, and wheels have more variation.

Just because door knobs and hinges all look about the same doesn't mean the houses need to look anything alike.

Nope ,

Identical twins don't start out having different external visible details.  That's precisely the reason they are called "Identical". 

After birth they may grow different personalities due to experience, and bear the marks of different physical wear and tear, just like decade old box cars do.

But you can ship any box car from Bakersfield California to Hoboken, New Jersey without having to make any modifications to it. And if you only photograph it on its track in both places, in the same weather and light, you definitely wouldn't be able to know which picture was of which location.

Locking this thread

Locking this thread. Too many similar threads on the MagnaLock self-connecting break lines.

Same but different

Seems the Andy/Joe conversation is confusing standards with implementation. The houses may not look alike but they all adhere to certain standards - building code. The rail gauge may be a uniform specification but the route of the tracks differ.