Does anyone else hate it when this happens?

[James from Devon]

You have a good running day, 4 or 5 trains out and about with a nice variety of rolling stock.

Then you pack everything away and at the last second, you notice this:



I'll be getting everything out again this evening and looking for the missing nut / bolt!

[Big Jim]

Well it's clean so probably not off a steam loco.
Looks like a nut for securing a buffer.

There is an old trick in the motor trade that used to get played a lot.
When someone had a gearbox or engine stripped and laid out neatly on a bench some rotter would add a couple of odd fastings or parts to the arrangement when the chap doing the job wasn't looking.
Watching someone stand there with a really confused look on their face with parts left over and no place to put them was priceless.
You could play a similar trick at a steam up by strategically leaving odd bits about. If you were feeling evil that is.

[James from Devon]

Well it's clean so probably not off a steam loco.
Looks like a nut for securing a buffer.

There is an old trick in the motor trade that used to get played a lot.
When someone had a gearbox or engine stripped and laid out neatly on a bench some rotter would add a couple of odd fastings or parts to the arrangement when the chap doing the job wasn't looking.
Watching someone stand there with a really confused look on their face with parts left over and no place to put them was priceless.
You could play a similar trick at a steam up by strategically  leaving odd bits about. If you were feeling evil that is.

Yeah, more than likely some incidental fitting that's about to drop off a wagon but as a lover or practical jokes....I thank you for a giggle and further inspiration!

[markoteal]

And the location of where it has dropped adds weight to the suggestions its a coupling nut.

No doubt at your next running session, you'll find out which wagon or coach its from when the loco pulls off with just the coupler attached!

[LNR]

Yes James, been there and done that. Hope the detective work solves the case.
Grant.

[James from Devon]

Happy to report that the nut came from a battery box mounting bracket from one of my new carriages! Now back in its rightful place accompanied by a blob of loctite

[markoteal]

Good old Loctite!

[Killian Keane]

To avoid loosing nuts and bolts entirely, why not make a wagon fitted up with magnets, so as to collect up ferrous metal fixings?

[James from Devon]

To avoid loosing nuts and bolts entirely, why not make a wagon fitted up with magnets, so as to collect up ferrous metal fixings?  ;)

That's a genius idea!

[Killian Keane]

To avoid loosing nuts and bolts entirely, why not make a wagon fitted up with magnets, so as to collect up ferrous metal fixings?  ;)

That's a genius idea!

thanks James! Of coures, it also means you'll be picking up nuts and bolts from other peoples rolling stock also, but better than fixings getting lost altogether!

[MDLR]

If you have a canal boat, you will know of something called a Sea Searcher Magnet which will pick up VERY heavy weights. Mind you, you'll need a well wagon to carry it........... https://marinestore.co.uk/Sea_Searcher_ ... agnet.html