In order to add interest to my layout, I like to model small points which are not always seen such as ground signals, token pick up and set down apparatus, etc and my most recent idea is making a working slip coach coupling. I realised it only required a hook which drops, its release being actuated by a simple trigger operated by a striker in the track. On the real thing of course, the hook was operated by a lever controlled by the guard so bearing this in mind, I selected a six wheeled brake third. I shaped a normal hook from stout nickel silver with a loop for the operating rod from the striker underneath. This is pivoted between two lengths of nickel silver forming the normal function of securing the hook assemble through the bufferbeam, sprung or rigid. See diagram 1. The striker under the coach is a simple pivot, see diagram 2. The striker is actuated by a brass pin (1mm diameter hard brass) on the track centre line. It only need to be raised about quarter of an inch to actuate the hook and is unobtrusive. I operate mine via a pivot below the baseboard surface with a pull rod from the baseboard edge. I did discover that my striker, when raised, could hit some bogie axles so I only raise it when the appropriate coach approaches the striker. Like all such things, it needed a little fine tuning at first, but it adds interest to operating. The final touch is to fit the correct lamps on both the slipped portion and the continuing train.