<<<<How could the A be shorter? Is the B measured including buffers and the A measured to the coupler face because it doesn't have buffers, or is there some other reason?>>>>> The B's never had buffers so that can't be the reason. Maybe the sandblasting the B's got during their conversion to A's shrunk 'em a bit! :-) Mark. Visit my train pic website at: http://home.earthlink.net/~markbau/