After putting my Large Scale trains away in storage back in 1998, I’ve decided to get back into the hobby a little bit. In the interest of upgrading my trains, I just did an inventory of what I have to determine how many of my engines/tenders, passenger, and freight cars have Kadee couplers installed. Back in the 90’s when I started collecting Large Scale, I installed Kadee #831 couplers (truck mounted) on 12 cars and 2 Moguls. The remaining 13 cars still have the factory stock couplers installed. The plan then was to put Kadee #831’s on all of the cars and engines, which are manufactured by LGB and USA Trains. I didn’t even consider body mount couplers back then. Not sure why – maybe the reasoning at the time was that the 831’s were the most popular. Or the fact that my maximum curved radius was 8 ft. Maybe I didn’t want to modify the cars by cutting off the coupler tangs and drilling holes in case I wanted to maintain the value of the cars for possible resale at a later date. My track was laid down on a flat surface with no bumps or inclines, and the trains ran smoothly. My trains weren’t exceptionally long and the 831’s seemed to perform fine, even when backing up and running through switches. In retrospect, I probably thought it was just too much trouble to install the body-mount couplers.
Anyway, I would like the board member’s opinions on what you would do if you were in my position. I would like all of my cars to be consistent and have the same Kadee couplers on them. Yes, cost is a consideration if I am to replace my existing #831 couplers, but I want to do the “right thing”. Should I continue to buy #831 G-scale truck-mounted couplers (907/909 equivalent) for the balance of my cars or change them all to 1831 #1 scale truck-mounted couplers for my engines and rolling stock? Or should I go with the body-mount #830 G-scale couplers (or equivalent) or consider the smaller and more realistic #1 scale body-mounted realistic couplers?
I’m also interested in retrofitting metal wheels on all of my cars now. I’d like to get your recommendations please for LGB and USA Trains rolling stock wheels for size, performance, realism, and bang for the buck.
Thank you very much!
Anyway, I would like the board member’s opinions on what you would do if you were in my position. I would like all of my cars to be consistent and have the same Kadee couplers on them. Yes, cost is a consideration if I am to replace my existing #831 couplers, but I want to do the “right thing”. Should I continue to buy #831 G-scale truck-mounted couplers (907/909 equivalent) for the balance of my cars or change them all to 1831 #1 scale truck-mounted couplers for my engines and rolling stock? Or should I go with the body-mount #830 G-scale couplers (or equivalent) or consider the smaller and more realistic #1 scale body-mounted realistic couplers?
I’m also interested in retrofitting metal wheels on all of my cars now. I’d like to get your recommendations please for LGB and USA Trains rolling stock wheels for size, performance, realism, and bang for the buck.
Thank you very much!