Trains.com

Need help with older lionel train coupler

3078 views
5 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    May 2019
  • 2 posts
Need help with older lionel train coupler
Posted by mosh101 on Friday, May 10, 2019 11:54 AM

I inherited a Lionel 'O' train set, and a bunch of other cars.  The original 1011 train set has a larger sized coupler than the other cars.  Any tips on how I can connect the larger coupler with the smaller coupler?  They look similar and they actually can sort of fit but it forces the cars off the tracks on corners.  I thought about swithing a couple couplers on different cars but the wheels are rivoted in? Any help would be appreciated.

  • Member since
    January 2019
  • From: Henrico, VA
  • 9,571 posts
Posted by Flintlock76 on Friday, May 10, 2019 5:12 PM

The other cars you mentioned, are they Lionel products as well?  If not, and they're older products of another manufacturer they may not be compatable with Lionel to begin with.

And I'm not sure since I don't own any, but I think cars from the Lionel "Scout" series aren't compatable with standard Lionel cars either. 

As far as swapping the truck and coupler sets out I'm not sure it's worth the trouble and expense.  

 

  • Member since
    September 2010
  • From: Parma Heights Ohio
  • 3,442 posts
Posted by Penny Trains on Friday, May 10, 2019 6:43 PM

Welcome aboard!

Toy train manufacturers used a lot of differing couplers over the years.  Here are some examples of the basic types so we can better diagnose your problem.

Pre-WW2 Couplers

Lionel

  1. Hook:
  2. Latch:
  3. Box: 
  4. American Flyer Hook:
  5. AF hook and latch:
  6. AF curley Q:
  7. AF link:
  8. Ives hook couplers:
  9. Ives snake-pull:
  10. See this page for an excellent list of Marx couplers: https://dfarq.homeip.net/marx-couplers-explained/

In the postwar era all 3 of the large, survivng toy train manufacturers (Ives and Dorfan didn't survive the depression) moved towards realistic operating knuckle couplers.  Lionel was first...

...and their patent forced American Flyer (who switched from O and Wide gauges to S gauge after ww2) to soldier on with the link coupler from 1946 to 1952.  Marx joined the knuckle club in 1953 but their couplers were not compatible with Lionel's.

Any of these look familiar?

Becky

Trains, trains, wonderful trains.  The more you get, the more you toot!  Big Smile

  • Member since
    December 2005
  • From: Hopewell, NY
  • 3,212 posts
Posted by ADCX Rob on Friday, May 10, 2019 8:56 PM

mosh101
...Any tips on how I can connect the larger coupler with the smaller coupler?



Go to 1:29 for help with your couplers.

Rob

  • Member since
    December 2005
  • From: Hopewell, NY
  • 3,212 posts
Posted by ADCX Rob on Friday, May 10, 2019 9:03 PM

Also, you can add the conversion coupler 480-25 to the Scout truck:

Rob

  • Member since
    May 2019
  • 2 posts
Posted by mosh101 on Monday, May 13, 2019 10:41 AM

This is axactly my problem!  Thank you!  I'll give the filing a try.

Join our Community!

Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account.

Search the Community

FREE EMAIL NEWSLETTER

Get the Classic Toy Trains newsletter delivered to your inbox twice a month