Looking for a US Toy Train Co. coupler

[Benjamin Maggi]

I have in my collection six or seven rare US Toy Train Company cars painted for the Arcade and Attica Railroad. https://dandhcoloniemain.blogspot.com/2019/07/us-toy-train-company-rr-models.html

I don't want to modify the cars in any way. But, I want to pull them with a Lionel 44-tonner engine that I plan to paint up (except for the coal tender, of course). I plan to mount one of the toy train couplers in place of one of the Lionel couplers on the engine, which I have no qualms about modifying. But, I need to know what type coupler it is and where I can get it. I don't want to use something like a piece of wire or string to join them together.

It looks like a shiny silver hook pointing up with a backer also made of something silver (steel?) The pictures on the link above don't show the couplers, but this picture shows similar couplers: http://www.tcawestern.org/images/usttc17.jpg

Any idea where I can get one coupler? Thanks.

[Flintlock76]

That coupler looks very similar to a Lionel pre-war coupler.

Try these folks, they sell repro Lionel parts, pre and post-war, and they're pictured in their on-line catalog.

I believe they have pre-war American Flyer parts as well, if those are a closer match.

Good luck!

http://www.henningstrains.com  

[Penny Trains]

Those are Lionel latch couplers alright.

There are 3 basic types, you'll probably want the style above with a hole that you can put a bolt/nut/washer combination on to attach it to the loco frame.  But be aware there are both long and short shank versions so you'll have to measure from your expected attachment point to where the original nuckle ends on the engine truck.  That should still work as your pivot point, but you may have to experiment before you drill the frame.

The other basic types of latch couplers are the twist-on:

and the combination latch which was developed when Lionel was switching from hook couplers to latches:

[Benjamin Maggi]

Those pictures are very helpful! Thanks.

[Benjamin Maggi]

The operation was a success, though I had to bend the latch upward from its original downward position and whatever metal they used for the latches seemed weak. I suspect one or two more bend jobs and it was fracture.

And, as an side, boy are those couplers finicky to actually couple stuff together!

More info here: https://dandhcoloniemain.blogspot.com/2020/03/lionel-latch-couplers-on-44-tonner.html

Thanks again for your help!

[Flintlock76]

Nice job man, and that Arcade and Attica car looks great!

Oh yeah, from what I've read those pre-war couplers were always  finicky to couple together.  In the end they were a casualty of World War Two no-one shed any tears over.

And thanks for letting us know how it turned out!  Some people on this Forum ask for advice and then leave us hanging about the results.  Slightly annoying, you know?

[Benjamin Maggi]

Thanks!