Hi everybody!
I requested help from the Toy Train forum originally for a problem I've been having. One of the replies suggested I re-post it here, because there are many more G gauge enthusiasts here. So....here it is:
Back in the 90s I bought the very first Thomas the Tank Engine train set that included Annie and Clarabelle, a circle of brown tie track and a transformer. A year or two later, I bought the very first James the Red Engine train set that included two Troublesome Trucks, a circle of yellow tie track and a power pack with controller. Both trains were mainly used during the Christmas season and then put away in January.
The couplers used on the rear of Thomas, James' tender, Annie, Clarabelle, and the Troublesome Trucks are all the same. I think they're called "hook and loop" couplers. Anyway, I noticed from the very start they tended to come apart rather easily. The weren't anywhere as good as the O gauge knuckle couplers. I had to use ruber bands to help keep them from uncoupling. That took some of the fun away, by not allowing the uncoupler to be used for switching around the cars from time to time. Since my kids played with them quite a bit during the holidays putting loads like Barbies, little figures, and whatever they felt could be transported over the years, within a short period the "hooks" started to come apart. First the "hooks" no longer appeared to have the tension. I assumed little springs that had somehow gone missing were the cause. I looked for them, but I never found any of them. That made them droop, so that's when I started putting rubber bands on them. Later, they just fell off. I guess little screws had fallen off. Again, I couldn't find those either. I went to the two local hobby shops, but they didn't carry any Lionel Large Scale replacement couplers (let alone just the hooks). One of them tried to sell me LGB couplers which he told me could be used by modifying the trains in some way that I think involved drilling new holes in the cars. I didn't want to do that, so I resorted to using MORE rubber bands to "permanently" connect the cars together. I never liked that, but I haven't been able to find any Lionel Large Scale replacement couplers anywhere around here. Does anyone know where I can order some? Both hobby shops here were no help in getting any. If I were to find replacements, what can I do to cure the problem of the trains uncoupling randomly? Someone told me about a place that sold Lionel Large Scale parts, but that place ended up only carrying Lionel Large Scale knuckle couplers. I think he told me he went through a distributor that was unable to order the ones I needed for some unknown reason.
I'd like to make one thing clear: I only want to replace the hook couplers with original Lionel Large Scale hook couplers. I don't want to replace them with knuckle couplers, nor any other brand like LGB or USA Trains. Does anyone know where I can purchase authentic Lionel Large Scale hook couplers?
Thanks in advance for any help you can provide.
Tony
I found Brasseur Electric Trains that contains the following:
5120-401 Coupler Hoop Style With Hook for Thomas Annie Clarabelle - $3.50
5120-405 Coupler Hoop Style No Hook for Thomas Annie Clarabelle - $2.25
Perhaps this is what you are looking for.
Those appear to be exactly what I'm looking for!!!
Thanks! I just ordered them!
I've searched a lot of different sites over the years, but I've never come across that one before. Thanks again!
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