It's all common sense.
How are you planning to handle the cars? Singles? Cuts of four? Unit trains? Only the end couplers of a "standard" cut need working couplers. The others will get along fine with dummies or whatever you have that will allow cars to be separated for maintenance.
FWIW, a lot of the prototype cars are connected into cuts of four with solid drawbars.
In my operation, I run a lot of cars similar in size to the DM&IR ore cars. Ones that are in loose car service have working Kadees at both ends. My unit trains (not very long) have working Kadees at both ends to interface with the locomotives that haul them. The 'inside' couplers are truly ancient Kadee K couplers. They couple just fine, and can be uncoupled with a skewer, but don't operate reliably over track magnets if mated with MK or MKD types (no little hook on the inside of the coupler face.)
If you never expect to uncouple individual cars, there's no reason to give them all working couplers.
Chuck (Modeling Central Japan in September, 1964 - with some couplers that are even older)
Replaced all mine with kadee couplers. Gotta switch cars ya know and it is hard with dummies. I originally only replaced a few so that there were 4 cars to a string but then changed them all out. Your choice as you know
alco's forever!!!!! Majoring in HO scale Minorig in O scale:)
I use the dummy couplers that came with the cars. I plan on replaceing them when I can afford it. But, for now the dummy couplers work.
-Dave
I had the Kaydee on hand so I used them
They look a lot better
51% share holder in the ME&O ( Wife owns the other 49% )
ME&O
I replaced the dummy couplers on my ore cars with the Kadee #158 "scale" head whisker coupler and love the way they perform. The dummy couplers needed a lot of work with files to remove flash in order to prevent them from binding both vertically and horizontally.
Don Z.
Research; it's not just for geeks.
I recently obtained a 12 pack of the Walthers shorty ore cars for my layout. I am adding a short line consisting of a mining scene to the layout and I will be using a Shay and Heisler for it. The line will be built on a 3% incline and run from the mine site to a processing/shipping site which will also house the locomotive maintenance sheds and small turntable as well as the fuel oil tanks.
The set of the 12 cars has the operating metal couplers only on both ends of the string of cars. All of the inside couplers are the dummy couplers. I was thinking replacing all of the couplers with kadee couplers.
What is the general response/opinion of those who are running these cars on their layout. Use the dummy couplers as supplied or replace them?
Please advise.