Question about couplers

I’m new to N scale and have questions about couplers. I have some different make cars and they all have different couplers. Can I standardize them and what do you suggest I change them to? Is there a type I should be converting them to? Thanks!

 

Of course the standard is Micro Trains. If you are starting from scratch and are interesting in more prototypical appearance, MT now has a line of smaller sized couplers that will give you improved appearance, but You're probably not ready to deal with body mounting yet. But if you are they sure look good.

 

I have Micro Trains on everything but the cat !!! GF even "adopted" a pair and made earrings to wear to train shows !!!

 

Micro Trains, like everyone said, and Accumates (Atlas) are the two most common ones. They work well for with each other too.

 

I'll also add my 2 pennies worth --- convert to micro trains. Their trucks w/couplers adapt to most manufacturers cars rather easily. I say that not knowing what you have already.

Have fun,
Wolf

 

Thanks everyone! I’ll look into micro train couplers. Just getting started so it will be easier. What about my engines? Also where is the best place to get them.

 

Micro Trains' website has a section that says which couplers to use on most loco models. They should be able to point you in the right direction.

 

The best place to get them is from one of the fine advertisers that supports the board, lol.

Seriously though, you’ll want to buy them along with some thing else you were going to buy anyway, and buy what you need and a few spares for later. Shipping costs as much as the couplers themselves so buying a single conversion set makes no sense unless it is local store in person.

 

I use Micro-Trains on everything except between locomotives. Between locomotives use the Red Caboose now Fox Valley dummy couplers.

 

The more I think about it the more I think you should consider body mounting sooner rather than later. If you wait, you will realizze that it will become more and more intimidating as you go along adding more rolling stock to convert.

Except on tiny spaghetti bowl layouts, body mounts will prove to be far more reliable than truck mounted couplers. It's not that hard, and it will help you build modeling skills now.

 

The easiest way to convert to MT (Microtrains) couplers is to use their trucks and couplers MT1000. Typically, you pull out the bolster pin from existing truck and replace with MT truck and coupler. Doing it this way, you will get good rolling wheels that are in gauge and couplers that are mounted at the correct height. For auto uncoupling, you can use MT uncoupled mounted in Atlas truck or use Rix Pic for manual uncoupling.

 

Some people might argue the virtues of body-mount couplers. And there is room for debate. When the train is moving forward.

If you want to back a train the way real railroads do, you need body-mounted couplers.

 

Micro-Trains is the way to go for my fleet of freight cars and passenger cars. Between ABBA sets of diesels I'll use the Fox Valley dummies. On the front of the lead unit I will use Z scale MTL's. Body Mounted is best mounted. The best earrings are (of course) MTL's.