Currently and in the past have all Lionel steam engine tenders had operating couplers on the rear?
Quick answer? No.
Not even close. There were so many low-end sets, both cataloged & not, that had dummy tender couplers as soon as plastic trucks were made(AAR, arch bar) in the postwar range. It continued with the Symington-Wayne trucks in the MPC & modern era on low to middle range sets & locos (8040, 8142, 8206, etc.).
Rob
Did the dummy couplers end in the 80s or 90s? If so, when?
You could research the service/product supplements Here:
Parts List & Pictorial Diagrams (tan box on the right)
to find out when or if this practice was discontinued. You may have to get some catalogs out to help with pinpointing a specific date.
Rob
It might be a little tough to narrow it down to when, as stated non operating couplers were used even on some higher priced engines. And then some had plastic,others had die cast operating couplers. If your thinking of a purchase, check and see for yourself as tender trucks were easy to switch.
I have replaced the plastic trucks on cheapy tenders with metal bar ends with magetic couplers that I swiped of junk postwar flatcars. Because the tender is pulling the brunt of the load, the heavier metal trucks prevent derailments. If you plan on backing the train and uncoupling, metal trucks are the way to go because otherwise the lightweight tender jack-knifes.
It seems to me that the low end Southern set which I believe came out in the 90,s had fixed coupler on the tender.
My bust that set came out in the 70’s boy its been around longer than I thought. lol