I recently added a front coupler to a Lionel postwar 2018 steam engine so that I could couple to a second steamer. Then I tried to see how much both would pull and 23 freight cars seems to be about the limit on my 5’ x 9’ layout with 027 curves. Using all postwar freight cars, I put the heavy ones toward the front. After adjusting and repairing several of the freight car couplers, I achieved reliable operation. Here is a video showing the 2018 and 2035 2-6-4 steamers pulling 23 postwar freight cars.
I really like your layout and your vidios. Your two trains on the same track and now double headed steam inspires me.
45 years ago, I cut up a 2025 that wasn’t in very good shape and put a front coupler on it. I actually cut off the cow catcher to do this. I still have the engine. It is the O gauge 2-6-2 version. It didn’t pull very well 50 years ago, and it still doesn’t, but it sure does look nice to see two steamers double heading. Dave, running 23 cars on O-27 track in and of itself is an accomplishment. You must have the wheels and everything else well lubed. Also, as you mention, all the couplers have to be the same height. Great job!! Bruce Baker
Did this with two KLine pacifics. Hardest part is gettong the E-units in sync.
Dave,
I really loved the video. If you put a coupler on the front engine and added a couple more cars, you could connect them all into a continuous ring [}:)]
Very nice. You have really packed a lot on 5x9 layout. Would you give some info on the blue ‘surfer’ boxcar? Never heard of that one.
wyomingscout
The “surfer” boxcar is a Lionel Postwar 3357 Cop & Hobo (or Hydraulic Maintenance) Boxcar. Lionel has remade it a couple of times since. It is an unrealistic, unlikely fantasy type of operating car where the cop is chasing the hobo who then jumps off the platform onto the boxcar. It is a lot of fun to watch. I like to break out the FUN cars occasionally, it helps to keep me from taking my model trains too “seriously”. Here is a video showing the cop and hobo up close along with the Giraffe cars, Elephant Car and Operating Brakeman Car.
Nice video, of a nice collection of postwar freights, headed by a nice looking pair of steamers.
Would really like more infor on how you did the front coupler conversion.
Thanks,
runtime
Dave, I enjoyed that video. The two locomotives looked great together. How did you mount the coupler?
Dennis
Dennis, here’s how I did it.
Remove the front set of trucks (the 2 from the 2-6-4). The advantage of attaching the coupler to the front truck is that the coupler will follow the curves (see the second photo). At most hobby shops there is a rack of brass tubing and sheet brass. Purchase a sheet of brass that is .032 x 3/4" x 12". Attach the brass sheet to the bottom of the 2 wheel truck (I sued a flathead bolt and hotmelt glue) and cut and bend to shape. Obtain a metal coupler knuckle and drill a hole for a 2-56 bolt and attach to the brass sheet. Hold the knuckle closed by inserting a small screw where the closing pin would go. That’s the basic idea, tolerances are very close so you might need to bend and rebend the brass sheet. It took me a couple of tries before I got everything in exactly the right postion. Finally wrap the brass sheet that is closest to the center rail with black electical tape and then paint all the exposed brass with flat black paint.
Dave, You have created another workable fun train. I wish the Post War steam locos had an operating front coupler. What you devised and shared with us is a great step in making model railroading more fun. Thank you, Ralph
Dave, I noticed your video a few days ago before you even mentioned it here. I was one of the first 5 viewers. I like checking out YouTube and I search for “Lionel Trains 027.” The visual impression of the two smoking locos is great.
You have a very neat layout and trains. Almost makes me want to get one of those Hydraulic Maintenance cars, fantasy or not.
Heck, just for your thinking, scale trains with “crew talk” are just as much fantasy. Out of the thousands of real trains I have watched in my life, never once have I heard engineers talking. And especially louder than the motor sounds the locomotive is making. Full scale and correct rivets, talking trains are as real as any fastasy operating train car. So you see Dave, even us 027 guys are at the pinnacle of prototypical realism.
I guess great minds think alike. I did what you did years ago, only with a plastic body steamer so I could easily cut away the cow catcher, make visual modifications and add the coupler to the front guide truck. The trouble I had, as mentioned, was with mechanical e-units. Now that I run DC, I should try this again as synching the locos would be no problem at all.
Oh man, I love it.
I had resisted even reading this thread because I couldn’t bear to see a video of Lionel. Too bad they weren’t AF engines, but no matter. I really loved the man on the box car, never saw anything like that before.
Before starting to restore my American Flyer stuff I few months back, I have been concentrating my efforts on my HO layout. Plenty of diesel consists but I have never double headed two steamers. You have inspired me to try it.
Incidentally, someone mentioned the need to sychronize the reversing units when double heading, Is that a problem?
Rich
Very neat video Dave. The coupler bracket is very clever too. I may try that out. Thanks for posting the instructions! Looks quite a bit simpler than what I did with my 2025.
J White
David,
Thanks for the info & the extra video!! The only cop&hobo I ever saw was the one where they just chase each other around an open gondola. I’ll have to keep an eye out for one like yours.
Charlie
Dave:
Thanks very much for the instructions and excellent photos. You make it sound so reasonably straight forward that I may try it myself; although it will probably be a bit more difficult than you suggest.
Thanks,
runtime
I added couplers to the front of two Lionel modern 4-4-2s with the can motors in them. One I cut the cowcatcher off of and attached it via Erector set sheet metal attached to the underside above the front axle. Very rough looking it works o.k. but I would do it differently next time. 2nd one I started with 1/2" wide aluminum attached to the frame the two front axles attach to. It has an “S” bend going under the cowcatcher then bends 90 degrees going straight up to the dead coupler made out of cut open aluminum tubing in the shape of a short and fat letter “J”. It basically rests on top of coupler of the front engine. The bottom part has electrical tape on it so it does not short out the track. If anyone can post it here I can email you pictures.
dsmith your front coupler looks a lot better than mine.
Dave,
Beautiful job. Congrats.
Have you also altered the 2018 smoke stack? It look a little different.
Pops, I added a short piece of nylon tubing inside the 2018’s smokestack. This helps to shoot the smoke up higher, especially if you run the engine slowly. I also added the tubing to my 2035 and it helps there too.
Dave, Everything is ‘OUTSTANDING!’ Thank you, Ralph