240 vs 418 passenger cars

Sunrise,

the Ives coupler at the time was the "snake-pull" and as you say, attached at the middle of the truck.

Lionel Standard Gauge always used the triangular coupler pocket. It was attached in the same place through out the history of the cars.

Are you talking about MTH repros?  If so, they would likely be able to supply.

I looked at an MTH 240 series car and the 3 slots are there to hold the pocket for the latch coupler. The original Ives 240 series are modified Lionel cars so I would guess the slots are there also.

The snake coupler is a horrible design. However, Is it worth changing for a more user friendly coupler.

Jim, could I get you to elaborate on this?  I had always assumed Ives' snake coupler was an advance that helped improve tracking and reduce derailments.  But my experience and knowledge on this is minimal: all I know is my dad's STG black diamond cars with the snake couplers from 1929 track beautifully.  What am I missing?

Yes, Im talking about the MTH 240 repro.  I'm  thinking about making one a transition car so that I can run the set in the future with a MTH Black 400e. Thoughts?

Thanks!

Sunrise

They are a nightmare to couple and uncouple. Maybe there is a trick to it. I have a way of grabbing a flyer coupler and they work beautiful.

I can see the tracking advantage of the coupler being attached to shaft of the truck.

Sunrise, your thought of making one car into a Lionel/Ives transition car makes sense.  The cars would look fine with the 400e, since they are really 418 cars.

Jim, so your objection is to the Ives coupler, not the snake pull design?  You're right, there's a trick to it.  Like a lot of things, you have to be taught to do it before you're 5 years old.  Then it comes naturally.  

There's a "Train Night at Dave's" youtube video that has Dave instructing a kid about that age how to uncouple Ives cars:  "put your finger in there and wiggle it..."     It's the best tutorial on Ives couplers!  Wish I could find it again.

I found it!

"You're an expert at Ives couplers!"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jGu-x7iB77o

Thankyou for the video. Maybe, I will get better at it.

I just looked at my 3243 and the coupler is held onto the engine at the cow catcher.

I would buy one of these and put it on a grind stone until it fits the pocket on the 400E tender.

I included a photo of my AF coupler that I did this too. I unscrew the regular coupler on my 392E and screw this in. it now pulls Flyer freight or passenger.

Why not put an IVES coupler on the 400E's tender?  I thought they were impossible until I kept practicing coupling & uncoupling.