Atlas couplers as Steam dummies that can work.

I've done extensive trial use of the latest design (Kadee clone head, traditional Atlas shank and pocket) and was not satisfied with either their coupling or uncoupling with one another or with Kadee equipped cars.  Their knuckle closure springs are too stiff for smooth low impact operation.  This can be corrected by replacing the AtlasO knuckle springs with Kadee ones (Kadee packages spare springs with their 800 series couplers and the sell them separately).   Polishing the knuckles also helps.  Though not applicable to pilot beam mounts as illustrated above, When using the AtlasO couplers in their  draft gear box I found centering springs were also overly stiff.  For those that wish to operate in a delayed coupling mode over magnetic ramps you'll want to install softer centering springs.

I recently have had success with using the new style Kadees. I simply cut the shank off and file the operating coupler head to match the dummy scale coupler, then drill the hole for the screw to go through. Of course there is no centering action but this works very well for double heading or pulling in reverse and looks great. Hope you can see them in the pic. And the 614 has one as well that swings away behind the door on the pilot. That particular one needed substantial filing but it works as well as the rest. 

Thanks for posting this Dave, you now have me thinking about my next few 3RS projects.

I have used modified Kadee 804 in a similar fashion

Long overhang on larger steam locomotives restricts this idea to larger diameter curves.

What is your experience in this regard?

Sure would be nice if Kadee would offer a coupler for this application that has centering action.

 All my designated double heads or pushers have freight style pilots. If you need a little bit of extra length the Atlas coupler has it with their longer shank. I routinely doublehead a Legacy Berkshire and Mohawk. They handle 0 72 curves fine. But my 0 72 curves have easements entering and exiting a turn. This may help. I know my scale length passenger cars wouldn't navigate a true 0 72 entering my yard. They functioned fine on the mainline with easements. I usually body mount my couplers on the tenders. I have at times made up a bracket so they are truck mounted just to get them up and running quick. This may give you a little more relief as far as swing on curves. Or it may do the opposite and want to push the truck off the rails. By filing a notch in the coupler shank as shown in the photo it allows it to pivot quite a ways. Filing the coupler box may give you some more. The longer the coupler is will probably aid it. You have to be the judge at what point you stop that it just doesn't look good with the extra length even if it functions well.

 In the upcoming OGR video #13. Pretty sure Rich got some shots of this in action. With Legacy matching the speeds it's really cool listening to 2 steamers with the chuffs slightly out of sync. . As well as they traverse the layout going forward. They do it backwards as well.  

I used the Kadee 740 for my Legacy GS4. Just had to grind down the shank a little so it would slide in the factory pocket.

With Kadee on both ends, it makes double heading so easy and the Legacy stuff runs so good together.