Atlas new replacement 2 rail coupler advice

I had a few and replaced some with Kadee springs - the big ones for inside the box.

They worked well and were much less stiff.

I'm going to try that.  Thanks!

Personally, when replacing couplers I would go with Kadee couplers.  Certainly aren't as easy to install on Atlas cars, with just a little extra effort in most cases the Kadee gearbox and coupler will give you many years of reliable operation.  

My railroad was entirely kadee before Atlas arrived on the scene.    I have an operating railroad - ie it takes 8 people and we use switchlists etc to run a 3 hour operating session.    Nearly every car moves and must be capable of coupling, and uncoupling from every other car to allow smooth operation and get the cars to right trains and destinations.   

I learned really quickly that for operations like that, the atlas couplers failed.   They couple and hold ok in many cases (until the plastic ones break), but they do not uncouple from each other or kadees with any ease.   Hence before any Atlas car goes on the RR, the couplers must be replaced.

The new Atlas - Kadee clones - however seem like they will work.

You can't go wrong with a Kadee.  However, since Atlas went to the trouble of producing a new coupler, I though I would experiment with it.  Given the past performance of Atlas couplers, my assumption is that they thoroughly tested these before they brought them to market, so they should work.  They could save having to replace Atlas couplers with Kadees.  Until now I used Kadees on the Atlas cars.  I only have about 6 cars that I'm going to experiment with for the time being.  But if they work, any new Atlas cars will keep their Atlas couplers.

However, the 700 series Kadees would look better.   

Good Day, 

I'm curious, how are the new AtlasO couplers? Any issues with these couplers? Do they stay closed on a long train? Couple easily? Un-couple easily?  

Swafford,

I have been using the new Atlas couplers on a few cars over the Summer. Iff (if and only if) you replace the springs in the coupler box(draft gear) with Kadee springs they seem to work fine.  For delayed uncoupling (to push cars back in the yard) I occasionally replace the knuckle spring too but then I also sometimes have to fiddle with metal draft gear on Kadees for delayed to work reliably as well.

I can recommend the new Atlas but only with Kadee draft gear springs.  The work exceptionally well on the Atlas SW Switcher engines for yard work.

J2M