electro couplers vs KD

I don't know. To be honest, Kadee is releasing new couplers and I am not yet up to speed. One of my engines do have Kadees and it is intended just for other kadee equipped cars.

I don't mind the electro coupler or the hi rail wheels.

Enginear Joe:

The Lionel electromagnetic couplers are the large AF style couplers and will mate with them.  They will not mate with KD's.  The KD is much more in scale (smaller) than the Lionel electromagnetic.  The SD 70 comes with with either highrail or scale wheelsets and mounting pads for the KD's so you can change out the couplers for a more scale appearance. 

If you are looking at S scale (or highrail), I suggest you go to www.nasg.org and browse around for what is available.  You may be pleasantly surprised at what all is available.

I've been in S since 1956 and never have been more satisfied.

Roger Zuerlein

The Kadee O scale coupler will couple with a Flyer coupler manually.  They won't automatically couple or uncouple.

I know some guys in the past who've used them for a transition car.

The Kadee S Scale coupler will couple with itself, the Kadee and clone HO couplers or the American Models Snap-Lock.

Rusty

Rusty:

Good to know about the KD O couplers ability to be used with the AF line.  Will have to try this one.

Roger

 Thanks guys, I didn't know if Lionel had developed new couplers.

When I first go into "S", I was troubled by the size of the AF couplers, so I swapped out the originals for KD O scale. They looked much better, mated just fine with the AF's,and gave that "KD reliability" that we all know and love.

Since then, I have begun to focus on moving to scale "S", and am now using a mix of KD #802s and various KD HO scale couplers. The nice thing about the HO line is there are SO many variations to choose from; you can always find something that will fit!

I'm hoping that the Sargent Line will be able to produce their S scale version someday, as it's far and away the most realistic miniature I've seen (after the Clouser-designed O scale coupler that Protocraft is currently marketing....)

Mark in Oregon

Sergent produced an S version some 10-12 years ago (egads...) and I guess has a updated version in development.

I gave it some serious thought back then, they looked really great on an SHS SW that someone posted on Yahoo back then.  I guess they were a little tricky to assemble, though.  The Sergent coupler then was a 4 piece white metal kit-- top half, bottom half, knuckle and locking ball bearing.

But, I decided that Kadee's assembly, installation, self-centering ability and ease of operation won out over looks.  Plus, there's the occasional special installations where I had to use one of Kadee's HO offset shank couplers to get the job done.

At this stage of the game, even when Sergent's become available again, I'll stick with Kadee's.

Rusty

Rusty, Mark:

I, too, looked at the Sargent couplers when they first came out.  Decided to stay with the KD 802's.