Front coupler on lionel 2-8-0

Interesting that you did it with a 2-8-0 which I thought were mainline units. There are so many 0-6-0, 0-8-0 ans MP-15's with from and back operating couplers that seem more oriented to what you need for operation.

But I understand why a person would want to.  It is a good looking loco and if you already own it . . .  frankly I'm often motivated more by the looks than the prototypical purpose of a loco when I decide what to run today. . . .

Wish there were pictures.  It's an interesting idea and apparenlty worked well.

Road engines need front couplers to switch industries out on the main line, especially if on a leading point switch.  You need a run around track to make it work, like a double track mainline or a siding.  I wish they would make a Mikado with an operating front coupler for this purpose.

Steve:  You are correct that the PRR consolidation was a mainline engine but I have read that when larger freight haulers came on the scene for the PRR that some consolidations were used in switching operations.  I have an 0-6-0 that I regularly use for switching duties.  (I am resisting a diesel on my layout because once I make that jump, I would be in serious trouble.  There are SO many diesels I would want.) 

The coupler gives me the ability to maneuver cars before and after a main line run with my engine.  As Ron pointed out, a run around is helpful.  When I get a chance I will post a photo. 

I also have a Lionel Consolidation (Reading) and can perfectly understand that the OP would want to increase its utility this way.  It is such a nice engine. I am not so brave as to try it, though.

Don't forget that the "scale" (they aren't, really) Kadee couplers will grab a big O-gauge

coupler well (been discussed here before, quite a bit), and can be mounted in pretty

much the same area as the dummy scale factory coupler. 

I'm not saying that mounting-pad design and work is not involved, but probably less than that required for the Big-O unit, and looks much better when not in use, to boot.

Excuse my OCD on this:  I may have posted my first try in an old thread on the same project/issue several years ago.  I had somehow managed to break a piece off the stock front coupler receiver where you could interchange the scale fixed coupler with a fixed working coupler.  Much time has passed so I do not recall if I had problems with the original working coupler.  But I might have had problems with derailing cars with that, especially when pushing.  I would be interested to learn if anyone has had experiences with this.  In any event, I probably should have consulted the Kadee posts on the mechanics of the couplers on locos where the frame hangs out in curves.  I guess I will do that soon to catch up.  Thanks for the informed replies.

TrainsRMe:  I understand the bravery issue.  Every time I have worked on this I wondered what I was doing.  But here's the thing.  The pilot can be removed.  So I could HOPE to find a replacement pilot if I really screwed up.  My PRR version came with "slated pilot" (apologies) as opposed to a freight pilot so I had cut out a space in the "grill" for the coupler to swing.  I will have to dig out the camera to show it.