Newish guy here, but I'm an old guy - 74. Just getting in over the last few months, and starting to buy some rolling stock, used.
I have 7 or 8 Lionel boxcars, one from the 1980s and the rest 1990s. All have the thumbtack coupler.
Question. About what year did Lionel start in with the thumbtack coupler? The two plastic ones I have don't work. They are junk.
How far do I need to go back to get to the original design? Post war, I assume i.e. pre '70?
Any other ideas? Swap to new trucks? Maybe 6-14078 ones?
Bill