Reply to "Is S scale still an option?"

I do the same thing with Kadee 802/805 springs. There is still some slack action when starting up from a full stop that looks fairly realistic, but the conductor and brakeman in the caboose no longer get headaches and complain about being jerked back and forth in the caboose if the train motion is not smooth. The double-spring tightens knuckle in the draft gear box and better dampens small, sudden changes in speed.  I use two of the larger springs together. The smaller springs are meant to force the knuckle to close.