I enjoy operating like a real transportation system: a mainline train brings cars to a yard, drops them off, picks up another string of cars and departs. Meanwhile the switcher works the local industries picking up and dropping off cars as appropriate.
I've only been in O for 3 years, and planned the layout with this concept in mind (yard tracks with multiple uncoupling tracks, spurs leading to on-line industries, etc). Most of the curves and switches are O-36 and while there is a way to configure the loop to loop plan for continuous running, that was not my goal.
Until now I have not had any problem with Lionel cars and locos coupling and working together. These reefers completed the fresh produce supply for a couple of small towns.
I'm hoping Lionel does find a way to make the new couplers compatible with the existing ones (and wants to) so people like me who want to do switching as part of their operations will be able to. If not, the solution might be buying older style replacement trucks for the new cars, or just buying older rolling stock off of eBay.
