Rob English posted:There is a bit of wrong info here... lets clarify (just hope I don't make it more confusing).
There are basically 2 heights to O gauge Lionel prewar couplers....low, and high. The difference is due to wheel tread diameter and truck design.
Generally speaking 600, 1600, 1700, 2600, 2700, 2900, and 3600 cars are Low couplers.
Generally speaking 800, 2800, and 3800 cars are high couplers.
Locomotives sometime came with low or high couplers... 225E has a 2235W for low coupling, or 2245W for High coupling. The 226 has a 2226W for high coupling and a 2226WX tender for low coupling. other were designed for one height of coupler.... the switchers had individual numbers....227, 230, 232 for low, and 228, 231, 233 for high... Now, there are generally big locos for premium big cars, and smaller, less expensive locos for small, low coupler cars...there are exceptions...like 2900 semi scale care...premium big but low coupler cars.
There are high and Low couplers in both Latch and Box Couplers the numbers work this way....800 have manual couplers (box OR Latch), the (2)800 are electric box and the (3)800 are operating cars
