Lionel TT-100 Coupler?

MurnaneOGR Forum Member DIGITAL SUBSCRIBER

All,

This is my first post, so hopefully I set it up correctly...

I have some old (pre-war?) Lionel tinplate 607 & 608 passenger cars but I don't have an engine to pull them, all of the Lionel engines I have are "recent era" engines and have the black plastic knuckle couplers.

I'm ordering a new MTH "Tinplate Lionel Corporation" engine which should arrive sooner than later which does have the older style couplers, but in the meantime does anyone know if the TT-100 Couplers (picture here: http://www.ttender.com/weblistpictures/TT-100.jpg) would get these passenger cars attached to one of my modern engines?

They appear to be quite inexpensive at the following link (http://www.ttender.com/list/alpha1.htm) so I'll likely try them out, I'm just wondering if anyone has used them with success. I'm not certain I know if the TT-100 is the one I should be looking at or if the TS-162 is more appropriate.

I also saw some folks mention "transition" cars being used. I'm guessing these were "customized" solutions (I hate to say jury rigged) but perhaps someone out there has some insight on these and/or a good solution.

At the end of the day I'm trying to get the 607s and 608 running around the track, I have good/newer engines and tenders, just figured I'd throw this one out there to see if anyone has any insight.

Thanks to all and Happy New Year...Rich

1/3/148:03 PM

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Pine Creek RailroadOGR Forum Member

Rich,

There are a couple of different type couplers on most of the Tin Plate rolling stock.

Do you have the Auto couplers or the Manual Latch over type couplers on your Tin Plate? Seems you are looking at some of the manual couplers.

If you have the auto-couplers they have a black cap over that lifts up, to uncouple.

The original Lionel Tin Plate 2600 rolling stock with auto-couplers has a transition car, a 655 Box car, with the Tin Plate Auto-Coupler on one end of the car, and the post war traditional coupler on the other end, so you can pull your 2600 Tin Plate rolling stock with a Post war Engine, I use my GG-1 for this a lot of the time. However your original Lionel 607 & 608 rolling stock will not match the 2600 rolling stock perfectly, however if you have the auto-couplers on both of your original Lionel rolling stock, they can be adjusted (bent) just slightly on each car, to make them work. Further if you have the manual Latch over couplers, you will need to order a MTH Repro Tin Plate Engine and Tender or find an original Lionel Engine & Tender that has the identical type couplers, to pull your 607 & 608 passenger cars, you must identify and order the correct couplers, at least 2 different kinds were made for the original Lionel rolling stock. If you are looking for a transition car with manual couplers, I do not think Lionel built one, however I have seen them made, by changing the 655 Box Car Auto-Coupler, with a Manual Latch over coupler, using original Lionel parts. I hope I have helped you just a little.

PCRR/Dave

1/4/141:08 AM

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MurnaneOGR Forum Member DIGITAL SUBSCRIBER

Hi Dave,

Thank you very much for your reply. This is very good information, I'm hoping the MTH Tinplate I ordered will hook right up to the old manual latch over couplers (which look like this: http://bit.ly/194Og72).

I'm considering ordering some of the TT-100's just to see if they would also work, though I'd rather not use them they are pretty cheap so I'll see what happens.

Regarding the MTH Tinplate, I'm not sure why but the engine I ordered early in the day on New Years Eve hasn't shipped yet. I don't think it's an inventory thing because the website indicated they had inventory, guess I'll see.

Thanks again, your help is appreciated. I'll let you know how this all works out.

Best...Rich

1/4/148:35 PM

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