Different brands

[Summertrainz]

i have been working with bachmann trains for a while
until i found in my attic in a mis labled  box...
life like and bachmann trains from the 90's
some broken "primitive"functions locomotives (a small motor in the front)
with a price tag of 30$ at the time.
some track and a beyond repair transformer
the trains fit on the track
thats all good
but they have different couplers
http://www.udisco.com/hobbies/pics/921410.jpg
http://www.trains.com/mrr/objects/images/mr_abc_8-02_hocouplers_07.jpg
and they break away from each other easily
the life like and the bachmann in the 90's had the same couplers and they stay together and the "e-z couplers have a hard time staying on with them
and i have limited funds so i cant "smash em with a hammer"
its sentimental value from my childhood
is there a way i can have them fit together?

[Summertrainz]

i mean the trains fit on the e-z track
i have and there are some freight cars in  it too
there is also a baltimore and a lighted ohio passenger car from a metal company known as mantua that went out buisness in 2001
now how much is that worth

[SteamGene]

You have  collection of horn hook and knuckle.  Replace the horn hook with knuckle.
Gene

[scottychaos]

yep, the horn hooks are very obsolete, just replace them with knuckle couplers.

your Mantua passenger car is probably worth $2 - $5 dollars.
maybe a whole 10 bucks if you are really lucky.
do a search on ebay for your exact engine, search on "completed items" to see what it has sold for in the recent past..that will tell you its worth.

Scot

[MrMunchkin]

actually if the Mantua metal passenger car is in good shape it is worth more then that.  P.M.

[Summertrainz]

The passenger car is straight out of the box looking new

[Craig]

I doubt that Summertrainz has the necessary knowledge or retrofitting components to install knuckle couplers on those locomotives or the rolling stock. The design of the horn hook coupler in the image he linked to utilizes a tiny screw and an open coupler pocket, or a talgo truck. In neither case is the obsolete design ready to accept a knuckle coupler. And Summertrainz certainly doesn't sound proficient enough to modify his equipment by body-mounting draft gear and couplers.

Summertrainz, if my assessment is accurate and you just want to be able to use all of the equipment you have, a transition car might be the simplest solution for you. In your case it would seem that the rolling stock that is fitted with knuckle couplers would make the best choice for the transition car. You just remove the coupler cover and swap the knuckle coupler at one end for a horn hook coupler. This allows you to use both types in the same consist.

[Summertrainz]

I doubt that Summertrainz has the necessary knowledge or retrofitting components to install knuckle couplers on those locomotives or the rolling stock. The design of the horn hook coupler in the image he linked to utilizes a tiny screw and an open coupler pocket, or a talgo truck. In neither case is the obsolete design ready to accept a knuckle coupler. And Summertrainz certainly doesn't sound proficient enough to modify his equipment by body-mounting draft gear and couplers.

Summertrainz, if my assessment is accurate and you just want to be able to use all of the equipment you have, a transition car might be the simplest solution for you. In your case it would seem that the rolling stock that is fitted with knuckle couplers would make the best choice for the transition car. You just remove the coupler cover and swap the knuckle coupler at one end for a horn hook coupler. This allows you to use both types in the same consist.

I am very impressed with your judgement
your very right
i know little about changing couplers
ill look into your explanation
thanks !

[Craig]

You are very welcome. I don't think it will be long before you pick up the necessary skills, judging from your enthusiasm.

[Summertrainz]

I guess you could say im in model "training"

pun...
well ill see what i can do.

[SteamGene]

Changing from horn hook to knuckle is probably one of the first things one does to go from playing with toy trains to running model railroads.  Maybe the second is learning to install Kadee coupler pockets on cars which had Talgo trucks. 
Or used to be. 
Gene

[Craig]

I don't see much appeal in putting Kadee draft gear and/or couplers on old Life-Like rolling stock - or old Bachmann for that matter. Though there are certainly exceptions, they generally aren't suitable for the investment because they are grossly out of scale and poorly detailed.

Often, when making the transition from playing with toy trains to model railroading (or railway modeling), one of the first things one does is upgrade to quality, scale, detailed, equipment. I was no exception to that trend. Even my young children own quality models. Genesis, Spectrum, Branchline and Atlas offerings may be found in their consists.

[mlt1]

A question for the "veterans" out there:

I, too, am a beginner to model railroading.  Only, I am nowhere near replicating specific railyards, towns or regions like some of you.  I admire your experience and zeal.  I am just getting into railroading purely as a recreational hobby - a "stress buster" if you will.  I have a Bachmann Ben Franklin Ltd. HO starter set, expander set, and a couple buildings.

What "label" do I give to my pursuits?  I am not technically modelling anything, nor am I using "toy" trains.

My next acquistion, wife and budget permitting, is an EMD freigh circuit.

Any thoughts?

[SteamGene]

Lots of great model railroads are flights of fancy.  The main thing is internal consistency, I think.  Check out the Gorre and Daphetid as a classic example, or the Alleghany Midland.
Gene

[Jake]

What "label" do I give to my pursuits?

What you are doing would be freelancing AFAIK.