Question about couplers

[scruffy19]

Can I attach an atlas locomotive to bachmann rolling stock will the couplers work together?

[kevin2083]

It depends on how old the cars are. The older Bachmann cars came with horn hook couplers, and the newer ones come with knuckle couplers. Atlas uses knuckle couplers. If you're buying everything new, you won't have a problem.

[Santa Fe buff]

Let me explain a bit of information I'm sure you'll be glad to hear:

If they have the same kind, they are fine. But if they have different kinds, they aren't compatible.

Here are the 3 different kinds of couplers:

"Knuckle" Couplers:



"Horn-Hook" Couplers:



"Hook & Loop" Couplers:

http://www.bachmanntrains.com/home-usa/products.php?act=viewProd&productId=1742

As long as both ends you are coupling have the same couplers and are the same height, your okay. Remember, the NMRA has standards all couplers must have so they always work with others of the same type.

Josh

[RAM]

If you have the horn-hook, you can change one end of one of the cars to a Knuckle" Couplers:

[Paul W.]

If you mean, can you make one of the cars a transition car, yes. On my HO Shay, it has knuckle couplers, the log buggies on the other hand have horn-hook. I don't want to swap over all the cars, so the car directly behind the engine has been switched over to a knuckle on the one end.