I am wondering if anyone is running strings of Atlas ore cars? If so, have you attempted to body mount the couplers for closer coupling? In my opinion they would look better? If you have body mounted the couplers did you modify the Atlas coupler assembly or switch to Micro Trains? Last question, how do they run now that they are closer? Thanks for any info in advance!
Alaska I've run strings of Atlas ore cars for a long time. Before Atlas switched to knuckle couplers, I used to substitute the Unimate knuckle couplers for the Rapidos and the cars ran fine that way. Since Atlas has switched to Accumates, I end up replacing them with Microtrains Bettendorf trucks with the short couplers - this works very well. I have not attempted to body mount couplers on these beasts.
Yes they would look better with less space between them. Where would you body mount them to on the car? I have about 30+ of the ore cars with Rapido couplers. I intend to make of unit train out of them with draw bars connected to the cars at the bolster pin. I'm thinking strings of 10 with the end cars using truck mounted MTs.
I thought about re-using surplus Intermountain trucks, the ones with the old rigid knuckle couplers. But I have not tried it so far, and I have only 3 ore cars.
One of the mags had a article on shortening the distance between these ore cars by making a drawbar from a Rapido coupler. Worked well with the older Atlas truck that was designed for the Rapido. I haven't tried it on the Atlas truck designed for the Accumate coupler.
I have about 50 of the Northern Pacific cars. I just left the Accumates on them. I figured I'd just live with the gap instead of investing in new trucks, or trying to change out the couplers. It looked like a real pain to convert to body mounts.
