At my hobby shop, Esther's Hobby, Kato ship a package of coupler to replace the couplers on the Corrugated passenger cars. These are free to all those who have purchased these cars and have had trouble with the current couplers. Other shops should be receiving these as well. The shop gets a kit to do 20, 4 car sets. They can order more until Sept. 20, 2002. I just thought to pass this on to let the members know how they can get replacement couplers. For those overseas, the couplers can be mailed. Kato provides an envolope that can be used as a mailer. I hope this information helps. Esther's Hobby Shop
you can also ask KATO to send you some couplers. The couplers that are mounted on these passenger cars are simply useless. They uncouple even on straight and flat track. I replaced them with the earlier version of couplers which are slightly larger. No more problems since. Also you need to replace the couplers on the new E8/9 with the old ones.
I also have a problem with the rear couplers on the P42's. They won't couple with my MT equipped Con-Cor coaches but will couple with each other. I have no problem with the front couplers. Thus I ended up with the back-to-back elephants.
Unfortunately, the trucks on Kato Hoppers are hard to replace with MT. However, the couplers replace quite easily (relatively speaking and comparing to a Bachmann F7).
Actually, I've been thinking of just bolting up some 1015's to them... I've got enough couplers here, I just haven't gotten the minimite charged up to drill the screw holes yet.
I converted around 700 cars with MT trucks as well as my 100 locos. In my opinion MT is the only way to go.
