This has probably been discussed ad-nauseam before, but here goes.
My first introduction to operations was at ECLSTS on Ric’s Timesaver layout and at Fred’s I.P.P.&W. in Ottawa. They both use Kaydee couplers exclusively. While I like how easily the Kaydee will couple, I never got the hang of using a screwdriver blade to uncouple and using magnets is impractical as you never know where you might need to make a cut.
I’ve been a fan of Accucraft couplers for some time. My first use of them in operations was on BD’s railroad and later at Al’s RGS of NH. BD has recently converted to Kaydee. One feature I enjoy is the lift pin / cut bar (when it works). When I got serious about operations on my own railroad (about the time I switched from 1:29 to 1:20.3) I decided to use Accucraft couplers. John Bouck was instrumental in my adoption of the Accucraft Coupler when he sent me a box full with assorted draft gear left over from his many conversions to Kaydee. Al Pomeroy gave my an education on how to clean them up with a file so they would disengage with only one cut lever. I implemented Al’s idea on several sets, but never updated my entire fleet.
When I first purchased Fn3 cars from Bachmann, I converted them to Accucraft. Later acquisitions of Bachman cars were left with the stock coupler in place. For those not familiar, the Bachmann Fn3 couplers are metal with a drop pin and chain for cut lever use. They are not as prototypically accurate as the Accucraft are, but they look OK. I ran a mix of Bachman and Accucraft for many years.
At one time, BD gifted me a box of Bachmann couplers that he had removed when converting his cars. As time progressed and my Accucraft couplers began to suffer from deferred maintenance, the Bachman couplers became more reliable in operations. I recently began converting Bachman cars with Accucraft couplers back to Bachmann and will eventually try converting some of my Accucraft cars as well.
For me, the Bachmann Fn3 couplers are the clear winner. They require very little maintenance and no modifications to work like to prototype. They couple without a hard hit and uncouple with ease releasing only one car. If I could just come up with a good glue to use on the wire loop they insert in the pin for chain attachment!
I don’t claim this is the correct answer for anyone else, but for me, the Bachmann Fn3 coupler is now my go-to.
