There have been a number of threads about installing a working front coupler on the pilot of the earlier Bachmann Spectrum 2-8-0s and other locomotives of similar design and vintage.
Most folks seem to use a Micro Trains 905 Z-scale coupler and glue it into a slightly enlarged coupler pocket. I haven't done that on my 2-8-0 yet, but the overall technique worked great on my Bachmann 2-6-6-2.
I've also heard something about using one of the Micro Trains 1043 pilot kits and replacing the whole front pilot. I can't find the original source material, but I stumbled across that a while back during my initial search for information on this subject.
Well, long story short, I wanted to mention a new way I discovered this evening. I recently procured a Bachman 4-8-2 Heavy. I noticed that the front dummy knuckle coupler has the same mounting design as the one on the 2-8-0, but is much larger than the dummy on the 2-8-0, which is far too small to be operable. It'll take a keen eye to spot the differences in the front couplers in these two images, but they are different:
http://www.spookshow.net/loco/files/bachmountain4.jpg4-8-2 Heavy, image from spookshow
http://www.spookshow.net/loco/files/spec280mech.jpg2-8-0, image from spookshow
Since my 4-8-2 will haul the varnish while my 2-8-0 is for local switching, I decided to swap the couplers. About 1 minute later and voila! Due to the unique mounting method of these front dummy couplers, it does not have the range of motion of a normal operating knuckle coupler, but it is at least the right size to mate up. It grabbed onto Atlas accumates and Micro Trains couplers first time. Uncoupling is a bit stiff, but works well enough with fine tools. I wouldn't haul a major cut, but it shuffled a couple cars on a zero grade no problem. So I would definitely classify it as a "semi-operational" knuckle coupler.
I don't know how many of these larger dummy 4-8-2 Heavy front couplers are hanging around the universe, but they make for a painless install to obtain a fair working coupler in any other Bachmann locomotive with a similar pocket.
I hope that info helps someone out.
