Fred,
I use RTS Couplers and I NEVER use the RTS on the First car coupling to the Lok.
I never have had an Upcoupling from them. Only thing is to couple action has to be firm.
I do have some Viessmann 2 Pole Couplers which I will be using from LOK to the last car (For Lighting).

Not sure which is best as I have not installed the viessmann ones yet

Larry, Easier Decoupling.

I use RTS couplers throughout my trains and don't expereince any problems. You must assure that the coupler heights are correct, though. Also I have found that initially they are very stiff to couple, after a few couplings they go together much easier. I removed and sold all my Viessmann couplers (I had equipped five or six trains with them) since they were incompatible with various standard Marklin couplers. I will continue with RTS since they work for me. I also have them on my loks since I light my cars from the lok.

Hi,

I am using RTS conducting couplers since more than one year. Main advantage as compared to semi permanent couplers is that passenger trains can be separated and connected much easier. However, the force required to close or open the RTS couplers is larger than for a conventional M* KK.

Electric contact of the RTS is very reliable so far. I once had to correct the contact brace as it was bent down by an accident. Even in a consist of 7 coaches I have a safe electrical connection from the first coach to the last. To my experience, flickering coach lights have more to do with the slider, the ground contacts, or voltage fluctuations of the digital signal.

Never checked how RTS couples perform with hook couplers. I have installed M* KK or RTS conductive couplers on the respective express locos as well.

However, RTS conductive couplers and metal RELEX couplers (older cars) don't get together. And even if you manage to connect them somehow, the RELEX will short circuit the contact of the RTS coupler to ground. Probably the same thing happens with hook couplers.

Hans Martin