When you build your layout are you going to have sidings to drop and pick up cars? Most likely
you are unless you really really enjoy watching trains go around in circles.
So let's assume that you have several places on you layout where you will need to uncouple
cars. Some within reach where you can use a long toothpick and some too far away to reach.
For those far away places magnetic uncouplers will do the trick. Be sure to have a marker so
that you can see where the magnet is placed. If they are permanent magnets
you need to remember not to stop your train above the magnets unless you want to uncouple. Sidings
with magnets at both ends sometimes cause a problem when the train becomes uncoupled at one end while you
are concentrating on uncoupling at the other end. Electromagnets will eliminate this problem.
It can be very frustrating if you are trying to switch cars and it doesn't work. But
it will be very satisfying when it does work. To keep it working smoothly,
remember that the track must be clean without dead spots that will stall the locomotive.
Use a locomotive that will run smoothly at switching speeds. If it has a jerky motion,
it will most likely recouple the car while it is being pushed to its destination.
The cars must have properly aligning couplers so that they
can uncouple when stopped over the magnet and not be too free-wheeling
and roll away from the locomotive while it is pushing.
In general, you will want uncouplers located just beyond the turnout frogs of a siding or
spur - the theory being that you can push the car using delayed action to its final starting
place. Kadee even shows putting the uncoupler before the yard ladder, using the one
uncoupler to service an entire yard.
Curves take extra care to make uncoupling, especially delayed uncoupling, work properly.
Uncoupling may not even work at all, depending on the length of your rolling stock and the
radius of the curves. Typically, the curve radius will need to be at least 5 times the length
of your rolling stock for uncoupling to work on a curve. Unless you can plan and actually lay
your rail/track with less than 1 mm discrepancy, there is little chance you will be able to
successfully install the uncouplers on the curves before you lay the track. Uncouplers on the
curves probably cannot be installed until after you lay the track, and then some adjustment is
needed
during installation to get best possible operation.
Switchback spurs require an uncoupler in the tail track used to service the spur;
the uncoupler will have to be at least an engine length away from the end of the tail
track.
Return to Index
Return to Home Page