Before placing my uncouplers, I looked at my paper layout plan, and simulated, with my finger, a few operations to see where I would need to uncouple cars, including shuffling operations. My objective was to NOT use the five finger crane for that. I ended up with a few electromagnetic uncouplers on the mainline (to avoid unwanted uncoupling), and magnetic uncouplers for every track in my yard, right after the switch, where track is nice an straight. After two years of operation, I realize that I could have added an extra uncoupler on the mainline, but I can live without it. The five finger crane is only used to remove cars from the layout, including those with sticky couplers that need maintenance .
Simon
Given that successful delayed uncoupling is VERY sensitive to very smooth operation of the locomotive and how free rolling given cars are, I am sticking with skewers for the present. I have seen and been the victim of (not just on my layout):
Seriously, prototypical speed switching and delayed uncoupling requires a big step improvement in consistent weighting, equalizing rolling ability, track cleaning, and smooth running locomotives above the stock standard to be consistently successful.
Until I get my rolling stock to that level, deftly handled skewers and finger bars solve most of the issues. Don't ask me how I know this.
Fred W
....modeling foggy coastal Oregon in HO and HOn3, where it's always 1900....