For over thirty years, I've used simple round toothpicks to uncouple in the same manner that some use skewers..... stained black, sitting in a 1/8 inch styrene tube in the "ground" nearby locations such as sidings, etc., they look like any other utility pole without attachments, and are always handy to make a quick uncouple..... giv em a try....you'll probably like them.....
L&M Railway, Ltd.
I use the kadee magnetic bar,inserted between the ties at a given spot for uncoupling. With a dremel drum tool attachment a few swipes will let you drop the bar into the trench of the ties.
When I have several installed at the right locations I cut the white plastic coffee stirrers from Mcdonalds to about 3 or 4 inches and insert them next to my hidden uncoupler. Then from anywhere on the layout I can see where to stop my train and uncouple with ease.
I have used this for some time and it works well.
steigie
Hi 1Trac,
People have been trying to devise a relyable method of un coupling cars eversince the model railroad world began. I've tried every commercial has been produced with mixed results. I've tried developing my on contrivance and have used such things as a pickle fork with one tine removed, a coffee stirrer, and a ball point pen cartrige. The most reliable seems to be the easiest and the cheapest, (free). I now use a plain old round toothpick from any good restaurant. I attach it to the side of my handheld controller with a rubber band and it's always at the ready.
Another way to use the bamboo skewers that I use is to reach between the cars with the tip and pull the trip pin of the left side car toward the rail,simulating the action of the magnets. It takes a little practice but once you get the hang of it, it works great.
Wow! Guess what the Rix tool likes? Cabooses with metal handrails and ladders! They jump to the magnets and won't let go! That's why I use the skewers especially for switching! I come in with just enough power to move the loco to get slack, insert the skewer, twist it as I hit the reverse button, and pull out. Remember, the big guys use a man on the ground to pull the cut lever! So the skewer is your man on the ground! Practice makes perfect just keep trying. John
johncolley Wow! Guess what the Rix tool likes? Cabooses with metal handrails and ladders! They jump to the magnets and won't let go! That's why I use the skewers especially for switching! I come in with just enough power to move the loco to get slack, insert the skewer, twist it as I hit the reverse button, and pull out. Remember, the big guys use a man on the ground to pull the cut lever! So the skewer is your man on the ground! Practice makes perfect just keep trying. John
Yeah, the Sergent wand is like that too, though Roundhouse doesn't have the best methods on mounting the end rails on the 36' coach kits.
Skewers are great, as long as you A, remember it's in your pocket, and B) Other people at a club don;t also use them to pick their teeth, scratch their back, etc. I have an Accumate yellow pick, and someday I'm looking at making a felt pocket on the back of my UT4r to put the switch picks in when I;m not using htem. If I have to 0-5-0 (Somebody really should make a model of one BTW) a car, I try to grab as much of it by the Truck as I can, if it's a short car that I can pinch the sides of the truck on. Don't know why, other han I'll have to re-rail it anyway. But it does keep some of the body oils away from a car.
Add my name to the list of people who dislike the undertrack uncouplers. Naptown has some at the Passenger Terminal., and inevitably they work best when the train is trying to leave. We did have some way in the back of the station too, I think those were taken out because you couldn't reach a broken train of two cars back there
-Morgan
I've operated on about a half-dozen different model railroads which have "serious" operating sessions, ranging in size from double-car garages to very much larger. All used simple skewers for uncoupling cars. Authentic Kadee couplers and all-metal wheels were the norm. Magnetic uncouplers were notable only in their absence. Except for operator error, operations were 99.9% flawless.
There are lessons to be learned here.
Mark