Is it true?

[shawn-118]

One of the guys at work last night was telling me, that some of the European loco's with DCC can couple and uncouple cars using their DCC systems. Is it true? If so how long until it crosses the "pond"? Shawn

[Anonymous]

There was a mention in one of the model magazines in the past while of the uncoupling device, I think it was even in MR. I don't recall the specifics, just that it was mentioned in one of the columns.

Bob Boudreau

[Anonymous]

Yup, it's true. I know of three separate locos that can do this - one made by Lenz, the other two by Roco. www.mgsharp.com has photos of all three, there may well be others. I've seen photos of US switchers fitted with auto-uncoupling where the entire coupler and pocket was able to move up and down to uncouple, powered by a tiny motor running from a function output. Very neat but also pretty expensive, and remember it's only the loco that can auto-uncouple, the cars will still need magnets/ramps/whatever. Having said that, I'd buy one of the Lenz locos if only I had the money, as they really are very nice!

[ndbprr]

Tonys train exchange sells a Kadee compatable coupler that works off one of the DCC addresses. A little on the pricey side for me but apparently it functions well.

[trainboyH16-44]

It was in MR, though I cannot remember which issue. I think it was either Late 2003 or early 2004. It showed it installed in a Life Like proto SW series switcher. It required some milling of the frame, though.
Trainboy

[Anonymous]

even if it's limited to loco's this would be a great switching enhancement, especially for those that just do yard/industrial shuffle sessions of small strings of cars.

[Anonymous]

I cant afford dcc!. AARGH! l%#@!^#$[banghead][banghead][banghead][banghead][banghead][soapbox][soapbox][soapbox][soapbox][soapbox][soapbox] Im 15 and on a buget.

[dehusman]

If you are switching 20 cars you will need to uncouple 19 times between cars and once between the engine and cars. Why pay a couple hundred dollars for something you use once per cut?

At this point the technology is only for those who want something "gee whiz", its not really practical for useful, everyday operations.

Dave H.

[nobullchitbids]

I can't afford DCC! AARGH! !%#@!*#$! I'm 54 and on a budget (welcome to the real world, Mac)!

[Anonymous]

I can afford DCC I am 15 and on a budget I just will save up for a while

[Anonymous]

Im 16 and on a non existant budget and I have a fancy NCE cab with all the bells and whistles ,and no home system to run it on. But it gets plenty of run time on the club layout.


Now If I was to buy the NCE system for a home layout, base station, power supply extra cab for my little brother...cost hovering in the thousands [:0][xx(]

[TurboOne]

Hey all budget folks, I got into DCC for next to nothing. Bachmann EZdcc for 85 with loco. That is $40 after you take out loco price. Give up soda for a month, covered. And while not as fancy as the big boys, it is DCC and runs multi engines. Way cool.

Tim

[Jetrock]

Why all the fake swearing and angry emoticons? Even if you're on a budget, at 15 or 54, anyone can afford a few bamboo skewers and just UNCOUPLE YOUR CARS BY HAND.

That's how the REAL THING does it--even in 2005, in an era when people who can't set the digital clock on their microwave can use the Internet to communicate, trains are still uncoupled by A GUY WALKING OVER TO THE CAR AND LIFTING A LEVER.

[wccobb]

The Original "Museum & Santa Fe" (Museum of Science & Industry, Chicago) was "O" Gauge and had an operating hump yard. The cars used on that layout had a large solenoid mounted inside one end and a very small chain which lifted the pin in the coupler to open the coupler. There were a pair of special contact shoes just inside the wheels and two special contact rails, parallel to the running rails, and installed only at the crest of the hump. This system was totally apart from track current and energized the uncoupling solenoid at just the right time on each car as the string was slowly pushed over the hunp. Sorry that I never saw this system in operation and don't know the voltage of the solenoids. Rumors was that: 1) it worked great while it worked; 2) it became more of a maintenance problem than the museum wanted. All very old model railroad history now.

[Anonymous]

To be prototypical, cars are un-coupled manually by lifting what is called the "cut bar" and giving the head end the signal (radio/hand) to move in the appropriate direction.

[Anonymous]

[

That's how the REAL THING does it--even in 2005, in an era when people who can't set the digital clock on their microwave can use the Internet to communicate, trains are still uncoupled by A GUY WALKING OVER TO THE CAR AND LIFTING A LEVER.

[Anonymous]

ever heard of digitrax zephyr 159.95

[red p]

I can't afford DCC! AARGH! !%#@!*#$!.Im 40 And pay child support! [banghead]

[Jetrock]

Let's go lobby Washington for funds! Call it DANMR: DCC Aid to Needy Model Railroaders. The government will spend a few million and a few years commissioning a survey, appointing a panel, and end up forming a new government agency. Through a nationwide program supplemented with state matching funds, government offices will issue a simple needs test to model railroaders, and those who qualify will be given an a used Atlas train-set powerpack and a package of bamboo skewers.

[Anonymous]

Sounds like a neat idea but may take several trips to the drawing board before its dependable and inexpensive. DCC .... Nothing like a Zephyr from Digitrax. Ran 5 sound units and four regular units on my home layout with no problems. going to try to see how many units it takes to load it down.