So i had a thought the other day about Magnetic Couplers. Most of you may know i dont have a layout yet and none to try this out on so was cuirous,
The magnetic couplers that out their uncouple with a magnet thats under the track. Would they also uncouple if you just had a regular magnet not installed in the track work? that would you would just wave the magnet at the couplers instead of hitting the lever to uncouple them?
Take a look at the RIX uncoupling tool. It’s just two small magnets in a holder that you insert between the cars to be uncoupled. It works reasonably well.
Joe
Yes you can use different magnets, but be careful installing them. The Kadee magnets have their north and south poles along the long edges, another magnet would have its north and south poles at the ends of the bar and would not uncouple anything.
In order for this to work you have to put slack in the train just over the magnet at the place where you want to uncouple the train, as long as the train is under power there would be no slack and no uncoupling.
Once you have uncoupled the train you can pull forward a little bit, and then back up again. The magnets will hold the knuckles in the open position, and you can then push the cars back into the siding and spot them as required.
Of course if you magnet is on a downhill grade you may get unwanted partings of your train.
Enjoy… ROAR
If you want to uncouple from above you will need two magnets - one on either side of the train to pull the couplers apart. That is how the RIX tool works that JoeinPA mentioned.
http://www.walthers.com/exec/productinfo/628-14
It shouldn’t be too difficult to make one yourself. I think the hardest part would be selecting the proper strength magnets. Too weak and they won’t work, and too strong and you would have difficulty keeping one or the other magnets from latching on to the coupler.
BroadwayLion’s information about the location of the magnetic poles for under track installations is crucial.
Dave