I am new to railroad operations and since I am in the middle of constructing an N scale layout I was wondering what you guys recommend for uncoupling and coupling trains. Magnetic, manual or electromagnetic solutions? I could not find a lot on the subject either on the MR website or even by google the net. Any advise is welcome
Dan
No one solution fits all. I’m not in N scale, but I do use both HO and HOn3. Some of my HOn3 cars are equipped with Micro-Trains 1015/1016 series N couplers, and some have the larger HOn3 Kadee 714s. In HO, some have the standard size Kadee, a few have the scale size Kadee, but most have the 711 “old timer”. I like the 711 (standard gauge version of the HOn3 714) because the appearance looks better to me than the scale Kadee.
In general, because I haven’t gotten around to installing many uncouplers, I use bamboo skewers for uncoupling. These are more difficult to use as the coupler size gets smaller, and the car spacing gets closer. The skewers work OK for the HOn3 714s, but not so hot on the MT 1015s.
My uncoupler preference is for the rare earth magnets, mounted in pairs under the rails or just inside the rails. A single pair has a pretty limited longitudinal uncoupling “window” - the cars must be pretty close to one on either side of the magnet pair. This works well on the main to keep false uncouplings to a rare condition. On spurs and yard areas where false uncoupling is less of a problem, the “window” can be extended by mounting pairs of the magnets about every inch or so. Other advantages of the rare earth magnets over the flat under-the-tie magnets are many fewer problems with steel axles, and are easily installed after the track is laid. The latter is important to me, because I prefer to lay track and worry about uncoupling magnets later.
There is usually a thread here every year on this particular topic.
my thoughts and experiences, your choices
Fred W
My preference is for magnetic uncoupling using Kadee between the rail delayed action magnets. Why? Because they work, are easy to install and the sight of them doesn’t bother me.
Also I have two cars with remote uncouplers that operate from my Power Cab. Note the wire in picture below. Two cars have a remote located at the brake wheel and the second car has one on both ends.
Bob
No direct experience in N scale, but I imagine it a lot like some of my light HOn3 cars. It’ll require a deliacte touch to uncouple manually and without bumping or derailing the car – but that’s just me[8)]
One thought about the rare earth magnets. It looks like they may end up banned for sale, because too many kids are swallowing them – with potentially bad effects on the guts. Might want to stock up on them for at least any anticipated short term needs. I know they’ve always seemed in short supply because of the flcutuating rare earth supply situation, but they seem to have been particualry scarce recently.
My last N scale home layout had under-the-track magnets. I used the HO Kadee 308’s and cut them in half. Once they were installed and set up they worked really great. It is something that you need to take your time with and do it right.
I like the idea of uncoupling by hand with Rix Pix uncoupling tools. Insert into coupler and gently twist to uncouple. Similar to using barbeque skewers in HO. If there is a spot that you can’t reach, by all means use a magnet there. I have several rix pix tools attached to mini flashlights to make a lighted uncoupler for areas where low light makes it difficult to see and they work very well. Sometimes I cut off the trip pins altogether from some cars so using a magnet is out of the question and I also don’t have to keep the trip pin at the correct height and bend them up slightly
I also model in HO and use a bamboo skewer OR a very sharp pencil.
Hi Dan. [#welcome] to the forum! You’re getting good info from everyone, and everyone here is willing to share knowledge and help! Other than that, I have nothing to offer on this subject; just wanted to welcome you here!
Happy RR’ing!
Duane
Having switch cars in N Scale I found the best solution is to use a magnet and IMHO anything less is folly since N Scale cars are light as you know…
And welcome to the forum…[#welcome]