What a hoot! I know this is lame compared to real operating sessions but I actually sat down in my rolling office chair and followed my train around and set off and picked up cars at the only two sidings I have. I tried to make it interesting by making up a situation where a car would have to be shuffled out of the way to get to a car behind it and then respotting the first car back on the siding. It sure took a lot of imagination but I found it to be more fun than I ever thought it would be. It really helps having a smooth running loco and a wireless throttle. I even turned out the basement lights and tried some night ops. Very cool looking. I really need to install those caboose markers! I never thought I would have this much interest in switching but now I'm even more anxious to begin my Brownwood switching layout. What do you folks use for manual uncoupling? I have a straight pick I use but is there anything better? I don't use the magnets.
I use a Kadee manual uncoupling tool, or a small straight pick with a yellow screw driver handle. Both work well, but I believe that the pick actually works a little better. Rick McClellan uses wooden skewers (like the ones for barbecuing kebabs). They're plentiful, cheap, and work well when whittled down on one end. Oh by the way, if you need a brakeman for one of your sessions, let me know! Pat Moreland, Union Mo.
The first time I went to Rick McClellan's layout I was told bamboo skewers. You can find em in big packs at like wal mart I think. I've got one, but sometimes I'll set it down and forget where it is so I have a couple back ups. What I did for a back up is took a couple chop sticks home from the Chinese buffet and whittled down the end till I could get it in between the couplers. One last thing that is helpful is to put something on there to make it easier to spot. Mine have some blue painters tape wrapped around them. Ethan
First of all, Jim, welcome to the ranks of model rr operations afficianados. It sounds like you are hooked already. I'll echo Pat and Ethan's thoughts. The bamboo skewers work beautiful on Rick's layout, and he seems to have plenty of places to put the skewers at key locations (19th Street, Rosedale) so that they don't get lost. I use the same thing in my version of Olathe (not quite done or fully operational but running enough so that I can shuffle cars around). I also used Ethan's trick: Hy-Vee gave us a set of extra chopsticks with our recent Chinese take-out, and when sharpened up, it serves the same purpose. I've also rubbed a bit of a standard #2 pencil on the pointy end to help matters along. Best Regards,
Cape is quite a way from Kirkwood, Jim, but as you can see from http://www.frisco.org/vb/showthread.php?6368-Face-with-a-name...&p=47671#post47671, bamboo is not a problem and I would be honored to share!
Thanks, gentlemen. I happen to have a bag of bamboo skewers downstairs so I'll give it a try tonight. I think I'll like them better as they're longer. Plus if I drop one it won't knock off a brake wheel like my heavy Stanley pic tool I'm used last night. Pat, next time your nearby you're welcome to run the branch! That goes for all of you as well.
Rix Products makes an uncoupling tool that places a magnet on either side of the knuckles and the slightest slack action will uncouple them. There are also several wand style uncouple levers out there. Then there is the wooden dowel sharpened to a point that works. That might be a good idea for you Jim, since you just did all those piles and may have a 1/8" dowel with enough left on it to sand it down to a point. Manny
Good idea, Manny. Yes, Chris. I'm hooked! I never thought I would be. I miss that hobby shop in Kirkwood by the way.
I must add this observation. Kadee couplers are absolutely the best for sure fire operation. I have a couple of cars with plastic non Kadees and they suck. I will always use Kadee couplers on everything from now on. The 148 Whiskers are the bomb didlee!
I use the Kadee #241 "Dual Tool". It has a point on one end for uncoupling and the other end is designed to hold springs for insertion into couplers. The shaft is hexagon shaped for ease of holding and turning with one's fingers. http://kadee.com/htmbord/page241.htm
Most of the layouts in the Tulsa area seem to use bamboo skewers, as does the Claremore & Southern in Claremore. As for me, somewhere in my collection I have a Rix uncoupling tool (magnets glued in a plastic holder, that goes on either side of the Kadee couplers). I have also seen the use of neodyminium (sp?) magnets strategically placed on a layout, with locations marked by a couple of ties along the tracks. As for Kadees, I prefer them, especially the number 58s and good old number 5s, although I've been putting 58s on any new cars I buy that have those plastic junk couplers.
Personally I like the 148 over the good ole 5 cause that little spring box you need to use the 5's can be a pain some times, and sometimes it doesn't want to fit in the pocket. But back on topic I too am hooked on switching. I designed my current layout to provide as much switching as possible, while keeping continuous running in play. Ethan PS, so when are we gonna see more industries on your layout Jim
May I recommend Grandt Line's professional uncoupling picks. Primarily on everyone's layouts kabob skewers are used; the best are the bamboo ones that are approximately 3/32" in diameter, but I have used Grandt Line's picks and they have a flattened cross section right at the bottom which does a fantastic job of opening and separating the couplers with just a twist of the fingers. They are not listed in their price list, but if you call them at (925) 671-0143, they will be most accomodating. I just ordered 6 more.
I would assume that everyone knows what Ethan is referring to in regards to the difference in the couplers, but in case someone doesn't, the #5 and #58 are the standard and scale couplers that require the use of a brass centering spring of sorts that sits in the coupler pocket and can be a pain to align sometimes. Several years ago Kadee invented a version of these couplers that contains a very fine centering spring that is built in to the coupler itself. It was dubbed "Whisker" because of the way it looked. The corresponding #'s are #148 and #158. The cost difference is about $0.32 a pair but well worth it in my opinion.
I am partial to the uncoupling magnets, I love hands free operation, and am not a firm believer in something looking like the hand of God coming down to help a conductor with his switching operations but, while visiting a friends layout, he also used the bamboo skewers. It was a neat concept as to how he used them. Near his yards and industrial switching areas, he drilled holes prototypically accurate to the placement of telephone poles and would place the skewers in the holes when not in use, it looked really neat and when one was needed to uncouple a car or set of cars, there was always one handy, It was a rule on his layout that when an uncoupling pole as he called them were not in use, they were to be placed back in the holes and not laid down. He also weathered each one with a dark stain to make them look like telephone poles and he cut them down to where they were the perfect length to resemble telephone poles but were long enough to use to uncouple cars. This is my 2 cents worth thanks
