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Given the ingenuity I've seen on this forum I won't be too surprised if someone has already done this. This is my solution though and I call it the Switching Assistant. I have a small layout with lots of spurs and 036 curves and run DCS and Legacy. To help with switching operations I wanted something that would move cars around without coupling to them and would always make a lined up coupler-to-coupler connection anywhere on the layout. With PS2 and 3 switchers this works sometimes but often I get a connection where I don't want one and on curves the couplers don't line up and I'm pushing bumper-to-bumper which looks dumb and can end in a derail.

 

Here's what I came up with. First picture shows a fairly standard MTH freight truck with a swivel coupler arm and that little fork that is sometimes used for caboose rollers. I removed the coupler arm from another truck and after a Dremel cut and drilling operation had something that fit the fork slot and could be bolted on with a machine screw. Then I removed the knuckle pin on the added arm and took off the knuckle. Completed unit is on the right.

 

I made two of them so I could connect one to each end of an NW2 switcher. Now I can position cars anywhere I want on the layout and best off all park another engine on a straight and use the NW2 to push couple a car or car string to that engine at very low speed. When I don't need the assistants the NW2 can drop them off for future use. Been using it for a couple days now and it works like a dream!

 

 

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I love seeing people's ingenuity, and I like what you came up with, really clever hack! I am sure there are some mean old rivet counters out there who are grimacing and saying 'that isn't prototypical', but what they forget is this is in the finest tradition of railroads of all kind, they were notorious for doing these kind of things to solve problems, so therefore, it is in the spirit of railroads everywhere. Thanks for sharing this!

Thank you back bigkid! No it's not prototypical but neither is the "giant hand" that has to descend from the heavens when I've botched an operation. This makes things much easier, is fun to use, and well within the limits of my "suspension of disbelief". Thought it might generate a little more interest but oh well . . . Thanks again for the feedback.

Originally Posted by abbrail:

Scott,

 

Quite an ingenious solution to your problem. It's great as is, but it wouldn't take much work to give it a prototypically-plausible look by by adding a platform and some railing.

 

Great work, and thanks for sharing!

Thanks Thomas. My first thought was to purchase and modify one of the Test Cars that MTH sells (20-98216) but wanted something shorter. I like your idea though. I recently purchased I table top miter saw from Micromark so I have everything I need to build and add the deck and could probably go to the "bone yard" for some rails.

It *IS* prototypical. Look up the railroad term "idler car" and you'll see that you are right on the money.  They are used to shift cars on dual-gauge sidings, to keep a safe distance between a locomotive and hazardous freight, and to allow heavy switch engines to move freight cars on and off car ferries, without needing to drive out on the ramps.  Nice idea, that could be made to look very realistic!

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