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Doing layout planning and have it pretty much laid out as I want.  So, the next question is, where do I put uncouplers?  Is there some basic guidelines or best practices for placing them?  I use the traditional 3-rail couplers that just about everything comes with.  I do have some PS1 locomotives that can uncouple remotely from the transformer, but that's only on one end of the locomotive.  And this doesn't help if I want to break a train in half.  I did make a small under bed layout and put the uncouplers before the switches, but it seems that it spaces just right to hit the pickup rollers on the dead spot on both the switch and uncoupler so my locomotives would die at that spot.

And speaking of locomotives dieing on uncouplers, are there any "under the table" or hidden options that aren't Kadee?  I know electromagnets can be strong enough to go through the table/track and roadbed, but is it not done because it could also hurt the electronics in the locomotives?  Has anyone tried modding a standard uncoupler to fit under FasTrack (which is what I'll use on my layout.)?

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Basically, you'd want to locate them where you'd want t drop cars -- i.e., on industry spurs positioned close to the turnout leading into the spur. You'd also need one positioned on the adjacent mainline track so you could cut the car(s) loose from the rest of the train. If you're careful, you can push an uncoupled car further into the spur without the car re-coupling.

 

So, that both after the switch, not in front of the switch?  Front being the single end of the switch and after being on the two diverging ends?  I figured that would be the locations, but due to the problem I had of locomotives stalling out on them being so close to the switch I'm leery of it.  But I was using O36 switches before, and will use O72 on my layout.

Originally Posted by sinclair:

So, that both after the switch, not in front of the switch?  Front being the single end of the switch and after being on the two diverging ends?  I figured that would be the locations, but due to the problem I had of locomotives stalling out on them being so close to the switch I'm leery of it.  But I was using O36 switches before, and will use O72 on my layout.

Correct. One on each of the diverging ends, but you can place them further back if you're concerned about the engine stalling...

Originally Posted by sinclair:

Matt-

 

Thank you for the info.  I will have to do some experimenting once I start buying track.

 

Mike-

 

You could wore them to one button, but I do not plan on doing so since I would be unlucky enough to have another train waiting on the side I wasn't uncoupling, and would then uncouple something I didn't want too.

You're most welcome.

 

Mike:

 

I recommend against that for the reason Sinclair said above, plus there's the extra current draw from the second electromagnet.

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