How do you uncouple your trains?

[cncproadwarrior]

The thread on the Kadee air hoses has raised another question. How do you uncouple your trains? If you use a "tool", could you please post a pic of it.

 

[ICG/SOU]

Bamboo squewers from kitchen drawer.

 

[NYC_George]

Late in my 9 min switching video we use a woodin squew to do the uncoupling. It's a little harder to see what your doing because of the upper deck above, but the cars do come apart with little effort.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ccQoolQNSFQ

NYC_George

 

[RexHea]

Bamboo squewers from kitchen drawer.

Ditto! I started out with the Kaddee under-the-track magnets, but they soon became a problem in some areas with unwanted couplings. I finally just did away with them all together. Don't get me wrong: they are fun and they are nice to have in hard to reach areas.

 

[Steamfreak]

OK...I'll share my secret.....I use a penlight with a rod that's got a little hook at the end. I use the hook to open one of the KD "hoses" to uncouple the cars. Here it is.....

 

[Selector]

Bamboo skewer, which isn't reflected in the choices. To me, "special tool" is a handheld implement specifically made for the job, and that precludes the bamboo skewer the way some of us are using it.

-Crandell

 

[Larry]

I use Kadee delayed uncouplers & magnets that I bought at an online magnet co. Both work well & I've been using them for many years. A lot of my layout is hard to reach & the magnets are a big help.

 

[DaWolf85]

I find that Rix Products uncoupling tools are, while not always perfect, useful.

 

[ThoroughBreed]

I find that Rix Products uncoupling tools are, while not always perfect, useful.

I use one of these also along with a couple of other items like a long thin screwdriver, even an exacto if it happens to be handy...lol

 

[Rico]

Add me to the skewer list.
I designed the new layout with no unreachable sidings.

 

[cncproadwarrior]

Forgive me for being ignorant but can someone post a pic of these skewers?

 

[fiend540]

Forgive me for being ignorant but can someone post a pic of these skewers?

 

[IronBeltKen]

I'm a wood skewer user myself, though it seems to work only 75% of the time. In those situations I just lift up one of the cars, only takes half a second to rerail it afterward. Of course now I'm tempted to try that Rix gizmo, hadn't heard about that before...

 

[nephthyr]

I use an Accurail Accumate Switchman tool which I find works OK with kadee #5 and works really well with #58s.

View attachment 16072

 

[nateL]

Bamboo squewers from kitchen drawer.

haha my weapon of choice are tooth picks! I got N scale tho, so its either that or a pin. I wish it were easier haha

My mom would kill me if I stole all her squewers LOL

 

[GWT&P]

I use a variation of the bamboo skewer. It's a fireplace match with the strike end cut off and whittled to a point. I like it because it's square and with that little bit of an edge to open the couplers, it works great!

 

[RexHea]

I don't think anyone has mentioned to square the tip of the bamboo skewer. I always shape the end to a 4 sided point. This will aid in getting the coupler to open.

 

[UP2CSX]

Yep, and Rex has a nice collection of color coded skewers, which are great for operating sessions. You can use them to uncouple cars or poke the guy who's train is in your way.

 

[Tuna]

This is the manual tool I use also.

On my sidings, I generally glue in a between the tracks magnet and let the couplers do their thing.

 

[Lady_Railfan]

I used to just let the cats do it. If either of them was anywhere near the layout when it was running, I could be sure that uncoupling or derailment was quick and inevitable.