How do you uncouple your trains?

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How do you uncouple your trains?

  • Using Kadee uncouplers

    Votes: 3 8.6%
  • Manually using a special "tool"

    Votes: 23 65.7%
  • Combination of both

    Votes: 9 25.7%

  • Total voters
    35

cncproadwarrior

North of the 49th
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.
 
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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.
 
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.....
 
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
 
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.
 
I find that Rix Products uncoupling tools are, while not always perfect, useful.

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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...
 
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!
 
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. ;)
 
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. :)
 
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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.
 


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.
 
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