I've reached the stage (or perhaps slightly past it) where I need to decide on
if I am to use magnetic decoupling as part of my operations or stick to manual
(with those sticks).
I wasnt able to really experiment well until I had some track laid and a few
cars ...
I've changed out all my couplers to Kaydee magnetic decouplers.
I have 2 kinds of magnets to experiment with. the over the ties and under the
ties types. My baseboad is cork on foam so its not too much trouble (I hope)
to dig out some spots under track I've already run if I have to ...
Guage is HO.
In my ideal fantasy world I'd prefer fully 'hands off' decoupling .. but I don't
know if reality would match fantasy.
My questions to the experienced are these ...
1) Does magnetic decoupling reliably work ? I've gotten it to work on test
tracks but it was persnickety. But I dont know if its just because I didnt
install the magnets right ...
So presuming I am perfect at installing the magnets would my fantasy be
achievable ... 100% hands-off coupling and decoupling ?
2) Are the above the track or below the track magnets "better" ? or is the
difference just in looks ?
3) How about the bulky (and expensive) electromagnets ? Do they actually work
better or are they just so you can turn them on and off ?
4) Where to put them ? I've read the NTRACK guidelines and they say never on the
mainline. I think thats reasonable although not sure how one could split a
train to put a few cars on a siding without a decoupler on the mainline.
Any other advise, opinions, or anecdotes welcome !
Is this even a pointful fantasy ? or should I just give up before I start and
not waste my time.
=David
if I am to use magnetic decoupling as part of my operations or stick to manual
(with those sticks).
I wasnt able to really experiment well until I had some track laid and a few
cars ...
I've changed out all my couplers to Kaydee magnetic decouplers.
I have 2 kinds of magnets to experiment with. the over the ties and under the
ties types. My baseboad is cork on foam so its not too much trouble (I hope)
to dig out some spots under track I've already run if I have to ...
Guage is HO.
In my ideal fantasy world I'd prefer fully 'hands off' decoupling .. but I don't
know if reality would match fantasy.
My questions to the experienced are these ...
1) Does magnetic decoupling reliably work ? I've gotten it to work on test
tracks but it was persnickety. But I dont know if its just because I didnt
install the magnets right ...
So presuming I am perfect at installing the magnets would my fantasy be
achievable ... 100% hands-off coupling and decoupling ?
2) Are the above the track or below the track magnets "better" ? or is the
difference just in looks ?
3) How about the bulky (and expensive) electromagnets ? Do they actually work
better or are they just so you can turn them on and off ?
4) Where to put them ? I've read the NTRACK guidelines and they say never on the
mainline. I think thats reasonable although not sure how one could split a
train to put a few cars on a siding without a decoupler on the mainline.
Any other advise, opinions, or anecdotes welcome !
Is this even a pointful fantasy ? or should I just give up before I start and
not waste my time.
=David