Build an uncoupling tool for passenger cars

摘要

Passenger-car switching is an important part of the steam-era engine terminal I'm operating. Even though I'm quite far from working on the passenger car side of the layout, I was still bothered about something operationally. I like to have reasonably accurate models and must have diaphragms on all my heavyweight passenger cars. However, uncoupling magnetic couplers is difficult, if not impossible, with a skewer when a pair of diaphragms are in the way. Under-the-track or track-mounted magnets can uncouple cars if slack between couplers happens unintentionally, so I ruled those out. I don't want to fuss with electromagnets, either, as I wish to keep things as simple as possible electrically" on my layout. I've seen a method to uncouple diaphragm-equipped passenger cars using a wire hook from the side to grab a trip pin. But what does one do if there are multiple tracks with cars blocking access to the pair of cars to be uncoupled? Something simple was needed. Then a thought occurred to me (sometimes, thankfully, that happens).