Can uncoupling track sub for Operating Track?

No, it will not work with the barrel car.  The barrel car has sliding shoes that need the five rail operating track.

If you operating car has a plunger on the bottom, like Lionel coal and log dump cars, you can use an uncoupling track to operate it.

Ahhh, thanks.  It makes sense now - they must be intending for a car to dump barrels in front of the loader, then get re-loaded at the end of the siding.

Another thing about using an uncoupling track that has only the magnet verses the unloading track with five rails; the uncoupling track has a magnet inside that may overheat if used for unloading. There are two or three versions of the unloading track; one that has just the five rails, another that has a magnet in the center of the five rails(uncoupling & unloading track). Each car made for unloading or dumping should have a unit(possible an electromagnet with a bar or rod) inside that does the actual unloading, so it needs to have the unloading track section.

One note because of being around O gauge and 027 trains for many years, the 027 horse corral must have the 027 unloading track, it has an unusual shape; five rails that can look like four rails because it has the extra rail only on one half of the track on both sides. One side is for the hot wire and the other side is for the common.

Lee F.

I seem to remember that some of the modern cars came with a piece similar to a lock on that once installed created control rails without an actual special track piece.

Does anyone else remember this?  I'm not sure if it would be available from the parts department, but it might be a path to consider for a tight space.

-Dave