Hiding the Uncoupling Magnet in Your Yard Tracks

Thanks for posting this GRJ...   I had saved a bunch of the old 027 tracks, but I never liked the other way of incorporating these with the red plastic core showing in the Gargraves, plus it just seemed like alot more work on the center rail .... Inverting it and installing a new core is a great idea.....

That looks great!!

Very Slick !

Nice!! Bookmarked this thread!!!!

John, cool post.  Years ago before TMCC and DCS I did something similar with my tinplate track.   I beat the bushes at every train show for old uncoupling tracks for the magnet and coil.  At one time I was able to buy new ones without the core.  Not a problem as the core was just 1/4 inch round steel.  I control them by good quality push buttons on my panels.  No Radio Shack buttons.  I have 92 of them on my layout and they all still function.  Great for breaking a train.  I hit the button to fire the car and then open the locomotive coil.

Very inventive solution.

Great work.

Alan

Looks like I'm going to be tearing the crap out of my layout!  I have been trying to come up with a hidden uncoupling magnet for years.  This is so simple and exactly what I've been looking for.  Thanks John and Harry!

Tom

My dad followed Harry's "how to" just last week and used his old UCS sections from years ago to put these uncouplers in all 5 new tracks going into the ice dock and brewery.

John,  Does the length of the core affect the strength of the magnet?  If not, I'm thinking of mounting the coils underneath the table top and extending the core up through the table top and roadbed.  This would only require cutting a small section of rail and drilling a 1/4" through hole.  This would make retrofitting them much easier as I wouldn't have to tear up a bunch of ballasted track.

Tom

I used the 027 uncoupling magnet years ago, like Marty; but, on Gargraves track.

I have two left that I didn't use--no track pieces attached.  If interested, let me know via email in my profile.

Cool ice dock.  

Very nicely done !!

Alex 

John, thanks for posting  and to Harry Henning for this novel solution.

That's really cool John. So low key, they are almost invisible.

Since all of my track is already in place, I've gone with an approach closer to Marty's. I keep the "eye" of the 027 uncoupler, but do paint it black to tone it down. I find the effect to be rather pleasant, and makes it easier to spot when switching. Here's a finished one.

This is how I start, by cutting away the center rail and two ties.

These still need paint and ballast.

Elliot, nice job.

Is there any type of electro magnet for this application that we could buy from Digi-Key or someplace?  Could take a long time to get old UCS tracks at train shows for a big layout.

Bill

That's a great idea John, thanks for sharing it!

Paul

Now that is cool John !    thank you  now I need them for Kadee's.      Clem

Clem, I was going to ask about a hour ago, but didn't want to feel like a fool. Do those work on Kadee's?

John thanks for sharing Harry's very inventive way of disguising the uncoupler.  I've seen approaches like Marty's and Elliot's and thought those were very good but Harry's approach makes them nearly invisible.

Thank you, Harry Henning, for a great idea and GRJohn for sharing it with clear explanations and photos.

mike g. posted:

Clem, I was going to ask about a hour ago, but didn't want to feel like a fool. Do those work on Kadee's?I've been

Mike, I don't think they will.. I've been 'playing around' with the regular uncouplers and they won't work with Kadees.. Kadees need to be moved to the side to uncouple.. If two of these can be fitted side by side, in between the rails, that 'should' work.. I'm going to experiment with that idea at some point.. Maybe someone else already has.. In theory it would work..

You could modify it to work with Kadees but you would need at least 1 of them on each side of the center rail. Having just one in the center won't pull the Kadees to the side to open them. For yard tracks your better off using super magnets and burying them in the ballast like was shown in another thread some time back.

Thanks for the information guy's. I was just wondering.

I have also used the magnets from the old 6019 uncouple tracks.    Cut out the magnet and splice it into my O-31 tubular track.  This magnet is on the mainline track.  The switch is the spur that goes to my 97 coal elevator.

I have also spliced in the control rails.  Here is the set up I have at my 97 Coal Elevator.   The uncouple magnet is placed before the control rails.  This way I can uncouple the dump car and leave it in position for unloading.

Still need to ballast the track.   Have been working on this area of my layout for the past few months.

Steve

Great idea!  This is an issue that has been holding up progress here for a while.

Marty Fitzhenry posted:

Elliot, nice job.

Thanks Marty. We've recently gone into mass production on these. The layout will have 74 magnets under the current plan. As operations commence, needs for additional magnets may be discovered.

That's a really neat idea. Makes then nearly invisible. Thanks for posting and thanks to Harry for coming up with the idea. Lots of very innovative folks around here with some great ideas. 

I know one won't work, and not sure if there is enough room for two side by side. or does it have to be longer not just a post. I want to use them on mainline so on/off switch is better. Oh well at least the Kadee magnets look like a small grade crossing.

Steve24944 posted:

I have also used the magnets from the old 6019 uncouple tracks.    Cut out the magnet and splice it into my O-31 tubular track.  This magnet is on the mainline track.  The switch is the spur that goes to my 97 coal elevator.

 

I have also spliced in the control rails.  Here is the set up I have at my 97 Coal Elevator.   The uncouple magnet is placed before the control rails.  This way I can uncouple the dump car and leave it in position for unloading.

 

 

Still need to ballast the track.   Have been working on this area of my layout for the past few months.

Steve

I like what you did with the coal loader.  Any info on this project?

Don

Don   -  Here is a link to a Forum Thread about 97 coal elevators.   My pictures are towards the bottom of the post.

Steve

https://ogrforum.com/t...86#24378330517873886

Glad you folks liked it, I was quite impressed when Harry came up with it, and I thought it was worthy of sharing.  You can tell that Harry spends a lot of time thinking about trains.   I know many people have commented on how ugly they are undisguised.

As for lengthening the magnetic core affecting the operation, I can't honestly say, though I'd say that a bit more length probably wouldn't have a significant effect.  The best way to find out is to do a trial run and see what your results are.

EXCELLENT idea!  In the file for the new layout.

Thanks!

ogaugenut posted:

Is there any type of electro magnet for this application that we could buy from Digi-Key or someplace?  Could take a long time to get old UCS tracks at train shows for a big layout.

Bill

All really nice ideas!

I'll ask a REALLY basic question though....along the lines of Bill's question above...

Has anyone determined how many windings of magnet wire are on one of the Lionel cores?  

If not, I may sacrifice one to get the answer.

The reason I ask is that, seeing how simple and obscure John/Harry's idea is, it shouldn't be that hard to make electromagnet cores ourselves.  How hard could it be to come up with a supply of inexpensive spools? (a 3D molding '101' project??)  Magnet wire can be purchased in bulk.  1/4" dia. steel pegs?.....easy to come by.  A homemade winder/counter?.....why you could probably crank out a basic coil in a few minutes......without all the scrounging and salvaging.

OTOH, not taking away anything from the recycling aspects of their idea.  Lord knows there are a bazillion rusty, useless UCS relics around........something else to keep a sharp eye out for at the shows, eh what?  (Oh, good grief!  Now I've done it!......the price of junk is sure to skyrocket!)

KD

You're right, I'm sure it would be child's play to totally roll your own, there can't be that many windings on that coil.

If you want a coil form, consider plastic sewing machine bobbins, they're cheap and readily available.

 25 Pcs/Set Clear Bobbin Home Sewing Machine Plastic Spools Thread Brother Singer, $.99 or 4 cents each.

eBay: 401234325488

Last year, I had a button stick with a car directly over it and here is what I was greeted with when I came back from supper.  These things have a lot wire in the coil.

+ John, back in December 1991 in OGR run 120 I first showed my uncoupling magnet system and many of my friends followed what I did.  Run 120 was my first OGR cover story.  I was shocked when Fred Dole informed me he was going to put the story in word for word without having to edit a word.  I love what you did and all the guys.  I am still very happy these work great today as they did many years ago.   York was good to me for finding the parts needed.

Well I guess I have yet one more item to look for at York in April.

Thanks for sharing!

-Greg

Marty, an electric drill and a big spool of magnet wire.

John

Your Bobbin idea - a bobbin winder on a sewing machine.

Bill