Fixed couplers with uncoupling track

Bump for help.

Assuming that I'm reading it correctly, the fixed coupler shouldn't be an issue. Only one working coupler is all that's needed for coupling and uncoupling.

I'd just be sure that there is ample straight track on either end of the uncoupler sections so the couplers are aligned straight at each other as they join. 

You may also need to power the uncoupler sections with accessory power as full track power might damage the magnets if they are energized for any length of time.

The LC and LC+ Engine knuckles are NOT actuated by an STC, RCS, UCS, 1019,  6019 or similar special tract sections - they are only operated remotely by a remote (physical or software) if equipped. The knuckle design only requires one open/operational knuckle and a fairly straight shot. You can use an uncoupling track to open the knuckles. If the footprint of the uncoupler track matters and you are not using coil operated knuckles, your best and most cost effective bet is to locate these O-27 track sections and cut them to size. You can remove the O-27 pins and use O pins in the rails and it will match right up with O track just fine.

bmoran4 posted:

The LC and LC+ Engine knuckles are NOT actuated by an STC, RCS, UCS, 1019,  6019 or similar special tract sections - they are only operated remotely by a remote (physical or software) if equipped. The knuckle design only requires one open/operational knuckle and a fairly straight shot. You can use an uncoupling track to open the knuckles. If the footprint of the uncoupler track matters and you are not using coil operated knuckles, your best and most cost effective bet is to locate these O-27 track sections and cut them to size. You can remove the O-27 pins and use O pins in the rails and it will match right up with O track just fine.

 

Thanks.  Ideally I'd get a LC+ so I could uncouple it from the rest of the consist, but I might be looking at a low end LC (for now) with a fixed coupler. As long as those uncoupling tracks work well,  I should be in business. 

Deuce its worth the money to get the LC+.  The LC run good at low and high speed.  But the LC+ engines I have are AMAZING!  

Jim 

Deuce posted:

... I want to avoid having the "Hand of God" or the "Stick of God"

OK, how about a good old Deus ex Machina??? Sorry... couldn't resist.   

carsntrains posted:

Deuce its worth the money to get the LC+.  The LC run good at low and high speed.  But the LC+ engines I have are AMAZING!  

Jim 

Apples55 posted:

Deuce posted:

... I want to avoid having the "Hand of God" or the "Stick of God"

OK, how about a good old Deus ex Machina??? Sorry... couldn't resist.   

Jim,

Yeah, I figure they are. If I can't get an LC for half the price of an LC+ (and I'm hitting eBay pretty hard right now), I'll probably splurge for the LC+. Not sure I'm going to like a 14.5" beast doing switching work on my small O27 looped track, though it'll be nice to have around when I expand in the future and have a lot more room to play with.

Paul,

I thought those uncoupling buttons were the Deus ex Machina? Right now as it were (if those uncoupler tracks don't work as planned), the "God the Father" hand would be much preferable to the "God the Son" hand ... though it'd be nice to have the "Finger of the Son" press the decoupling button. 

Deuce posted:

carsntrains posted:

Deuce its worth the money to get the LC+.  The LC run good at low and high speed.  But the LC+ engines I have are AMAZING!  

Jim 

Apples55 posted:

Deuce posted:

... I want to avoid having the "Hand of God" or the "Stick of God"

OK, how about a good old Deus ex Machina??? Sorry... couldn't resist.   

Jim,

Yeah, I figure they are. If I can't get an LC for half the price of an LC+ (and I'm hitting eBay pretty hard right now), I'll probably splurge for the LC+. Not sure I'm going to like a 14.5" beast doing switching work on my small O27 looped track, though it'll be nice to have around when I expand in the future and have a lot more room to play with.

Paul,

I thought those uncoupling buttons were the Deus ex Machina? Right now as it were (if those uncoupler tracks don't work as planned), the "God the Father" hand would be much preferable to the "God the Son" hand ... though it'd be nice to have the "Finger of the Son" press the decoupling button. 

Trainworld had a SMOKIN price on the SW7 (NW2) in LC+ and the pacific LC+ not long ago.  I think they still do!!  

Jim 

If I'm being honest, I need the uncoupling track because I may need - with the switching puzzle - to uncouple different cars from each other. In which case, any train will do. I'd prefer to go LC or LC+ because working the throttle is easier from the remote (for me and my son) than from the transformer, but since I'll need the uncoupling track ... our Thomas the Train LC (purchased from Kohl's online Christmas deep discount sale) fits the bill in terms of size. So I really should suck it up and just use him. 

On the other hand, Thomas is for my son, and I -personally- don't have a LC or LC+ train.

Deuce yep I got an uncoupling track to try out myself..  would be nice to be able to split up trains without the sky crane stepping in! 

Jim 

carsntrains posted:

Deuce yep I got an uncoupling track to try out myself..  would be nice to be able to split up trains without the sky crane stepping in! 

Jim 

The Inglenook Switch Shunting puzzle requires three of them (plus I have another siding on the opposite side of the track) so ideally I'll have four uncoupling tracks on the O27 alone.  The FT uncoupling tracks are a whole nother kettle of fish (I read somewhere that they should really be run on accessory power?).

All of the uncouplers should be on ACC power. If you have a conventional engine stopped on the track then you would still need voltage to power the UCS.

Deuce posted:

carsntrains posted:

Deuce its worth the money to get the LC+.  The LC run good at low and high speed.  But the LC+ engines I have are AMAZING!  

Jim 

Apples55 posted:

Deuce posted:

... I want to avoid having the "Hand of God" or the "Stick of God"

OK, how about a good old Deus ex Machina??? Sorry... couldn't resist.   

I thought those uncoupling buttons were the Deus ex Machina? Right now as it were (if those uncoupler tracks don't work as planned), the "God the Father" hand would be much preferable to the "God the Son" hand ... though it'd be nice to have the "Finger of the Son" press the decoupling button. 

What you really have to be concerned about is the Spirit... Holy or otherwise. The NTSB doesn't take kindly to drinking and driving trains.

RSJB18 posted:

All of the uncouplers should be on ACC power. If you have a conventional engine stopped on the track then you would still need voltage to power the UCS.

Which is another reason why I want a LC/LC+ engine for the shunting puzzle (constant voltage). Does anyone have a tutorial on how to wire up O27 uncouplers to accessory power? I know how to wire power to the whole shunt, but only wiring one section of track to one transformer ...  powering the track both before and past it off a different transformer is beyond my current paygrade.

All this electrical talk is going to be what partially delays my huge expansion.

ETA: All this talk about "in phase".  Can I power the track with a CW80 using track power, while using the CW80 accessory terminals to run the uncouplers (and switches) ... and not have to worry about getting a pair of transformers "in phase"?

ETAA: Found this, which should help. https://lionelllc.wordpress.co...hasing-transformers/ 

Deuce posted:

RSJB18 posted:

All of the uncouplers should be on ACC power. If you have a conventional engine stopped on the track then you would still need voltage to power the UCS.

Which is another reason why I want a LC/LC+ engine for the shunting puzzle (constant voltage). Does anyone have a tutorial on how to wire up O27 uncouplers to accessory power? I know how to wire power to the whole shunt, but only wiring one section of track to one transformer ...  powering the track both before and past it off a different transformer is beyond my current paygrade.

All this electrical talk is going to be what partially delays my huge expansion.

ETA: All this talk about "in phase".  Can I power the track with a CW80 using track power, while using the CW80 accessory terminals to run the uncouplers (and switches) ... and not have to worry about getting a pair of transformers "in phase"?

ETAA: Found this, which should help. https://lionelllc.wordpress.co...hasing-transformers/ 

It is easy - simply take disconnect the wire from the 3rd terminal (Left to right) and instead connect that wire to your accessory power source.

In the case of a single CW80, the accessory and track power terminals are already in phase and already have a common ground (nothing to do!). Therefore, you only need to add a wire from the accessory red terminal to the controller wire liberated earlier. The 3rd terminal will remain unused (or if you want to get creative, the 1st and 3rd terminals can be used as a "hidden" track power connector).