Switching in N scale

[steamhostler]

I am wondering how easy it is to do prototype switching in N scale.
Meaning can you have a layout based only switching industries.
How reliable are the couplers, cars and motive power? Can you do most switching by using uncoupling picks?
Thanks
Dave

[superchief]

I use 6" skewers to uncouple cars, magnets in hard to reach areas, I would only use Mirco trains couplers for switching. Gordon

[MichaelWinicki]

With carefully laid track, properly weighted cars, locomotives that smoothly accelerate and knuckle couplers (I have both MT's and Accumates) and you can have fun and trouble-free switching. 

I don't rely on magnetic uncoupling but use "Rix Picks"... luv'em they work great, better than bamboo skewer's IMO.

[MVW]

I asked the same question a couple years ago, before I made the switch to N. I was enticed by the scale, but was afraid the engines wouldn't run smoothly, the couplers wouldn't work dependably, the cars would be falling off the track ...

HA!

There are great-running engines (and many affordably priced), MTL and Accumate couplers work great (with a few minor exceptions), and with well-laid track and decent rolling stock you get excellent performance.

I use T pins for uncoupling, although I think I'll be adding a couple magnets in hard-to-reach places.

Come on in! The water's fine! Operation is my favorite aspect of model railroading, and N scale is not lacking in this regard.

Jim

[kalbert]

There are lots of good examples of switching layouts in N. Check out M.C. Fugiwara's projects, and there are others. Generally speaking there are few reliability problems as long as you have decent clean trackwork and decent clean engines. Most couplers work reliably, and just about any locomotive built in about the last 20-25 years is going to give reliable operation. Some better than others but starting with about the atlas/kato rs and gp units reliability stopped being a big issue. I also use picks for uncoupling, but am thinking I'd like to try magnets.

[esa123]

You can definitely switch in N scale. In fact, the length of car cuts can actually provide some more realistic slack effects vs. HO. I usually add more weight (via BB's) then the NMRA recommendations to help with coupling as it prevents the cars from being "pushed back" when coupling.

Erik

[Lemosteam]

On my first layout back in the 80's, a roundy round with two large yards, I challenged myself to never touch the cars or engines for switching.  But that was only after I discovered MT.  I used MT magnets and I had about 15 in the yards.  I had several runaround crossovers in the yard.  I would run small steam (unmodified except for adding couplers, Atlas 0-4-0, Minitrix 0-6-0 and RS units) to do all my switching.

This quickly became my favorite aspect of N Scale as I had a lot of fun building trains and then taking them out of the yards onto the mains.  I found the MT couplers and magnets to be very reliable in this aspect.

[kc9jts]

With carefully laid track, properly weighted cars, locomotives that smoothly accelerate and knuckle couplers (I have both MT's and Accumates) and you can have fun and trouble-free switching. 

I don't rely on magnetic uncoupling but use "Rix Picks"... luv'em they work great, better than bamboo skewer's IMO.

+1

[Bendtracker1]

I don't rely on magnetic uncoupling but use "Rix Picks"... luv'em they work great, better than bamboo skewer's IMO.

Michael,
On a side note, I've been using the Rix Picks for the last couple of years as well.  After seeing the videos that Daryl posted of his switching on the Geneva sub.  I noticed him using the skewers so the last time I went to lunch at the local Chinese place, I grabbed a couple of sets of Chop Sticks.

I sanded them down to smaller point and they worked..... OK.  Then I sanded two flat areas opposite of each other on the point and they seem to work better than just being round.
We're going to give them the fire test tonight.

[Rossford Yard]

Taking the cotton off the end of those micro brushes also works for uncouplers.  Most of the guys I know are going to that and away from ramps.  First, they look bad, and second, you can't have them everywhere you want them.  Third, especially with non MT couplers, there are probably more troubles with mainline derailments from dragging coupler pins than anything.

Weights help, although with the conditons listed next, I have done some good switching without them.  Gentle downhill grades on your switch leads help, and I do recommend keeping ladders simple, and try to avoid having your engine pushing cuts of cars around tight turns, as it tends to push the first car off the track.  Also, in general, there may be a practical limit to those long cuts of cars.  It seems like problems multiply after 15-20 cars when pushing.

Short version, do everything right, be practical and it works!

[kalbert]

Does Rix make their magnetic uncoupling tool for N or is it only HO sized?

http://rixproducts.com/6280014.htm

[Philip H]

The magnetic version is, so far as I know, only sized for HO.  I think it would be easy to duplicate in N scale - just get some Evergreen square tube that's about as wide as the boxcar gap and some self adhesive magnets form the craft store.

[peteski]

I am wondering how easy it is to do prototype switching in N scale.
Meaning can you have a layout based only switching industries.
How reliable are the couplers, cars and motive power? Can you do most switching by using uncoupling picks?
Thanks
Dave

Dave,
N scale, just like other scales can be very reliable and a pleasure to operate, or it could be a nightmare!

Just like in any scale (but slightly more so in N scale), the reliability factor is directly related to how fastidious the layout owner is.  If the layout has a very smooth trackwork, solid electrical wiring and the track and locomotive wheels are all kept clean then it will be reliable in operation.  Then there is also the question of the quality of the models. Again, just as with other scales, there are better and not so good models out there. But with some research, the modeler can easily select the better running model for their layout. Being a bit electrically and mechanically inclined also helps as that allows one to do some fine-tunning of the locos.

Most N scale manufacturers (of US prototypes) include some sort of knuckle coupler. All the various brands are compatible (more or less). I'm partial to Micro Trains couplers (N scale iteration of the Kadee H0 couplers) but I use other brands too.  Bamboo skewers work perfectly well fo uncoupling N scale knuckle coupler and Rix also makes a manua uncoupling tool which works just like the skewers.  Of course, since N scale is about 50% smaller than H0, you need to be a little more gentle while uncoupling. But it really isn't that different then H0 (I operated on N, H0 and O scale layouts).

If you happen to live in (or visit) the New England area, I could invite you to a very well running (DCC controlled) N scale layout, with lots of switching opportunities. 

[skytop35]

In the spirit of the classic movie "Treasure of the Sierra Madre"

"Switching?, switching? We don't have to show you any stinking switching!" 

All levity aside, yes, switching is very doable in N scale.

[coosvalley]

The layout in the above photo is why I switched to N scale......and the switching can be just as good as HO.......