How to couple a car on a small runaround?

v_z_gK_Z_289333312 Dec 11, 2018

  1. v_z_gK_Z_289333312

    v_z_gK_Z_289333312 TrainBoard Member

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    I have a really small runaround - enough for a locomotive to run around a 40' wagon.

    What is the best way ya'll have found to couple up against the wagon? Often the locomotive has to approach the wagon on a curve because of the runaround, and the couplers don't meet up.

    Is it best to just push the car with the locomotive until it's on a straight section, and the couplers can straighten out?
     
  2. acptulsa

    acptulsa TrainBoard Member

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    No, it's best to provide the straight track for parking and let the locomotive run solo through the curved leg of the switches.

    Failing that, whatever you can make work is fine with all of us!
     
  3. v_z_gK_Z_289333312

    v_z_gK_Z_289333312 TrainBoard Member

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    Hmm. Track plans I have seen for the classic timesaver have a runaround where the top of the runaround only has room for one car.

    In that case, surely the locomotive can't have space to straighten out when approaching that car off the curve of the runaround.

    Or am I looking at this wrong?
     
    Last edited: Dec 11, 2018
  4. acptulsa

    acptulsa TrainBoard Member

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    So, why park a car on the top of the runaround and run around it on the bottom track?

    Why not park a car on the bottom of the runaround and run around it on the top track?

    Are you parking cars on both the top and the bottom of the runaround? Because if you're only parking cars there to run around them, you can park them on the straight side.

    Right?
     
  5. v_z_gK_Z_289333312

    v_z_gK_Z_289333312 TrainBoard Member

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    Good point. I think my issue is I don't have a traditional runaround. I have something made from all left turns:

    ...==========...
    ...../...../....
    ..../...../.....
    ...==========...
     
  6. acptulsa

    acptulsa TrainBoard Member

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    Uncoupling on curves isn't difficult.

    When you want to uncouple from the west end of a car and couple to the east end, use the north track. When you want to uncouple from the east end of a car and couple to the west end, use the south track.
     
  7. v_z_gK_Z_289333312

    v_z_gK_Z_289333312 TrainBoard Member

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    Good point. I think this will work. :)

    Thanks.
     

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