I received this piece a few years ago and have no idea what it is or how to use it or where to put the wires. Anyone know? sorry about that [ October 13, 2005, 07:02 AM: Message edited by: cripp12 ]
Maybe the electric switch, cause you need like an Atlas switch control for it. And, if you'r talkin' about the auto-rack car carrier, you need an engine to pull it?!
Hey, I looked at your pics at RailImages and are you talkin' about those last couple pics? Cause that looks like some kind'a un-coupler from a long time ago! It might work with Micro-Trains couplers, but I wouldn't trust that wiring! Ebay it or give it to a museum?
I think I have one somewhere. In theory the little ramp raises when the electrical solenoid is energized. The Rapido couplers had a little pin sticking down on one side that it was supposed to push up on to uncouple it from the other coupler. Some of the problems were that the pins from each manufacturer were different heights, the springs did not allow the coupler to lift completely over the other coupler. (when coupling one coupler could be forced down so the one going up did not have to go as high) I found it usually just threw a car off the tracks.
Thanks and sorry about the mixup. I have the slowest dialup and try to do it manually instead of cut and paste. What I take from this is that this part is useless? [ October 13, 2005, 07:28 AM: Message edited by: cripp12 ]
I haven't seen one of these before but I don't think it is a Rapido Uncoupling Ramp.... the ramp should be centered on the track gauge and not offset. It appears to be a flange contact detector... from the photo it looks like there are springy contacts which depress with wheel flange pressure and make a circuit. The switch machine coil-looking device might be a relay or electronics to signal the presence of a train. We wouldn't have seen them here because the North American market was not as interested in automatic train control and signaling as much as our European counterparts. It looks like a Roco, Casidio or Rivarossi track piece. I just saw the identical piece within the last few days in a layout picture but don't remember where. Charlie Vlk
My uncoupler has the ramp only on one side, not centered and was supposed to lift only one coupler. However it is black plastic and not shiny metal. So your theory about a train detector contact could be correct.
Previous posts have it correct. I haven't seen one in 25 years. Tried to use it on my first layout--utterly useless. Modified it for a higher lift. Still useless. I believe it's a solenoid, so it you press the control button too long, you'll get a nice puff of smoke unless you use a capacitor deischarge power supply.
