The construction on the TS&G has gotten to the point where I can start moving some cars around. I began researching switching operations a couple of months ago and began putting together a car card  and switch list system. Although I use my PC to make the car cards, waybills and switch list forms, I'm not using any type of software to generate the lists. I'm trying to keep everything manual. I think I understand how the car card, waybill and switch list system works. My questions though are on actual operations.

I hope this isn't a duplicate posting; I tried to submit it last week but it doesn't appear to have shown up.

I need a reliable way to uncouple cars on my N scale switching layout. The tracks are close together and the buildings are densely spaced.

I've tried the Rix tool, jeweler's screwdrivers and bamboo skewers, but nothing works as well as it should. Surely, somebody makes a device that will uncouple cars reliably without derailing them or jamming the couplers. 

Suggestions? Please?

-- Tom

Whilst we all ponder the corporate identity, I have had to move on with other things. Actually, I still have to get hold of the laser decal sheets I need so I can't go forward on the loco front for now, anyway.

I am in the process of planning for the industries that are to be in the town. This has two aspects.

1. Analyse the freight cars that I have to see if
     a) I have the right mix of cars and
     b) that I have some industries for them all to serve.

This N Gauge Layout is part of Dixie Rails in the Atlanta GA area. This is the best running N gauge layout I have ever operated on.  It is DCC and not once the whole night that we ran 50 trains did we have one problem due to track of electrical connections.  The owner John Wilson has come up with a system of moving blocks of cars with markers on top that are easy to read for all of us who do not see numbers on N scale cars well.
http://m.youtube.com/?reload=3&rdm=mc3h053tl#/watch?feature=m-ch-vid&v=l...