I've been searching for several years for a good way to uncouple cars on my N-scale layouts. I've tried the Rix tool, jeweler's screwdrivers and bamboo skewers inserted into the pair of couplers but nothing works really well and some cars are so resistant that they actually derail during the process. The problem occurs with all brands of couplers. I don't want to use magnetic uncouplers in the track because I do a lot of switching and the uncouplers would always be in the wrong places. 

Any ideas? What works for you?

-- Tom

CITY OF INDUSTRY LAYOUT Project 02-12

Here is my second project, and it is a departure from my previous plan to begin design on the MP/TP operations in New Orleans, namely the Race St. Yard, and Annunciation St. Passenger Terminal, with some of the surrounding industry which the railroad served, i am still in the very rough planning stage for it still gathering information and maps and photographs of the area for the time period during the war and just afterward, pre-NOUPT era.

I haven't posted many new photos lately, but that's not because things aren't happening.  There's more scenery underway, some new track,more structures...

Here are a couple photos from a recent operating session showing a train order meet executed by the road crews of an eastbound manifest and westbound priority pig train at Cedar.  Both trains have UP pool power.  These aren't great shots, but provide views most of you haven't seen showing the big picture of the area.