I saw no less than 3 methods of uncoupling remotely - the one you feature in the video, which I believe is http://dccuncoupling.com/, the LaserActive system (http://www.unionvilledepot.com/laseractivesystem.php) which was new enough that it doesn't appear that the uncoupling feature is on their website yet, and Kadee, which is introducing a new R/C control system to control pretty much anything. They've built a small enough servo ot fit inside a G scale coupler draft gear - and are working on getting it down to HO. They've also got a more normal sized servo and a radio controlled relay system that they should have in production in a couple of months. Oddly, what they do have isn't on their website yet either. 

Hi Jeff,

Kadee told me the radio controlled servo uncoupler is in production. The  coupler with the servo inside the draft gear is awesome.They told me the same thing, that they are working on  the HO scale coupler.

Rob Teed

And It's coming...in force!!

No more sticks, no more magnets, no more TOUCHING the railroad!  Which means now we can encase it with plexiglass and really protect it well from dust!  And we can operate the model railroad from anywhere in the room, or anywhere from within the building, or...anywhere in the world, provided the railroad has the infrastructure to support it!

...I found the conversation to be most...what's the word, entertaining?  haha...

It is neat... I get it, I think. But is it practical? I have enough troubles getting my "normal" couplers to work flawlessly on either end of my boxcars. Having not one but two electronic Rube Goldberg machines stuffed into the equation would drive me mad. Or at least "madder".

It is, however, these slightly off kilter folks that oft times drive the hobby forward and I wish them nothing but good luck in their pursuits, personally I think they will need it.

my biggest concern; how does it work on tight radius curved industrial sidings. I've always found that it is not the coupling or uncoupling that is the problem but getting the couplers to line up in the first place.

Always keeping an eye on the future, even if it is looking over my shoulder,

It amazes me that people don't see the limitations and difficulties in things like this.  Someone explain to me how you will fit this into an empty flatcar in HO.  And how are we going to determine the address of boxcar ATSF 123456 so that we can distinguish its coupler decoder from the 400 other boxcars on the layout.  And I would like to know how people who begrudge the cost of a used blue box Athearn car will come up with the money to pay for decoders and servos that cost 10 times more than the car for everything in their fleet.  Yep, it's a no brainer all right.

It's a lovely concept, but I just cannot fathom how this will be practical.  I will be most delighted if my sober appraisal proves pessimistic.

Nice, but maybe the government could give each of us a subsidy to convert all our cars and hire a full-time repair facilitator for our railroads. I appreciate technology; however, here is another reason that the hobby isn't attracting too many "newbies" - - the costs keep spiraling out of control and reach of the "average Joe." 

I look forward to operating the old fashioned way as there comes a point where you have to say "enough is enough."

Yeah, there's still some work to do on the coupling mechanism.

The laseractive guy, though, has intrigued me.  What an elegant solution:  just point a laser pencil at the device you want to activate!   

Do these two technologies together represent a real threat to DCC?

Tom Leonard

First off, keep in mind that anything new will have issues.  I have read (I am not that old) that when the first KDs came out folks said they would never work. And I am old enough that I remember having a KD on one end of a car and a horn hook on the other as the cost of the KDs was to much to change all the cars over. 

So I am sure this tech will get better simpler and cheaper as the years go by.

As to how to make it work, that depends on what you want to do with it.

For instance in the area I model of the C&O in the 1940's often times they had 2 cabooses one on the end and one behind the engine. On top of that most everything is large cuts of hoppers.  So If i put one of these in each caboose. I could handle most of the switching this way.  And what little I can't handle this way will mostly work with either delayed uncoupling, or is up front where I can reach it vs way in the back hidden behind or under a coal tipple.

-Doug M

David,

I think its just this type of technology that will attract newbies. These younger kids are used to using computers control things. I bet they would love to be able to run their railroad from anywhere in the world. Probably sit in class and do switching moves rather then pay attention to the teacher. As far as cost go, nobody has to use any of this technology. There is still DC and DCC isnt that expensive anymore. I expect cost of the uncouplers to come down just as it has with dcc.

Rob Teed

I'm in the same camp as Jurgen on this one.  The concept is pretty sweet and would, as some have said, eliminate the need to touch the layout... except for when these couplers fail and derail a train.  As someone who is looking into upgrading to all Sergent scale couplers, the idea of retrofitting servos and magnetic couplers (KD style) in my fleet seems like regression.  The technology is out there and, at some point, someone will come up with the solution but, until then, I'll stick to manually uncoupling.