Hi Eino

In my opinion, the best is to use a K83. You have multiple possibilities
- when the loco is precisely on the uncoupling track, send a normal activation. Most of times, this will be enough PROVIDED the coupler is not pulling the train (Coupling slack is needed.
- writing a small XML program so activate the uncoupler 2 or 3 times. Activation while the loco is slowly running backwards
- when programming the 60832 to long durations, above 500 mS, it will activate in short bursts.

Using an Uncoupler with a K84 is:
- perfectly possible and safe because they have a thermal protection (cuts by itself when getting hot)
- long activation of uncouplers does not serve any purpose and may interfere with sliders. It is less effective than a small burst of short activation

Here is a video showing loco-specific uncouplings called by XML but can also be traggered by the event recorder if you prefer


What is critical is the location of the sensor starting the uncoupling process
If the used sensor belongs to a block, this will allow to select the appropriate action (Condition loco xyz activates Action xyz uncoupling)
The best is to use a normal block sensor (ENTER or IN) to start the XML program which waits for another decoupler-specific sensor, (precisely located one loco length away from the uncoupler) sensor to activate it. Works every time.
Cheers
Jean

Hi Jean,

Here's a picture I try to explain what I'm planning: https://drive.google.com...b84SN8H/view?usp=sharing

Decoder selection is quite clear, I would go with K83.

New questions rise though. There is a little elevation on the yard track towards the bumper. This is only for allowing the wagons to roll off the uncoupled loco-A and couple with different loco-B as explained in the picture above. However after looking at your video, there seems to be no issues with coupling new loco with relex on a flat track... This is really strange to me because not all relex couplers I have, seem to couple easily. Some require several push attempts. Are my couplers defected or have you just found the perfect matches that always work?

Also, if relex couplers need slack, how would it ever work if the wagons are pulling downhill while still coupled to loco-A... On your video this seems to work though on the 3-way switch classification...

The downhill plan is because some trains may be shorter and in my picture the loco-B that is stopped in short block #1, would not be able to couple with the wagons if they are too far away, so the plan is to let the wagons roll to the loco. I actually don't like this. Is there a way I could handle variable length trains and let the loco-B drive to the wagonos?


Goofy, yes, that's why I like the K83 solution better. It will be very cheap.

Thank you!

-Eino

Thanks Jean,

Ok so I’ll at least make sure that the couplings I know are going to be uncoupled with the track, have to be of same type and in perfect shape. I ordered the 7001 aligner tool.

About the XML, I’ve yet to get to know Rocrails implementation, but can you give me an concept of what the file should include? On an abstract level I guest precision moving the loco and triggering the 83 decoder several times?

-Eino

Looks good!

There are things like sleep and while -loops in the script. Apparently the script is run in it’s own Thread by the underlying operating system, so I assume this is asynchronous and everything else going on in Rocrail does not halt? (well you wouldn’t have that on your layout, so a bit dumb question ).

This inertia control is a new term for me… is it loco decoder specific or is this Rocrail thing for the train weight simulation)?

Luckily I was a software architect for 12 years before completely chaning my profession to something else… I think this will take my small layout to a whole different level in terms of interesting action on the tracks.

Thanks for the example, I wil also share what I come up with, when I get there.

-Eino

Hi,

Thank uou Jean, I've now managed to build several different uncoupling / coupling operations with the XML actions. It's fantasti!

I'll post a YouTube video someday.

-Eino

Hi Mark,
I'm planning on creating a video of this, even a tutorial and it will be in english (or a series "how I built my layout", though my layout is still under construction)! Thanks to Jean and Martti!

However, the (un)coupling mechanism most likely will not matter that much, wheter it is uncoupler track or telex... I don't have telex myself, but I guess precission is even more important there. However my short experience on precission work with Rocrail has shown, that it can be super precise.

So you are running Rocrail, right?

-Eino