I have been looking for a coupling system that will allow hands free shunting on a N Gauge layout for several years. This has been without success until I walked into our local hardware shop yesterday. I have previously, looked at B&B, DG and even Greenwich couplings, which are intended for OO narrow gauge. When in the local hardware shop I realised that a magnet sold for general applications could be the solution to my quest.

The solution was under my noise all the time, and was found in the Peco catalogue. I have used the standard Elsie couplings and the Coupler Lift Arms. The breakthrough is the use of a moveable magnet, allowing uncoupling to take place anywhere within a desired area and the realisation that the lift arms can be fitted on one end of a vehicle. When building a shunting layout, like an inglenook, this is not a problem. I have found a magnet which is sufficiently strong to act through a single piece of 5mm plywood, which I use for the trackbed of my layouts.

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There is the added bonus, of being able to using the same magnet, to hold a wagon in place when buffering up, because of the steel weight under the Peco wagons. On the prototype the brakes are left on until the coupling is complete.

The first photograph show that there is no modification to the track required. The second photograph shows the reverse of the baseboard. The strip of wood across the layout is there to prevent the movement of the magnet damaging the wiring. The only extra consideration required is the careful design of the wiring, to keep the shunting area clear of wires.

Julie