Uploaded August 2023 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
While permanent magnets placed under the track are excellent uncoupling choices for many model railroads there are instances where they are less than desirable. For example on a busy mainline in front of a yard or station cars can unexpectedly uncouple if they bunch up or lose tension. In those locations I prefer to use a #309 electromagnetic uncoupler made by KD. These are only activated when a button is pushed, eliminating the chances of unplanned and unwanted uncoupling. In this video I'll show you how the KD kit goes together and how to install one on an HO scale layout. In a followup video I'll show how to power and control them. These are available for HO/OO, HON3, and O scale and can be viewed on the kadee.com website. You should be able to order them from a Walthers dealer or dealers who sell Kadee products.
Chapters
0:00 Intro
1:14 Why use an electromagnet
2:50 KD Trivia
3:28 What's in the kit
7:01 Assembling the parts
13:00 Cutting a hole
17:20 Preparing the roadbed
20:01 Mounting the electromagnet
23:01 Wrapup
While permanent magnets placed under the track are excellent uncoupling choices for many model railroads there are instances where they are less than desirable. For example on a busy mainline in front of a yard or station cars can unexpectedly uncouple if they bunch up or lose tension. In those locations I prefer to use a #309 electromagnetic uncoupler made by KD. These are only activated when a button is pushed, eliminating the chances of unplanned and unwanted uncoupling. In this video I'll show you how the KD kit goes together and how to install one on an HO scale layout. In a followup video I'll show how to power and control them. These are available for HO/OO, HON3, and O scale and can be viewed on the kadee.com website. You should be able to order them from a Walthers dealer or dealers who sell Kadee products.
Chapters
0:00 Intro
1:14 Why use an electromagnet
2:50 KD Trivia
3:28 What's in the kit
7:01 Assembling the parts
13:00 Cutting a hole
17:20 Preparing the roadbed
20:01 Mounting the electromagnet
23:01 Wrapup
