Miniature railroad uncoupling apparatus

A portable uncoupling apparatus for use with a miniature railroad system comprising:

• a self locating base made of a nonconducting material having a width slightly less than the distance between the rail attachments of the track of said system and having at least one notch in its sides whereby the base fits snugly between rail attachments which fasten the rails to the base placed in curved sections of track as well as straight sections;
• and
• a resilient strap having a width substantially half the distance between two rails in the system and being formed to provide a raised portion along its length and inclines forming ramps on either side of the highest point of the raised portion, said strap being fixedly attached to the self locating base on one side of the raised portion and free to move on the other side whereby the strap may be depressed towards the base without buckling, said strap being oriented substantially parallel to the rails when the base is installed in the track, said strap also being located to one side of the base whereby the strap lifts only the lift pin of one of two engaged couplers between miniature railroad cars, said strap further extending over the centerline between the rails thereby contacting axles of miniature railroad cars below their center of mass and preventing derailing, and said strap having adequate stiffness to raise one of two vertical lift pins, but sufficient flexibility to depress under the weight of the miniature railroad car axles passing over the uncoupling apparatus.