Lashing Two Power Locos

[Anonymous]

Has anyone ever tried to lash up two powered locomotives? With most diesel engines having two motors, adding another one with it would have four-motor power, which would more than plenty for pulling lots of cars without too much difficulty.

Not sure if it would put a strain on the transformer, and I know that the second engine would have to be locked in the same direction the lead engine is. Course only problem is when you would need to back or something like that.

Chris

[thatboy37]

yes i have done the lash up and yes it requires more power from the transformer. so to say that i think it would put more strain on the transformer.but i dont get what you are saying or trying to ask. could you clarify the question a little morefor me.

[Anonymous]

Most transformers of any size can run 2 engines. I wire my diesels in series and la***hem up for giving good low speed performance in conventional. Two williams GP9s for example will pull most any practicle train lenth. I have a bigger problem keeping couplers closed on long trains than with pulling power. It also reduces current draw.You should however lash up similar engines from the same manufacturer.

Dale Hz

[Anonymous]

I do it all the time and very rarely have a problem with the e-units not clocking at the same time. Just make sure you depress the direction button fully and hold it for at least a full second. Same goes for cycling e-unit with the throttle handle, pull it all the way back for a full second, then advance it. I only MU locos of like brands, which in my case are mostly Williams. My E7 A-B-A set with only one powered unit could not pull my nine MTH Premier streamliners without lots of voltage and current draw. I added a power upgrade kit to my dummy A unit, now I have no problems pulling this train. I have not wired them together, I just operate them as I described earlier. Even with many station stops, I have no problems with synchronization of e-units. Same goes for MU of GP-9s. I use an MRC dual pure power and it has plenty of power to handle multiple powered units and a lot of lighted passenger cars.

[dougdagrump]

I run TMCC lashups almost every week at the club layout and Dales last comment is rite-on. When you start mixing sources it seems like there are to many variables involved in trying to get the locos operating at the same speed. I would like to try it with steam but alas with my two Mikados one has cruise, which can't be turned off, the other doesn't. [sigh]

[msacco]

Need to ask here. How successfully can Post War locos be lashed. Any tips on this?

Mike S.

[lionelsoni]

Prewar and postwar locomotives, or any locomotives with universal motors, are very forgiving of being run together, since the motors' output doesn't vary greatly with speed. In this, they resemble prototype Diesels and electrics, which have the same sort of series-wound motors.

More modern locomotives with can motors, which have permanent-magnet fields, want to run at a specific speed proportional to the motor voltage. So, if two locomotives disagree on what that speed is, the faster one will do all the work, and then some if the difference is enough that the slower one acts as a brake. So, especially with modern locomotives, it is a good idea to run them together uncoupled on the same track first to be sure that the speeds are compatible.

[jefelectric]

Dale Hz,

Have you tried running one engine mid-train as the real railroads often do? If they run at the same speed this should work, I think.

[FJ and G]

Hi John,

Beat you too it; suggested in a post about 3 down

[Anonymous]

John

I never tried it that way. My concern would be that with the light cars it may have an accordian like effect and derail the cars. I live in an area in western Pa near Garrett-Meyersdale where I watch them use pusher engines all the time on the old B&O line from sand patch to make the grade ...neat to watch..

Dale H