Trains.com

can more than 1 person operate your trains simultaneously?

1192 views
20 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    August 2003
  • 6,434 posts
Posted by FJ and G on Saturday, April 16, 2005 7:39 PM
elliot,

also, let us know the progress on getting your house tilted the right way

if you were my neighbor, I wouldn't even need to be concerned about working on my layout; I'd just come over there with my trains; and 6-pak; of course
  • Member since
    January 2004
  • From: morris il.
  • 102 posts
Posted by cmrj on Saturday, April 16, 2005 11:09 AM
I have three loop's 2-72" and 1-31" all interconnected,center loop has several sideing's and one branch to the engine service yard 1-72" loop is up and over. Started with block control now have TMCC and 1TPC 300 4 or 5 people can run trains. I can run 2 on the outer loop's and do switching on the inside, with old and new . Get's a little tricky with CAB 1 though. My ZW power's TMCC loco's on one controler ,feed's TPC300 on the other,last2 can run standard loco's. I like just watching train's run, and switching
  • Member since
    December 2003
  • From: St Paul, MN
  • 6,218 posts
Posted by Big_Boy_4005 on Friday, April 15, 2005 3:17 PM
QUOTE: Originally posted by TomUP3985

QUOTE: Originally posted by Big_Boy_4005

That's my plan Dave. I just bought 3 more CAB-1's. I guess there's really no point to having a layout as large as mine if it isn't going to be shared. Eventually, I would like to have a crew of 8 - 10 and have sessions a couple of times a month.


Relatively new here. Do you have any pictures posted of your layout and how large is it?

Thank you,


Well Tom, I've posted a number of photos over the last year plus, but they are all scattered throughout the forum in different topics. It's just easier to give you a taste right here.

This is the trackplan for the first of two levels, both levels will be about the same size. The room is 38' x 46'.



This is the most recent photo, but more work has been done since it was taken.



This shot is a little dark, but it shows most of the space.



  • Member since
    October 2002
  • From: US
  • 183 posts
Posted by fjerome on Friday, April 15, 2005 2:40 PM
dave, i have 4 cab-1's and the layout is designed to handle four engines (three through trains and a switcher in the yard) at the same time.
Fabulous Forrest at the Brewer Avenue & Pacific
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Friday, April 15, 2005 2:34 PM
QUOTE: Originally posted by Big_Boy_4005

That's my plan Dave. I just bought 3 more CAB-1's. I guess there's really no point to having a layout as large as mine if it isn't going to be shared. Eventually, I would like to have a crew of 8 - 10 and have sessions a couple of times a month.


Relatively new here. Do you have any pictures posted of your layout and how large is it?

Thank you,
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Friday, April 15, 2005 9:11 AM
Like others have said, my layout is designed for me and I don't have other people operating it, although I could very easily have others running trains if I so desired. My layout is all conventional. Each train has a different handle that controls it. If you want all the trains to run at once, all you have to do is turn each of the transformer handles and then sit back and watch the show, without touching anything. That's how I like my layout-lots of trains and lots of track, but nothing complicated.
  • Member since
    July 2003
  • From: Crystal Lake, IL
  • 8,059 posts
Posted by cnw1995 on Friday, April 15, 2005 9:00 AM
Well, yes. We each share one side of an R throttle - and run one on an inside loop and the other through most of the rest of the layout. I'm toying with using my birthday gift to myself *when I open it in May - of the Kline battery-powered set to put that one up on homemade trestles and run it as a 'third' train. Or just try to run it using its remote control on the same track as another track-powered train.

Doug Murphy 'We few, we happy few, we band of brothers...' Henry V.

  • Member since
    March 2004
  • From: Jelloway Creek, OH - Elv. 1100
  • 7,578 posts
Posted by Buckeye Riveter on Thursday, April 14, 2005 9:30 PM
The kids at Christmas use two TMCC CAB1 and run two trains at once on the same track. Just like the real railroad, you stop for the red signals and wait for the green.

Celebrating 18 years on the CTT Forum. Smile, Wink & Grin

Buckeye Riveter......... OTTS Charter Member, a Roseyville Raider and a member of the CTT Forum since 2004..

Jelloway Creek, OH - ELV 1,100 - Home of the Baltimore, Ohio & Wabash RR

TCA 09-64284

  • Member since
    February 2004
  • From: Rolesville, NC
  • 15,416 posts
Posted by ChiefEagles on Thursday, April 14, 2005 9:09 PM
Yes, DCS and TMCC. DCS remote and CAB1.

 God bless TCA 05-58541   Benefactor Member of the NRA,  Member of the American Legion,   Retired Boss Hog of Roseyville Laugh,   KC&D QualifiedCowboy       

              

  • Member since
    July 2003
  • From: Watkinsville, GA
  • 2,214 posts
Posted by Roger Bielen on Thursday, April 14, 2005 6:42 PM
I have two CAB-1's and can run 3 engines at a time, granddaughter one, one set and running on a mian, and one switching, more than that logistics become a problem unless I can get a dispatcher to control things. By myself I limit it to two trains and occasionally get a derailment because I forgot to through a switch because I was busy changing between engines.
Roger B.
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • From: Willoughby, Ohio
  • 5,231 posts
Posted by spankybird on Thursday, April 14, 2005 6:27 PM
Yep, with either of my layouts, more than one person can operate it. I also have two DCS controls just for that reason. In fact, several friends have been over and we have done just that. Each of us having one of the DCS remotes.

I am a person with a very active inner child. This is why my wife loves me so. Willoughby, Ohio - the home of the CP & E RR. OTTS Founder www.spankybird.shutterfly.com 

  • Member since
    April 2005
  • From: Upstate, NY
  • 104 posts
Posted by Munster518 on Thursday, April 14, 2005 5:38 PM
My layout is small, a 9 X 10 with two mainlines that are made up of blocks are packed with postwar accessories and trains. My layout is powered by 1 Mth ZW 4,000 and the rest are with small lionel 90watts for the assessories and what not. Another person could run one train and still have plenty to do; dropping off milkcans, loading metal with the gantry crane. Its always fun to enjoy the hobby with someone else,it keeps you to stay on track:():)
  • Member since
    July 2003
  • From: North Texas
  • 5,707 posts
Posted by wrmcclellan on Thursday, April 14, 2005 5:24 PM
Dave,

With TMCC and DCS, you can operate as many trains simultaneously as you have handheld controllers and associated locos.

Regards, Roy

  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, April 14, 2005 4:33 PM
I have five main lines all on different transformers but all phased together. I can run command or qsi 2+ or 3000 on all five. 2+ and 3000 systems can be assigned an ID and work super with lionel command. I have never had enough people to run all 5 at one time but it will work. dave.
  • Member since
    December 2003
  • From: St Paul, MN
  • 6,218 posts
Posted by Big_Boy_4005 on Thursday, April 14, 2005 3:26 PM
QUOTE: Originally posted by FJ and G

Jim,

The latter.

Elliot,

I think majority of us are anxiously awaiting your progress reports. You definitely have a special layout going. I imagine it will be your final layout.


Dave, I have to get the truck loaded for the last public show of the season this weekend.
After that I have that structural problem that needs my attention. Then it should be full speed ahead. Right now the goal is to have trains running by this fall, though it may be years before all the track is laid.

I just had to fork out $300 to fix the refrigerator, and I owe the IRS for the first time in 10 years. That will slow things down.[xx(][xx(][:(]
  • Member since
    March 2004
  • 1,774 posts
Posted by Dr. John on Thursday, April 14, 2005 2:06 PM
On my last layout, yes, although I never operated with another person. I had a KW and two mainlines so it was possible (if crowded). For my next layout, I will probably have a similar set-up with more room, so another person could operate with me without feeling too crowded.
  • Member since
    December 2001
  • From: Austin, TX
  • 10,096 posts
Posted by lionelsoni on Thursday, April 14, 2005 2:02 PM
I have three sections, an inside main line, an outside main line, and a yard. Each can be connected to either of two transformers, each of which can control two trains independently within that section. So four trains at once.

Bob Nelson

  • Member since
    August 2003
  • 6,434 posts
Posted by FJ and G on Thursday, April 14, 2005 1:05 PM
Jim,

The latter.

Elliot,

I think majority of us are anxiously awaiting your progress reports. You definitely have a special layout going. I imagine it will be your final layout.
  • Member since
    December 2003
  • From: Austin, TX USA - Central Time Zone
  • 997 posts
Posted by Jim Duda on Thursday, April 14, 2005 12:58 PM
QUOTE: Mine can't, chiefly b/c I designed it for ME. - Vergun


Dave - are you sure? Can't you control a conventional loco with EITHER your txfrmr lever OR your DCS handheld? I can - mine is wired through the Variable IN/OUTs of the TIU. In fact, when a conventional loco is running I don't even turn on the handheld and do it all "the old fashioned way" with the LW; but as soon as I power up the handheld I can use that if I want. Point is, with someone on the txfrmr and someone else on the remote, both can control the train...in Conventional Mode.

Or, did you mean several people operating several trains simultaneously on your tracks?
Small Layouts are cool! Low post counts are even more cool! NO GRITS in my pot!!!
  • Member since
    December 2003
  • From: St Paul, MN
  • 6,218 posts
Posted by Big_Boy_4005 on Thursday, April 14, 2005 12:51 PM
That's my plan Dave. I just bought 3 more CAB-1's. I guess there's really no point to having a layout as large as mine if it isn't going to be shared. Eventually, I would like to have a crew of 8 - 10 and have sessions a couple of times a month.
  • Member since
    August 2003
  • 6,434 posts
can more than 1 person operate your trains simultaneously?
Posted by FJ and G on Thursday, April 14, 2005 11:57 AM
with more than 1 throttle?

Mine can't, chiefly b/c I designed it for ME. But some people are very sociable and have regular operating sessions with friends.

Join our Community!

Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account.

Search the Community

FREE EMAIL NEWSLETTER

Get the Classic Toy Trains newsletter delivered to your inbox twice a month