Question on consisting or MUing

[tstage]

I was "MUsing" the other day - always a dangerous proposition - on the topic of consisting. Now I understand that in DCC, you can program the decoder on each locomotive so that they work together efficiently and not against one another while consisting.

But, in the prototype - Let's say, for instance, you have 4 or 5 SD38-2's lashed up, pulling a behemoth load of coal cars. Obviously, you have an engineer in the first locomotive. Are there engineers in locomotives #2 through #5? Or, are they sycronized together so that each locomotive cooresponds to the wishes and whims (i.e. acceleration and braking) of the engineer in locomotive #1.

I'm sure it's probably a pretty silly question for the rest you but...I just didn't know. On the steamers, you would have to have an engineer in each locomotive. On the diesels, I wouldn't think that you would have to.

Anyway, thanks for your answers and straightening me out on the matter. [:)]

Tom

[Leon Silverman]

All diesel trains will have the engineer in the lead engine only. MU means that multiple units work together and are all controlled by the operator in the front unit. If you come accross the term "slave units", these are engines placed in the middle or end to train that radio controlled from the head unit. The end, "pusher" or "helper" units may have a crew in them if the units are detached at the top of a long grade and have to return to the bottom of the grade to help the next train.
The front set of engines are controlled by extra cables that run between the engines.
This capability was one of the factors that blew away steam engines when diesels came on the scene. In addition to the maintenance and operating economies, multiple unit diesels did not require multiple sets of crews. A double or triple headed steam engine consist required two or three crews, one in each engine.

[Mark300]

QUOTE: Originally posted by tstage

I was "MUsing" the other day - always a dangerous proposition - on the topic of consisting. Now I understand that in DCC, you can program the decoder on each locomotive so that they work together efficiently and not against one another while consisting.

It's actually quite easy and extremely prototypical since most roads use more than one unit; especially with deisel/electrics. MU'ing works great for similar types of steam locos too. You can add alot more cars.

With DCC, I've done a fairly good job of pushing; if you can watch the slack and push first - the prototypes always did/do - pushing takes the load off of the lead engine and give's the lead engine a kind of slow but steadier start. The aim is to get the entire train into a sort of stasis....then you really 'have the railroad!'

To add to Leon's helpful note.....many mid-train helpers today are remote controlled....with no crews at all!

As DCC product develops I think we'll see the end of the 'B' unit dummy; they will all have power as on real trains and the newer models will be easily MU'd.

HTH

Mark

[bpickering]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Mark300
As DCC product develops I think we'll see the end of the 'B' unit dummy; they will all have power as on real trains and the newer models will be easily MU'd.

Mark,

I think that to some extent, that day is already here.

Of my motive power at home with B-units:
BLI E-7; powered A, powered B, and non-powered C (both powered have sound too)
LL P2K E-6; powered A, powered B, non-powered C
LL P1K Erie-built; powered A, B

I was in the LHS yesterday, and just about all the Genesis F units were available as boxes sets with powered A and B, with sometimes a dummy C. Likewise on the Stewart F's.

With two units driven, having one dummy doesn't affect as much as with only one unit driven. The two BLI units are ever so slightly different in their characteristics- I'll probably eventually fine-tune their speed tables. However, they work wonderfully together, and can pull more cars than I can fit on my current tiny portable layout.

I'm hoping to eventually bash some B hood units, since UP liked those, at least early-on.

Brian Pickering

[Mark300]

QUOTE: Originally posted by bpickering

QUOTE: Originally posted by Mark300
As DCC product develops I think we'll see the end of the 'B' unit dummy; they will all have power as on real trains and the newer models will be easily MU'd.

Mark,

I think that to some extent, that day is already here.

Of my motive power at home with B-units:
BLI E-7; powered A, powered B, and non-powered C (both powered have sound too)
LL P2K E-6; powered A, powered B, non-powered C
LL P1K Erie-built; powered A, B

I was in the LHS yesterday, and just about all the Genesis F units were available as boxes sets with powered A and B, with sometimes a dummy C. Likewise on the Stewart F's.

With two units driven, having one dummy doesn't affect as much as with only one unit driven. The two BLI units are ever so slightly different in their characteristics- I'll probably eventually fine-tune their speed tables. However, they work wonderfully together, and can pull more cars than I can fit on my current tiny portable layout.

I'm hoping to eventually bash some B hood units, since UP liked those, at least early-on.

Brian Pickering

Brian....Thanks for your post.

The future is always closer than we think.

Fine tuning the different charateristics of your locos either with the speed tables as well as matching revolutions should result in some very awesome power.

Imagine, 144+ car consists as typically seen on most prototype roads.

Next should be another go round in the quality of car, weight, rolling and coupler construction as well as good quality track alignment. Gotta watchout for stringlining cars.

While i'm into steam modeling the Western Maryland, I'll have to check out some of the models you mentioned. The Stewart F's sound very interesting.

Mark

[bpickering]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Mark300
Next should be another go round in the quality of car, weight, rolling and coupler construction as well as good quality track alignment. Gotta watchout for stringlining cars.

And then there's the round of finding a better job (leaving less time for modelling) in order to pay for the larger house in order to have enough space to RUN 144-car trains....

Right now, until my son is old-enough to be trusted with a hammer and saw, I'm sticking to a 4'x5' portable layout- I'm lucky to get 10 car strings! [:)]

As long as HE enjoys it, though, I'm cool with that.

Brian

[johncolley]

I have a 4 unit Stewart FT that I converted to DCC after running 5 years in DC all powered. I converted one of the B's back to a dummy and had it filled with sound... two woofers and a tweeter! The powered units I went with Digitrax dh163d decoders and the sound unit is a Soundtraxx dsx150d. I run on 128 speedstep. The sound and power make me WANT to operate realistically. Crawling off the A/D track onto the main and accelerating out of yard limits is awesome !