My N&W/Southern layout will be located in WV, VA, and NC. There will be a maximum grade of 2% on one section. This will be ideal for helper service, which was usually a Y6b. My question is how do you control the speed of the helper (or better put) match the speed of the locomotive on the point? What happens (and it usually does) if these locomotives do not match with respect to speed and pulling power? Does one just use the "consist" part of DCC. I use Digitrax system.
Craig North Carolina
If you locos are fairly close in speed, you can just consist it with your main loco and then un consist when done helping. That is how I do it when I run DPU's
Locomotives used in a consist should run at the same speed. Doing it to a model locomotive in DCC is called speed matching. Different folks use different methods. I use JMRI Decoder Pro and a computer, and do it on the main. I use the "User selectable speed table" to do it. If you do it by hand using the three speed settings, it can be easy or hard depending on who you talk to. I think there have been discussions here on how to do it, so you may want to search the Forums using the words "Speed Matching".I have all of my locomotives on my layout speed matched to each other and can use any of them or all of them together. It makes running trains in helper districts so much simpler.
Elmer.
The above is my opinion, from an active and experienced Model Railroader in N scale and HO since 1961.
(Modeling Freelance, Eastern US, HO scale, in 1962, with NCE DCC for locomotive control and a stand alone LocoNet for block detection and signals.) http://waynes-trains.com/ at home, and N scale at the Club.
Hi!
I'm not as sophisticated with the helper process as some, but my method works for me..............
I've got a very long winding 2 percent grade in HO, and run with a Digitrax Dt-400 "dual throttle" controller. The lead loco (or loco consist) is operated with one throttle, and the pusher (or puller) helper with the other throttle. Like the real RRs (pre radios), you can determine the helper speed by watching the slack and the speed of the train. It does take a "feel" for your trains, but can easily work like a charm.
ENJOY !
Mobilman44
Living in southeast Texas, formerly modeling the "postwar" Santa Fe and Illinois Central
With NCE and the Lenz system at the club I advance consist/MU the lead locos and advance consist/MU the helpers and then old style or double head the 2 consists together. Not sure if the Digitrax system will do that.
It is very impressive on the clubs 30 foot long winding grade with 2 or 3 steamers up front and 40 to 50 cars behind having another pair of steamers all with sound pushing. I always get people watching and not paying attention to what their trains were doing. When I get to the top of the grade I stop and break the double header and use the pushers to run around the cabin and attach it to the train and then drift backwards down grade to the helpers siding. The helpers never push on the cabins. This was standard practice way back when until the all steel under frames. Those uncouple and run around of the cabins at the bottom and top adds some additional time to the operation. Don't forget the brake set and release each time the cabins are uncoupled. Also at the top of the grade allow time to set retainers and another stop at the bottom to reset the retainers. Who said coal drags were not fun? I can't wait to try this with my friends BLI Centipedes pushing on the rear. The Centipedes are not mine and the owner flew south for the winter.
Pete
I pray every day I break even, Cause I can really use the money!
I started with nothing and still have most of it left!
Generally when speed matching, you can get pretty close by giving two engines the save settings, but end up having to make some slight adjustments to the speed and momentum CV's to get them to truly run together. It can be a bit finicky, but in the long run it's worth the effort.
No matter what method you use... be very vigilant! Nothing says oops better than the lead engine stalling and the helper that just keeps on pushin'! Murphy says it always happens on your highest (from the concrete floor) curve or in a tunnel!
Real railroads break knuckles... we lose Athearn coupler cover clips!
Have Fun... Ed