Speed matching HO scale engines

[wjstix]

Speed matching isn't really as hard as many people make out. It usually only takes me about 5-10 minutes, and I'm pretty finicky about getting them as close to each as possible. I put the one I'm going to adjust as the lead engine in a consist, and add my 'golden' engine (the one I speed match the others to) to the consist. I then use OP programming to change the lead engines CVs while running the engines back and forth along a long stretch of double track mainline. If the lead engine's decoder uses CV6, I run at less than 1/2 speed and get them adjusted, then double the CV6 amount for CV5 and test them at a faster speed. Sometimes CV5 needs to be tweaked, but it's usually pretty close as is.

One thing not mentioned in the OP is CV 3 and 4 - start and stop momentum. Once you get them running together at speed, you need to use those CVs to get them start, run and stop like one unit. If one engine's momentum is much different than the other, they aren't going to run well together (at least until they both get up to speed).

[Redvdub1]

I am delighted to see the answers you are getting from obviously experienced model railroaders...just hook 'em up, load 'em up, and don't bother with CV speed matching.  One caveat..if you're muing more than say two locos you would be well advised to have an ammeter in your circuit so that you don't pull the voltage down on your DC supply (e.g. an MRC tech whatever).  A DCC supply is less susceptible to pull down as long as you don't have a whole lot of locos running on your layout and get the current draw up to 5-8 amps.  Also..if you have one "weak sister" in your consist that loco may become a "load" rather than a "helper".  You will see your consist slowing down and probably stop altogether.  So watch the amp draw.  

 

[doctorwayne]

NILE

...If you use most of your fleet, what are some good techniques for getting that many engines to operate together?

My layout is strictly DC-powered, so speed matching is pretty-well automatic:  simply build a train of freight or passenger cars, then decide how many locomotives will be needed to move it over the particular route I've chosen.

All of my locomotives (all steam) have "tonnage ratings" determined by on-layout tests, so I simply calculate what's needed, then pick a combination of locos which meet or slightly exceed that need. 

While the locomotives, individually, might run at different speeds, when all are operating near their pulling limit, they cooperate quite nicely.

Wayne

[snjroy]

I pretty much do what Paul does. I try to find some natural matches (era, road, passenger, freight). I put more effort in matching what I would consider as normal mainline running speed. Matching slow speed for switchers might make sense as well, if you match some up.

Simon

[SouthPenn]

I have a few DCC consists that are more or less permanent. I speed matched them by running side by side on a section of double track.

The consist that uses RailPro doesn't need any speed matching. It is done automatically and on the fly. As an experiment, I set up a consist of nine engines. I spaced them throughout the train in sets of two or three. Ran great. No bunching or stretching.    

 

[mbinsewi]

I still do it, the "old school DC" method.  The locos I like to run together, have same address, 03, just like matching locos with the DC method, do they run good together.

I don't go through all of the speed matching stuff.  Probably just me.

Most of my trains have one loco anyway, like the prototyps I follow.

I can't justify a 20 car frieght with 2 locos.

Mike.

[peahrens]

NILE

Do you select any or most combinations of your fleets to MU or do you have specific sets that you prefer to MU together? If you use most of your fleet, what are some good techniques for getting that many engines to operate together?

I have some cab units that are A/B/A, etc. where I simply run only with their mates.

For diesels like GPs & SDs, I sometimes mix it up.  I have not gone about it the smartest way as I spend most time on projects, versus operating. 

If I go about reviewing the fleet, I would say the starting point would be to determine which locos I might run together.  Then I would be sure to find the one (unless a problem loco) that needed to run the fastest at CV2 to move ok slowly.  That would allow all the others to be matched to it.  

Then the issue of max speed arises.  Concerning the top speed, with all the varied gearing variations, I'm not sure I would want to set them all to the same top speed.  I guess that is possible, if you either set a relatively low, common top speed that all can attain, OR pick a speed that the slowest loco can attain and match all the others to that.

It's interesting. 

[NILE]

I have a fleet of about 55 engines, of which 49 of them are diesels.  I like to run lots of different combinations together.  Every once in a while I’ll even through a freight engine on front of an Amtrak train.  I do the “straight line” speed adjustments with CV2,CV5, and CV6.  I usually pick one engine and then try to match as many as I can off of that one.  However I still seem to get variations.  I have everything from Blue Box, first release Genesis, Proto 2000, Atlas Silver, and recent engines like BLI.  Most of my stuff is Athearn.  I usually don’t run more than three engines together, sometimes four.

I realize speed matching a blue box to a new athearn Genesis can be hard, so sometimes I do keep the “like” engines MU’d.  Do you select any or most combinations of your fleets to MU or do you have specific sets that you prefer to MU together?  If you use most of your fleet, what are some good techniques for getting that many engines to operate together?