Diesel Lash - Ups

[Anonymous]

I SAY RUN WHAT YOU HAVE, I RUN ALCO & SD-60 (LIONEL),IF YOU PROGRAM THEM RIGHT BOTH HORN'S WILL WORK, OUR LAYOUT SIZE 58 BY 34 FEET IN "L" SHAPE>>TRACKSIDETRAINS.NET<<,SOMEONE CAME TO ME AT LOCAL GATS LAST YEAR & SAID YOUR CAR ARE DIFFERENT SIZE,AND I POINTED THEM TO THE REAL BNSF.

[Anonymous]

Hi Lisa,
You know, I live really close to one of the CSX main lines, & they seem to be really partial to 6-axle diesels.
But anyway, last night I staged a heavy tonnage train on my little layout, with a U30C on the point, a GP7, & I spliced them together with an Alco FB unit.

[Anonymous]

I have seen and/or photographed roads from the Frisco, to Conrail, CSX and even NS run lash-ups of mixed 4 and 6 axle power. I also have a severe power shortage on my layout, waiting for the financial officer to find funds for more power and I do run my single 4 axle diesel (an RS-2)with my 6 axle (RSC-2) diesels!

[Anonymous]

Thanks Robert!
That's exactly the situation my RR is in too!
There's a severe power shortage!

[Anonymous]

You will always find exceptions to any rule. First the rule: It's not a matter of axles, it's more a matter of gearing.
Usually B-B road power (4-wheel trucks) were geared lower for higher top speeds. They had their maximum usable horsepower in the 40-60 MPH range. They were at their best pulling lighter loads at higher speeds, like intermodal and TOFC.
Again, usually, C-C road power (6-wheel trucks) was geared higher so their mamimum horsepower came in at much lower speeds like 15-40 mph. These were designed to pull heavy tonage, like coal or ore.
Can you run them together? Yes! Many railroads did, especially when power shortages hit. You would use anything that can pull, to make the tonage go out. MOPAC 1

[sumpter250]

Both UP, and CNW mixed geeps and SDs regularly.

[thirdrail1]

Since four and six axle power were used for different types of trains (four axle for hotshot merchandise and TOFC, six axle for tonnage and unit trains), it would be unlikely that they would be mixed, but not unknown. UP "lash-ups" with four, six, and eight axle power were seen when that was the only power available to move an urgent schedule.

[Anonymous]

I'm building a layout set in the 1960's. One thing I remember from that period were the hodge-podge lash-ups of 1st, & 2nd generation diesels. My question is this -
In the photos I've seen, it seems like lash-ups were exclusively of one truck type or another. Either 4 axle, or 6 axle. Was it not possible to mix the two? For instance, would it be incorrect practice to la***ogether a U30-C, & a GP7?