I like to run my Stewart Hobbies Pennsy U-25b lashed to my Atheran BB SD-9 and the train runs smoother and just more realistic.I run a ten car consist on my 4by 8 test layout.What do you think?
I agree, however, when I throw a couple of mid-train helpers into the mix, I think that is even better. The first time I ever did it, I was waiting for disaster to strike, but it never came and never has. Three "F-units" up front and a couple of train masters in the middle with 60 cars are pretty cool.
Brent
"All of the world's problems are the result of the difference between how we think and how the world works."
One of the things I noticed when I added keep-alive circuits to my re-motored Athearn BB F7's was that they could be run much slower with no hesitation. A pair of these locos will pull a train around my 10' by 19' double deck layout at around 5 scale miles per hour all day long!
Hornblower
Hello All,
I run several consists on my 4'x8' pike.
A 4-unit consist of GP40s pulls a 16-car coal drag on the mainline, half the cars are empties.
The 8 loaded cars are cut out and a 3-unit A-B-A consist of GP30s; one on the head end and the A-B units are used as pushers up the 3% grade to the unloading platform.
The 8 empties are pulled under the platform by the GP40s to receive the live loads.
A single GP30 guides the empties down a wooden trestle (helix) back to the mainline and coupled to the now loaded hoppers.
The GP30 A-B units back down the 3% grade and are MU'ed back with the single GP30.
A cow & calf unit; TR & TR2- -NW2s- -is used for switching the power plant and the rock dust unloading siding that feeds the coal mining operations.
My MOW train has an F7B pushing the rotary snow plow on the head end, an RS3 as a mid-train helper, and a BL2 on the rear pulling the secondary rotary plow.
A USRA 0-6-0 w/Vanderbilt tender powers an "Olde Tyme" excursion train and a 0-6-0 Side Tank Porter is added to get up the 3% grade.
On rare occasions, the Royal Gorge excursion train, with its A-B-B-A F7s makes a pass on the mainline to connect with the "Olde Tyme" excursion train for a rail fans dream.
With the GP40s, the 30s, and TR & TR2 I re-motored and standardized the decoders for each consist.
This allowed for easier speed matching between the units in their respective consists.
With the GP40s I can have two on the head end, one as a mid-train helper and the fourth as a pusher.
With all units powered in the consists it definitely adds the required pulling power and looks great too.
Hope this helps.
"Uhh...I didn’t know it was 'impossible' I just made it work...sorry"
I wonder if the guy who put a powered loco in the middle was concerned that it would cause string lining or a massive derailment?
philo426 I wonder if the guy who put a powered loco in the middle was concerned that it would cause string lining or a massive derailment?
I was waiting for it, but everything ran smoothly. A derailment on my layout rarely happens and when it does it is because some idiot failed to check a turnout. I was and still am surprised that mid-train units don't cause me any issues.
philo426I wonder if the guy who put a powered loco in the middle was concerned that it would cause string lining or a massive derailment?
If they are properly speed matched this isn't a problem.
That's why I re-motored and standardized decoders in each locomotive in a specific consist.
Thanks guys !very interesting replies and if you can truly run 30 freight cars it is most impressive!
Yes.
philo426 I like to run my Stewart Hobbies Pennsy U-25b lashed to my Athearn BB SD-9 and the train runs smoother and just more realistic.I run a ten car consist on my 4by 8 test layout.What do you think?
I like to run my Stewart Hobbies Pennsy U-25b lashed to my Athearn BB SD-9 and the train runs smoother and just more realistic.I run a ten car consist on my 4by 8 test layout.What do you think?
Simon
Hard to put my finger on ,but the lash makes them run smoother with the momentum feature activated.
More reason for me to increase my loco fleet. With three locos and a switcher, def need more. I guess somene has to keep the N&W product line flowing!
Sounds like a plan!
Perhaps on DC. I have zero issues running single on DCC. Adding momentum to the decoders and speed matching so you can add helpers works.
I have steam switch engines that by design run slower than anything else I have. They do not get consist with road locomotives.
Pete.
Few steam engines run as well as fly wheel equipped diesels (which they would)
philo426 Few steam engines run as well as fly wheel equipped diesels (which they would)
Like I said. Maybe on DC. If you're running DC, after the power is cut then flywheels is all you have.
I think you would be surprised. I have non flywheel steamers that run awesome. I even have open frame motors in some. Adding the right amount of momentum and deceleration is key. I used to just add a little. But with modern decoders with BEMF, braking and other features, you can tune any locomotive to act like the prototype loaded or running light.
I think you refer to these new fangled Digital Control Systems not really into that!
philo426 I think you refer to these new fangled Digital Control Systems not really into that!
I have been using Digital Command Control for at least twenty five years. Newfangled? No. But that is the beauty of the hobby. Do what you like and I can do what I like. I like running trains, not track.
Have fun.
Yep conventional transformer control is just right for me!
Well, I think there is something to the OP's query. In running consists of locos - anything from multiple GPs, Fs, or Es, I found it was definitely more realistic than running single units. But there was more to it than the visual, as (IMO) the sounds of the consists seemed to give out a better show of raw power.
The thing is, it was the same "sense of power" whether they were sound units or just motored w/o sound. I guess even the sounds of the bare electric motors and gears just promoted the "feel" that these locos were truly working, pulling their loads.
On my last two HO layouts (94-18), I usually ran single unit diesels just for switching purposes. Otherwise it was 2,3, or 4 unit consists for freight or passenger trains.
But I have to mention the steamers.... I rarely double headed them and much preferred to run them singly. Have to mention that they were all BLIs w/sound, and I found them very impressive. My favorite was/is the BLI ATSF 4-8-4, truly a beautiful piece of motive power in all ways!
ENJOY !
Mobilman44
Living in southeast Texas, formerly modeling the "postwar" Santa Fe and Illinois Central
Exactly!the sense of power is what I see when you run multiple power unit lash ups!
I just do not understand the premise that two units together run somehow more smoothly than one unit by itself, or that running smoothly is somehow "more prototypical" operation than running a train with a single unit.
I have seen two or more units fight each other a bit as it can sometimes be hard to get them to match speeds properly even when they are the exact same model from the exact same product run. Even in dcc not all engines of the same run operate at the same speed, and I do not attempt to mix Loksound 5 equipped engines with Soundtraxx Tsunami equipped engines--the speed curves are too difficult to match as they are very different.
I normally prefer to run single unit diesels partly for that reason. Normally the heavier single unit diesels will easily pull about 20 freight cars for me.
I can and have operated 75 car freight trains, but I usually avoid that. One single BLI 4-6-6-4, after replacement of defective Paragon 3 decoder and defective BLI current-hogging motor by a 3rd party vendor, easily pulled the 75 car train.
John
Wow!what radius does the Challenger require?most impressive
I think only 24" radius. Most rtr HO articulateds will do 24" radius curves. However, it is best to have good kink-free trackwork.
My minimum radius is Kato Unitrack 26.375" radius.
ALL rtr (plastic/diecast) HO articulateds, including Bachmann, Athearn Genesis, MTH, and BLI have negotiated my curves without issues. That includes 4-8-8-4's and 2-8-8-4's. Note that brass articulateds typically have more details, and as a result, less lateral motion designed into their mechanism, and so brass articulateds may not do 24" radius curves.
It is the big 4-8-4's with big diameter drivers that tend to be pickier about the quality of trackwork. I had more adjustments to my trackwork and superelevation for them.
jjdamnit Hello All, philo426 I wonder if the guy who put a powered loco in the middle was concerned that it would cause string lining or a massive derailment? If they are properly speed matched this isn't a problem. That's why I re-motored and standardized decoders in each locomotive in a specific consist. Hope this helps.
Sounds like you have it all figured out!
philo426 Sounds like you have it all figured out!
Not so much figured-out, but a few test runs with varying make-ups of locomotives and rolling stock easily showed what worked well, and what didn't.
I seldom run long trains nowadays...20 cars-or-so are entertaining enough for me.
Wayne
Yes it would take awhile to get them all coupled together!