Engine power

[Anonymous]

When you have multiple Engines hooked together (example 3 to 5 units) , what happens when you have a unit that doesn't pull as well as the rest? Can you tell the difference or is it just along for the ride or can you compensate for it?

Larry

[Jackflash]

Larry, all engines in a consist will contrbute
to their ability to pull the train, sometimes
if you have a older dash 2 type engine in your
consist you have to limit yourself and observe
the shorttime ratings of the older dash 2, even though you may be operating a newer locomotive
that will self correct itself, if a locomotive
in the consist is acting up you may want to shut
it down, or isolate it, bottom line, even a old
small engine will contribute to pull the train
if you have to isolate or shut a unit down about
the only thing you can do is get one or two more
notchs on the throttle and power up the remaining
engines, jackflash

[wabash1]

Not taking anything froom jackflash i will add this also if you have a dp38 between 2 sd 60 units the 38 will do what it is capable of then run its little legs off trying to keep up. power is power and will come in handy at some point. the rest of what jack said is true. hope this helps.