Jim,
I too hope you are wrong and that our engines can play well together. I
never had the opportunity to see steam 'back when', so double heading or
pushing wasn't an option. However, someplace back in my VHS library is
a N & W film of some big engine shoving from the rear, tender
first--that was new to me.
I did have the opportunity to see two K's double-heading up to Cumbres.
It's quite a site.
I do have some video on my layout of two steam engines, a OMI mike and
the SWM consolidation running the older soundtrax units. I had each
engine on my Digitrax dual throttle. So I timed the engines the best I
could with throttle settings as I didn't want to fool with the CV
setting either. Since each engine had a different whistle it was pretty
neat to have the engines 'talk' to each other via the whistle.
Since I'm a Milwaukee fan, I've read stories of a long train that
basically was going up two grades and descending one all at the same
time while the mid-train helpers were remotely controlled. I don't
think they had any CV's they could set either.
Bob Werre
PhotoTraxx
On 2/14/13 11:50 AM, Jim Kindraka wrote:
I've read the posts regarding how well the Lionel offerings run and
honestly don't care where, how many or in what position the motors
reside.What does concern me is whether different locomotives will MU
or double head. I have a first run U33c, now with the pilots fixed to
the frame, scale wheels, Kadee couplers (actually I think they are
Walthers) and a Tsunami decoder.It's a bit faster than I would have
preferred but runs well slowly and pulls what I think it should -- I
am totally satisfied.
Now I know some of my DCC friends are already thinking all you have to
do is diddle endlessly with speed tables and CV's to get it right.Been
there, done that. It works in some cases where the differences
aren't great in the first place but it is not a cure-all.There is only
so much you can do when designs and gear rations vary too much.This is
a case where I hope I am wrong, but I am concerned the next generation
will bring one-off locomotives that can only reliable run by, or with,
themselves...
Jim Kindraka
Plymouth, WI
