Conventional lash up?

Most likely, PS/3 locomotives should have the same speed profile for conventional operation.  Also, there is a little "slop" in the speed control for conventional running as it's keyed on track voltage.

Simple test to see if it will be a problem, run them a foot apart around a few times and see if they run close to the same speeds.  A variance of a couple percent is not significant, but if one is considerably faster than the other, it could be a problem.

I have run two of the same model together in conventional without issue.  A guide you see here a lot is to run them on the same track but not connected and see if they will work together well.

Not sure how PS3 works, but I would recommend you lock them in forward so you don’t have inadvertent reversing of one.

Looks like John beat me to this😄

I used to double head my old HO ATSF diesels (a Life Like GP38-2 and Bachmann GP40) all the time. They worked very well together. Of course, that was using DC power. In other words, it is possible to lash up O-Scale conventional locos and make them run together.

I use to run 2 conventional locomotives (not MTH) together.  The engines were the same brand and model and ran at about the same speed as John notes above.  I found what was more important than the engine was the track.   If you have your track wired conventionally and stop on a dead spot, when the engine gets power again, this could cause one of the engines to cycle out of forward and it would then have to be reset.  Not a deal-breaker as its fairly easy to fix the dead spot.

Jim

Thanks to all who responded.  I'll try running them separately, as suggested.

John

You can run them together.

You need to have them both facing forward.

The power needs to be gradually turned all the way up so they are both operating.

Press the direction button.

They should operate at the same time, unless you have a spot in the track where the power cuts out.

Here is a photo of my two MTH PREMIER GP9 diesel locos that will operate together in conventional mode.

Andrew

Have run 3 Williams SD90MAC's as if they were MU'ed.  With Williams make sure the power is off for 3 sec. before restarting.

Tried running my two MTH Premier GP7's separately on the same track.   One ran significantly faster than the other, so that lash up won't work!

John

The one that runs faster might have a wire disconnected from a motor.

That was a problem that I had with one of the GP9s, until I solved it.

You might have to check the wires to put it back in place. If the wire is too short, then add a section of wire that is insulated with hot glue.

The Premier locomotives should all run at the same speed under the same voltage when operating correctly.

Andrew

Andrew, thanks for the feedback.  I agree the engines should run at the same speed, but it seems they wouldn’t run so well if there was a broken wire.  I’m also reluctant to remove the shell because it’s such a narrow engine.  It’s easy to pinch a wire putting the shell back on, causing a short and frying the board.  Don’t ask me how I know!

John

Taking the shell off and on an MTH GP9 was much easier than a LIONEL SD40T-2 or ATLAS O GP35.

The wires on the MTH GP9 were less of a problem. The MTH GP7 can not be much different than the MTH GP9.

Andrew

I run Williams By Bachmann as well as MTH Proto 1 in lash ups all the time but not together. In case of a power interruption the reverse units will reset to the same direction in a few seconds. The old lionel e units have to be locked into the desired direction of the locomotive.

Andrew, appreciate your thoughts, but I'm going to heed the advice of the old adage, "if it ain't broke, don't fix it"!  Both GP7's run well, so lashing them up isn't a priority for me.  I'll risk removing the shell only if I have a more serious problem.  Thanks.

John

I've run 4 proto 1s in a lash up. 2weeks ago by accident I ran a proto 2- 6 axle and a lionel tmcc 6 axle in a lash up,conventional. Williams I've run 3.Usually I run as was said separately to ck spd,then do it.