Can traditional/postwar engines couple up and pull together?

Frank:

Technically, a powered dummy is no longer a dummy unit - it becomes a second powered engine.

To your question though, if both engines are Postwar or MPC the reverse units do need to be “locked” into your direction of travel. Generally speaking, you’ll also want to run like make / model of engines to address your second concern, namely that they pull at the same rate, more or less.

Curt

Assuming they are really postwar, Curt’s answer is what you should do.  Remember that these were built as toys to be run as individuals, not as multiple units, so there is no reason to expect them to play nice together.  Follow Curt’s instructions, put the engines on the track but don’t couple them.  Turn on the power; if one runs away from the other, don’t couple them or you may damage the motors.

If they are really DCS locomotives, come back with the locomotive model numbers.

Good luck.

@John H posted:

Just which DCS engines are you referring to?

John and Dan, My assumption, was that DCS engines were able to pull together. Now, showing my ignorance, I will look up what DCS is. I only have Postwar engines. And I had a dummy engine arrive as a powered unit. I was responding to the videos of multiple units "Engines" and assumed they pulled together, combining power, pull and traction.

Thanks for your thoughts

Frank, the best thing to do is what Curt and Dan suggest. Put them on the track not coupled and see how close their speeds are.

You could wire the dummy unit motor(s) to the e unit of the main engine.   It would be an external wire harness.   Then both engines would do whatever the one e unit dictates.  There was an explanation in one of jim barret for videos.

Or put electronic e-units in both engines.  They would reset to forward direction and het back in sync anytime you cut the power for about 5 seconds.

Let’s get our terms correct. There is no such thing as a “powered dummy” unit. It’s an oxymoron.

If a locomotive has a motor, it is not a dummy.

@Miggy posted:

John and Dan, My assumption, was that DCS engines were able to pull together. Now, showing my ignorance, I will look up what DCS is. I only have Postwar engines. And I had a dummy engine arrive as a powered unit. I was responding to the videos of multiple units "Engines" and assumed they pulled together, combining power, pull and traction.

Thanks for your thoughts

DCS is MTH’s digital control system.  Similar to Lionel’s TMCC and Legacy, it uses DC motors and electronics to control motor speed.  Your statement is mostly correct in that MOST DCS will pull a train together.  Likewise, MOST TMCC/Legacy locomotive will work together.  DCS and TMCC/Legacy locomotives will not work together.

The term “dummy” refers to any locomotive that does not have a motor.  It is a toy train term not used in real railroading.

Your postwar locomotives are, usually, referred to as conventional or traditional.  It means that you move the handle on the transformer to make it go.  The E unit, mechanical or electronic, changes direction as you interrupt power.

Based on your mentioning E units and your other post about a 675, Curt and I are assuming that you have traditional postwar trains and answered your question on that basis.

I edited Miggy's title to better reflect what I believe he is trying to find out.

@Rich Melvin posted:

Let’s get our terms correct. There is no such thing as a “powered dummy” unit. It’s an oxymoron.

If a locomotive has a motor, it is not a dummy.

"I, I Resemble that remark for I am 5 and 1/2 years old and a dummy" (logic science and data will prevail)

Thanks Rich <salute>

@Miggy posted:

Seems they would not pull at the same rate. Can someone explain...

If they are similar engines, then they will run fine together... after all, as Lionel made "twin" motored diesels that are actually the mechanicals of two single motored units on one chassis they thought it was just fine. Take for example the 2383 Santa Fe easily  explained as being two 2243 diesels but with both motors under the same shell. If you want to connect them to one reverse unit, that is easily done with a 3 wire tether between the two units and leaving/locking the unused E-Unit in the neutral position.

Here is the basic diagram for tethering the two units with a three wire plug/socket(or hardwired). The green circled bundle is the 3 wires between the diesels.

So, when a (toy) dummy becomes motorized, shall we call it a "slug"?

Dick

@TypeHxfmr posted:

shall we call it a "slug"?

Not if it has a cab & controls(e-unit & electrical connections to the motor).

Sorry, I was thinking of "B units". Toy B-units are exceedingly "dumb" too.

Dick

Yes they can run together.  As mentioned, probably best if they are the same.

Both of these are powered, one is forward only, the other set to forward only.

Once they warm up a little, they play well together.

@Soo Line posted:

Yes they can run together.  As mentioned, probably best if they are the same.

Both of these are powered, one is forward only, the other set to forward only.

Once they warm up a little, they play well together.

Love those CN alcos.......joe

"Hey ALEXA, Do a WIKI search for SLUG in reference to Toy Train"

To quote a wise man, " the more I know...."