Double-heading steam

RR,

  Can't really say what will happen, however I just picked up another Weaver 0-8-0 Masonic Steam Engine to double head my Masonic Train, it should be here shortly, after I run her double, I will let you know about the power.  I am looking forward to having Guns install ERR in this particular Weaver engine also.

Heck if I were you I would definitely pick up an additional K4 and see what happens.

PCRR/Dave

Yes, it will. How much depends on just a few things. Are you running in command? Same brands (or boards)?

I run multiple engines in almost all my trains. Sometimes it appears that you can pull more than double adding a second engine. I don't have traction tires on my 2 rail engines. Sometimes a single unit may slip on certain areas and a second engine takes the load, constantly pulling. When they're both working in tandem, they do  much better overcoming whatever is thrown at them. When 3 or 4 diesels are at the head end, it's hard to hold them to see how strong they are. I've run as many as a dozen engines just for kicks. I can find a weak coupler pretty fast if I'm not careful.

I figure that running many engines on a heavy train, should make it much easier on the mechanicals of each engine.

RR,

It sure will increase pulling power, I am running a heavy Military Train at the BDSME open houses (see announcements) using a Lionel TMCC PRR Y3 and a TMCC PRR M1a, had to fool with stall speed settings but they run great together and pull that HEAVY train.

My friend Kevin is double heading his Legacy Big Boy and Challanger. Legacy does better doing double, triple headers than TMCC, no fooling with stall speeds. In January I will be running double headed Legacy K4s and don't expect any issues.

Don't know about MTH engines but I assume PS2 & 3 engine double head the same as TMCC engines and increase pulling power just like a real railroad.

Good luck

JohnB

Double   Go for the triple 

I say go for FOUR!

Jim,

In a nutshell, Lionel Legacy locos all play well together under Legacy control. You can usually combine any number of them for added pulling power.

 Lionel TMCC locos may require adjusting stall speed and some may never get "in sync" regarding starting voltage or running speed.

MTH's PS-2 and PS-3 locos should work well together under DCS control.

Good morning Jim If running DCS all MTH can lashup  with any MTH DCS locomotive. You can even do an 0-6-0 with a northern or diesels. They all play well with each other.

Thanks Guys,

Now I have to find the MONEY for the project.!  Anyone know of a used K-4 vision-line, for sale?

Two K4's are going to look good

graz posted:

Jim,

In a nutshell, Lionel Legacy locos all play well together under Legacy control. You can usually combine any number of them for added pulling power.

 Lionel TMCC locos may require adjusting stall speed and some may never get "in sync" regarding starting voltage or running speed.

MTH's PS-2 and PS-3 locos should work well together under DCS control.

How about Lionchief+   Still trying to figure out if its possible to doublehead two of them ?

Joe

As long as it's a Legacy LionMaster.  There is no such thing as a LionMaster+.

Lionel has conventional, Legacy/TMCC, and Lion Chief/Lion Chief+ as the control systems.

Model lines are Traditional/Semi-Scale, LionMaster, and Scale.

You can get all three model lines in Legacy/TMCC.  You can double head any Legacy locomotive with any other Legacy locomotive.  TMCC  didn't double head so well.  You'd have better luck if it was the same model locomotive released about the same time.  Double heading different locomotive models with TMCC was near impossible.

Lion Chief/Lion Chief+ are only Semi-Scale.  You can only double head those if they use the same remote.  So they will have the same cab number too, unless you change it yourself.

Conventional locomotives could be double headed if they ran the same speed on the track together, but if one got out of directional sync, then it was a mess.

2 is nice, especially when pulling the preferred consist

Always a hit at train shows.  These two 0-6-0s would couple easily and worked well together all day long.   Z 4000 conventional handle control.  You had to be sure both were in the forward mode and started together.

Looks good - triple heading

Jim,

Legacy K4s in PRR schemes are tuff to find, I was able to set a PW 1330 off of the buy/sell forum this past summer. My first K4 started life as a Polar RR which I had painted over to PRR # 3880. A month ago either Mario's or Pat's trains had Polar RR  K4 on sale for a real low price. You can do a search or just call them. Of course you have to have it painted.

JohnB

PSU1980 posted:

Looks good - triple heading

Here in Chicago at the Billy Goat Tavern on Lower Michigan (the prototype for the SNL “Cheezborger – Pepsi” skit from the 1970s), when ordering a burger the cooks will often give you this advice. “Single guut. Dubble better. Treeeple: best!” I think that applies here as well.

If you've never been there, highly suggest a quick trip through for lunch - it takes a bit of looking to find it as it's at "ground" level (there is another level of streets above it in this part of the city).  Here's what it looks like at noon down there...

Here's a photo of my double-headed Williams PRR K4s'.  They were upgraded to TMCC (Railsounds 4.0, EOB, rear electro-coupler) by TrainAmerica in the mid-2000s.  I added a front coupler to one of them to permit double-heading.

I also used that locomotive in "snapper" service (PRR lingo for a rear pusher).  Unfortunately, the layout is not really big enough to support this.  For a really cool look at that type of operation, check out the new OGR video - specifically Bob Bartizek's Pennsylvania & Western.  That is awesome!!!!

George