Lashup question with DCS

Lashups via DCS are car independent.  Thus, you can have one car or twenty cars...doesn't matter.  In a lashup the DCS system makes the two or three engines act as one.  Hope this helps.

Beware you used a forbidden word, "LASHUP." Expect to be chided by the CEO! You do mean double heading or adding a helper, yes?

Lashing up multiple engines under DCS will typically increase the pulling power of the train over what a single engine can pull by itself. Note that you can only use DCS (PS2 or PS3) engines together in a DCS lashup.

Make sure that the engines that you use are close enough together in speed so that they are compatible in a lashup. Typically, all PS2/PS3 engines run at close to the same speed. However, every once in a while an engine can run at a significantly different speed.

To test if they are close enough, just run them at the same speed, one behind the other, and see if one quickly catches or runs away from the other. If the gap between them only opens a few inchess over 10-15 feet or so, they are most likely fine to run together in a lashup.

This and a whole lot more is all in "The DCS O Gauge Companion 2nd Edition", now available for purchase as an eBook or a printed book from MTH's web store site! Click on the link below to go to MTH's web page for the book!

Correct, although unless those seven cars are extremely heavy and poor-rolling, chances are that steamer barely knows its pulling anything. You might need 20-30 cars before adding a helper makes a difference

---PCJ

I'd fix the steamer that only pulls 7 cars!

Hello Gunrunnerjohn

Not sure what you mean by 'fix the steamer'?

This engine is from an MTH starter set (30-4208). The 7 cars was only

an example to what it is pulling. Can you elaborate on this.

I have no idea as to how many cars this engine is capable of

pulling.

Thx

Bobby,

I do not understand your reply. Why is this a forbidden word??

What exactly did I get myself into here??

Thx

Each engine must face different directions correct?

 

No, not at all.

Each engine may be designated as starting in forward or reverse, and as regards its position in the lashup. You may have only one head engine and one tail engine, and up to 8 middle engines. That's assuming that your transformer can supply enough power.  

I do not understand your reply. Why is this a forbidden word??

What exactly did I get myself into here??

There's no problem. It's just Bobbie being humorous.

Our esteemed Webmaster, Rich Melvin, has a personal distaste for the term "lashup", since he believes it to be a crude and, perhaps vulgar, term for what is more properly called an "MU", i.e., "multiple unit" consist of engines. Rich is an actual engineer (as in train driver) and is entitled to have his opinions, as are the rest of us.

Regardless, "lashup" is the term referred to in both MTH's DCS, and Lionel's TMCC and Legacy command control systems and documentation, so to promote understanding and avoid confusion, many of us simply use the term that MTH and Lionel use.

I was joking.  It sounded like you were saying it could only pull seven cars, that's all.  I doubt there is anything wrong with it.

I Agree w John.

I have a couple starter set steam engines and each will easily pull more than 7 cars even on tight O-31 curves.

Just put the heavier cars forward in the consist to keep them on the rails in the corners..

Hi Everyone,

Thanks for all the replies, most appreciated.

Sorry I did not pickup the various humorous lines here.

I also will refer to my subject matter here, MUunits in the future.

TrackAhead

I also will refer to my subject matter here, MUunits in the future.

On the contrary, keep calling them lashups when discussing command control. That would be better for those who are new to DCS.

Thanks Barry will do..

Trackhead, here's a video of three Hudsons in a "lashup,"  They are not coupled together and I keep more space between them to have the effect of multiple trains running on the track.  I added cars to the two Empire express Hudsons after making this video.

Always reminds me of the time a kid cussed at Bible camp when I was a kid.....

Be sure and buy a lot of good strong rope to LASH UP your locomotives together. But don't tie off to the handrails...they will bend. 

LASHUP - what a horrible term. 

Time to cue MartyE to post his LASHUP picture!

Rich,

I look forward to your continuing, most entertaining "lashup rants".  

You've got it, Barry! I shall continue my crusade against this silly and misleading term as long as I can post on this forum.

In the meantime, I have purchased a number of shares of stock in a leading rope manufacturer. 

Rich,

In the meantime, I have purchased a number of shares of stock in a leading rope manufacturer.

I know that this lashup stuff upsets you, however, please don't do anything drastic with that rope!

Hi Trackahead,

FYI, the starter set steamers like your 4-6-0 and the 2-8-0 are capable of pulling around 25 cars on a level grade.  You can run more than that if you have wide radius curves (less drag) or lightweight cars.  If you have very heavy cars, like die cast or aluminum cars, you might only pull about 20.  With traction tires, die cast boilers, and very short gearing (28:1) these little engines punch well above their weight.

That will probably be a long time, as I doubt any of us have the means to stop you.

Most internet boards/forums have a 'naughty word' filter option to block certain words.....but what fun would that be withLASHUP!!!!! 

Hmmm....wheels turning....

Rich Melvin + "wheels turning" = 

Hello All,

I just signed in and thanks for all the feedback.

This was very interesting in all the replies..

Have a good day.

Rich:

Instead of the dreaded "L-word" you could program the site to print "L@$#^%"

Trackahead:

What I've found works on our layout consistently is to start up the engines before you MU them together (create the L@$#^%). Then start up the L@$#^%.

Matt,

What I've found works on our layout consistently is to start up the engines before you MU them together

That's not necessary. However,you must have the potential member engines in the Active Engine List before adding them to the Lashup.

Any else that doesn't understand why LASHUP is forbidden?

Bobby,

Any else that doesn't understand why LASHUP is forbidden?

Actually, I find your statements on the subject of lashups to be just plain silly rather than humorous. Don't you think it's time to give it a rest and move on?

Barry,

You got that right....

Did the OP ever tell us what kind of rope he was planning to use?  

Did the OP ever tell us what kind of rope he was planning to use?  

It appears someone is still trying to be funny...

So the Miserable Cur is still good at...being miserable!