Multiple Trains on a Track, Same Speed?

There are a lot of variables at play here.  Type of engine and consist, total pulling power and weight.  I would start with two trains first and "balance" them speed-wise on the track.  Make small speed adjustments until they are equal distances apart and remain that way for the majority of the time.  Then add a third train and do the same.  As far as I know, there is no onboard speed compensation for line traffic or active object avoidance "block learn" built into DCS or Legacy.  

 

But take heart, that tech is progressing rapidly in our newest cars, so it's only a matter of time until we can scale it down.  

Paul,

Typically, they will run very close to the same speed, however there may be some variation.

I expect that you would get similar results with TMCC or Legacy.

Your mileage may vary,,,

Good afternoon Paul

I run three trains on one loop almost all the time, with DCS. Like Volphin said, each train has a different amount of drag or weight so you have to just try it and adjust. Sometimes I change the locomotive, sometimes I add one, sometimes changing the consist one or two cars. I use the DCS All button a lot. You can control each train independently when using All button. During this weekend open house I will do it this way. Two operators called off.

 

Clem

Blissfield Railroad Days' Events - Blissfield Main Street

Thanks everyone for your imput. I will have to get out my updated version of the DCS O Gauge Companion by Barry B. and learn about the DCS "All" button. I never knew about it until now!

You put any two PS2 locomotives on the same loop of track at the same speed setting and eventually one will catch up with the other. There are subtle difference in speed even among the same model.

 

The issue is whether that speed difference is sufficient enough to cause serious problems. The answer to that is usually no. You will have to periodically adjust the speed of one train or another due to slippage on curves and/or grades.

Paul:  With DCS there is some accuracy with speed control.  With Legacy/TMCC you have to do the settings and then keep watching to see that the engines are going the same or nearly the same speed.

 

Having said that, even with DCS, there are some variations.  Example;  If you set say, a steam engine at 35 mph and try to match it with a Shay at 35 mph, it isn't going to happen.  The Shay probably can't even go 20 mph in either real life or in model.  But I have seen three separate trains on one long track each powered by a diesel and each pulling about 20 freight cars or the equivalent,  each holding to  the set speed for a number of hours without endangering any of the trains.  You can accomplish this with either Lionel system but it does become more of a trial and error type of thing.

 

Paul Fischer

Actually, for the same CAB2 setting, most Legacy engines will do at well as DCS engines in maintaining the same speed.  They don't represent the settings as scale MPH, apparently MTH patented that idea, but they run consistently.  If they didn't, they'd have problems when you do an MU (lashup) consist with Legacy engines.

I was running two LCT 263's all weekend on the same somewhat small loop. Only needed to tweak the spacing about once every half hour. I have two 384'S that just cannot seem to pace each other well and need fairly constant attention.

 

Steve

 

Paul, I run multiple trains on 11 loops with a mixture of Legacy and Proto 2. Specifically, I place the fastest Proto2 train in front followed closely with the next fastest train and then the slowest.  If I have a Legacy train, I run that after the DCS trains.  The one caviat is that you might have to leave some extra spacing when a slower train might start up faster than the faster train until they get up to speed. I put a legacy train behind the DCS trains because at the speed I run my trains (10-20 smph) I have 3 speed steps for each smph to get the Legacy train to closely match the slowest DCS train.  I use the DCS "All" command to start the DCS trains at the same speed. You can do the same with the Legacy TR command as I use the DCS "ALL" command.  I decided not to use Legacy loops because with the TR command to start multiple Legacy trains you can not have MUs with multiple Legacy trains and access each train individually as you can with the Proto 2 engines. Note that sometimes things do not work was you might expect. With DCS 4.01, you could use MUs with the component engines tail to tail and have it work.  Prior to that with DCS 3.X the MUs had to be oriented in the same direction. With 4.01 you could have them tail to tail and then with 4.3 the issue resurfaces and they need to be in the same orientation if you use the "ALL" command. If you access the DCS 4.3 MU directly it works properly regardless of the engine orientation.

Hi everyone! I just had the opportunity to use the "ALL" button on my DCS remote. I had 3 PS3 trains going at once. I had a RK Scale FM Trainmaster pulling 14 scale boxcars with  a caboose at the end. Next I had a RK Scale GP-9 with a non-powered Lionel GP-9 as a MU pulling 6 scale boxcars and a caboose. The 3rd engine was a RK Scale SW-9 pulling two scale cars and a caboose. I set the speed at 35mph and let them go. I ran them for about 1/2 hour without any noticeable change in the spacing of the three. I felt like a kid with a brand new toy! This is the only way to run a railroad. Now I can run almost all my engines at the same time. I realize I will have to keep an eye out for any creeping up of one train on another, but at 35 mph, that won't be a problem. I want to thank all of you for your help. You guys really made my day.

Before I close, does Lionel offer that same feature with Legacy/TMCC? I would love to have all 6 of my engines going at once! Thanks again guys.  

Legacy locomotives are just as consistent in their speeds, and engine #99 is the ALL command for Legacy.  Note that early Legacy locomotives don't recognize #99, but around 2009 or 2010 they do.

 

Gunrunnerjohn, I have a Lionel 2013 Legacy F-7 Consist and a Weaver RS-3 TMCC which I don't know when it was built. If I press eng 99 will that give me joint control?

Good evening Paul

 

Love that all button! Once you get them going you can then select one of them or start another one and run it independently. 

 

Clem 

Coincidentally, I ran two LionChief Plus locos on the same track today.   As long as they were on the same setting on the remote, they ran without gaining on each other for 1/2 hour (when I shut down).   That was nice.  One is a Pacific, the other was a Hudson.   So I can no run 4 trains concurrently without intervention.   Nice for train watching.

Lots of great info here....thank you!

 

Peter