Non Sequential Lash-Ups

Prototype RRs break up the locomotive consists based on power needs and have for a long time.     Generally B-units were not run alone, but A  units were.    On road trains, in the F-unit era, generally at least 2 unnits were needed based on their HP.    So A-B sets etc were more the norm.    Roadswitchers were common single units on freights. 

In the modern era I see trains now with only one unit, or one unit on the front and DPU in the middle or on the rear.

On my layout, I generally don't run F-Units or Alco FA-FB as singles, mostly because of looks and I assign them to longer trains.    I have some sets of road switchers - RS3s, GP9s, RS11s that are sometimes run as sets and sometimes by them selves.    I try to put road switchers on the locals but sometimes an A-A set.   If there is about 10 or less cars, it is generally 1 unit.   If more than that most often 2 units.    I have 1 1/2 percent grade and if the train is too long, one  unit can't get it  up the grade.

I only have one set of 3 units - an A-B-A set of Baldwin sharks.    I run mostly 2 units road trains because 3 just looks loke too much for the train involved.

@prrjim posted:

Prototype RRs break up the locomotive consists based on power needs and have for a long time.     Generally B-units were not run alone, but A  units were.    On road trains, in the F-unit era, generally at least 2 unnits were needed based on their HP.    So A-B sets etc were more the norm.    Roadswitchers were common single units on freights.

In the modern era I see trains now with only one unit, or one unit on the front and DPU in the middle or on the rear.

On my layout, I generally don't run F-Units or Alco FA-FB as singles, mostly because of looks and I assign them to longer trains.    I have some sets of road switchers - RS3s, GP9s, RS11s that are sometimes run as sets and sometimes by them selves.    I try to put road switchers on the locals but sometimes an A-A set.   If there is about 10 or less cars, it is generally 1 unit.   If more than that most often 2 units.    I have 1 1/2 percent grade and if the train is too long, one  unit can't get it  up the grade.

I only have one set of 3 units - an A-B-A set of Baldwin sharks.    I run mostly 2 units road trains because 3 just looks loke too much for the train involved.

You would classify all of these as A units...for HO scale a mix of ET44AH and ES44AC and for O scale all ES44AC (one being unpowered).  For the HO scale consist, three ET44AH are in the front and one ES44AC in the middle...all powered.  The issue I have with running the unpowered unit in the midst of the consist is no sound.

The one other issue I've ran into with the separation is that the loan engine(s) sometimes run at slightly different speed that their counterparts.  For the HO, there are CV values that can be adjusted.  For O, oh well.

A

Here's one of many instances I did, this is two Legacy U-boats, one is in the middle of the consist.

"The one other issue I've ran into with the separation is that the loan engine(s) sometimes run at slightly different speed that their counterparts.  For the HO, there are CV values that can be adjusted.  For O, oh well."

We use the same CVs or speed tables as HO.

O Scale DCC is identical to HO electrically, just runs with higher amperage.   In fact many of the newer engines don't even require higher amps. 

We use the same DCC systems and CVs.     I use a Digitrax Simplex system on my 2 rail layout, the local 2-rail club has NCE.    NCE is probably more common around here.    One of the guys in our group runs 3 RAIL SCALE, and he uses NCE DCC.   He removes the proprietary 3 rail electronics and installs DCC decoders in his locos.  

@A. Wells posted:

The one other issue I've ran into with the separation is that the loan engine(s) sometimes run at slightly different speed that their counterparts.  For the HO, there are CV values that can be adjusted.  For O, oh well.

No problem at all for Legacy or DCS, and TMCC with ERR cruise can be adjusted.  TMCC with Odyssey I is sometimes a problem.  Usually, TMCC without cruise unless the gear ratios are pretty widely different isn't a problem either.

@prrjim posted:

"The one other issue I've ran into with the separation is that the loan engine(s) sometimes run at slightly different speed that their counterparts.  For the HO, there are CV values that can be adjusted.  For O, oh well."

We use the same CVs or speed tables as HO.

O Scale DCC is identical to HO electrically, just runs with higher amperage.   In fact many of the newer engines don't even require higher amps.

We use the same DCC systems and CVs.     I use a Digitrax Simplex system on my 2 rail layout, the local 2-rail club has NCE.    NCE is probably more common around here.    One of the guys in our group runs 3 RAIL SCALE, and he uses NCE DCC.   He removes the proprietary 3 rail electronics and installs DCC decoders in his locos. 

FYI: I'm using the ESU Cab Control (II) for my HO Layout (was using MTH DCS but now the # of non MTH HO loco's far exceeds the MTH count).  I like the fact that the ESU remote adjusts the buttons based on the functionality present in the decoder and you can add your own functions as needed.  Also, being able to place a locomotive on the track and have it auto add without worrying about id assignment or conflict is really nice.

Anthony

@gunrunnerjohn posted:

No problem at all for Legacy or DCS, and TMCC with ERR cruise can be adjusted.  TMCC with Odyssey I is sometimes a problem.  Usually, TMCC without cruise unless the gear ratios are pretty widely different isn't a problem either.

John, I know this has been discussed before, but as I recall, when running two engines with Odyssey 1 that don't have on/off switches, it's a maybe/maybe not situation, as you say, but often the latter. But with engines that are equipped with the later Odyssey 1 with on/off switches, is it best to turn off the Odyssey on one engine, or both of them?

I'd first check and see if they run together with cruise on.  If not, then you'll have to turn at least one of them off, and maybe both of them.  If you turn speed control off on one, my preference would be the slower one.  And, if there is too great a difference in the speed curves, it's really not going to work anyway.

Thanks.