Out of sync

Let us know what era trains you are referring to.

Pre- and post-war trains use an electromechanical E-unit. They can get out of synch, and the only way to get them playing nicely together again is to operate one of the E-unit ON-OFF levers manually, (with the track power ON) until you get them going in the same direction.

Later trains from other Lionel-compatible manufacturers (and possibly Lionel themselves, but I can't say with authority) use electronic E-units. Many of these have a built-in timing feature that will force the locomotive into forward, after a pre-determined time lapse. That is the way the modern manufacturers overcame the out-of-synch problem.

If you have post-war locomotives, you can replace the E/M E-units with after-market electronic ones from Dallee, for example. They have the "start in forward" (and I believe also a "start in neutral") feature.

They were manufactured within the last 20 years.

So should I try waiting like 60 seconds with them off when they get out of sync, then turn on the power to get them into sync?

Marcus,

Do you know what the item number is for each loco?  The last 20 years has seen a lot of changes in electronic technology.  Are they conventional engines or are they Command Control?  If CC, do you use a CC system (TMCC, DCS, DCC, etc)?