MUing in DC

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
1

Hi guys. I’ve a question about MUing (and or double heading) HO locomotives in DC. Do you put the slower locomotive in front or behind the faster locomotive? I don’t want to damage my models, but I crave double heading. Running trains with one locomotive gets boring…

Any tips[?]

2

i always put the slow one behind, that way nothing is being pushed and there is less stress on the motor/gearbox

3

But wouldn’t there be stress on the trailing locomotives motor to go faster?

4

yes, ive just been told that the stress is greater if a loco is being pushed. could be wrong though.

5

Pushing the slower locomotive will create slack action in the couplers,thus a disconnection of sort.

6

I used to always put the faster running loco in front for the same reasons that have been mentioned. But think about it, the 2nd loco is pulling a train, and is loaded down so it will run even slower causing the lead to pull even harder on it. Now, I run the faster one 2nd, is slowed by working and the lead is just going along for the ride until such time it is needed as a helper on a grade or turn.
Bob K.

7

Thanks for the input, guys.

The locomotives I typically double head are my FEF-3, my SD70M, and my SD7. The FEF-3, having traction tires, pulls like mad on the SD70M and or the SD7 when it’s leading. I’m afraid the couplers will tear off or the trailing locomotives will get ruined. Same with the SD70M and the SD7.

8

slower loco last --if it has a worm gear drive there is no way for it to overspeed by a faster engine pulling it ,the faster engine will slow down to match the other one- if the difference in speed is too great the faster engine could slip it’s wheels or if it’s powerful enough it’d drag the slow engine(if it has the power to drag the train and the other engine you don’t need 2 engines)