is it safe for the engines if you run more than one locomotive on the same track hooked together like you see freight trains? I have n scale and about 12 locos if you include the diesels but i was wondering if you can hook more than one into each other.
Absolutely!! (and it looks good too!!) I do it almost everytime I run my trains, the one thing to be sure of is they are comperable in speed and your powerpack (transformer) can handle the load.
Ryan,
I assume you are probably running your layout on DC. Yes, you can hook your locomotives together, called consisting or MUing (i.e. Multiple Units), and run them. However, it’s a little tricky with DC because locomotive A may run at a faster or slower speed than locomotive B. Hence, you’ll have one locomotive either pulling or pushing the other. This is okay but puts stress on both the locomotive and couplers.
Ryan, this is an area where DCC has some real advantages. You can program and link the decoders in both locomotives so that they respond to the SAME address and commands. In other words, instead of having 2 locomotives running independently, you have 2 locomotives running as ONE unit. Pretty cool, huh? And not that difficult to accomplish - i.e. as long as you have a DCC system.
Something to think about…
Tom
Yes, you can run as many locos on the same track as you want, as long as you don’t overload your power supply. This applies to DC as well as DCC. With DC you may get some surging as the locos each run at their own speed. I minimize this by running only like manufractures together (Athearn with Athearn, P2K with P2K, and Atlas with Atlas.)
NIck
A little trick is to take all your locos and check each one at the same speed setting on your power supply, and note witch ones runs the same then work those togethor.[^][:)]
JIM
Yes you can, but watch your polarity on a DC layout. If you put DC locos back to back you have a tug-o-war! Its easier on a DCC layout, you can program the ‘normal direction of travel’ and eliminate the problem.
The simple answer is yes, just note the above.
Good luck and have fun.
To solve any frame shorting through the couplers, make sure you isolate the coupler box , or use the plastic shank Kadee 30, 40 series . The common problen was metal #5 mounted on an Athearn, Yup Tug-o-war as stated.
Bob K.
Are you sure? I believe that if you place DC locos back to back, they will run in the same direction.
If wired according to NMRA standards all DC locomotives will run in the same direction no matter which way they face. So back to back locos WILL run in the same direction.
However, running locomotives (like Athearn BB) that are grounded to the frame, back to back can short through the couplers. The best way to avoid this to use plastic shank couplers. Any loco marked as DCC ready does not have this issue.
Nick