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Consisting two lead engines with two pusher engines?

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Homeless by Choice:
I want to climb in the shortest distance possible using a very steep grade.   (Lets forget about traction, etc)  I will approach the grade using a two engine consist, stop, bring up two more engines from behind as pushers.  Now
•   How do you consist the first and second set of engines?
•   Will the consist work so that the center string of cars won’t be pushed off the track (derailed)?
•   How do you “Unlink” the two pusher engines at the top of the grade so they can go back to the bottom of the grade and the train can continue?

Here is what I would like to do:
1.   Link engines 1 and 2 and call them “Pullers”
2.   Link engines 3 and 4 and call them “Pushers”
3.   Stop Train, couple the “Pushers” to train
4.   Link Pushers and Pullers without unlinking the consists “Pullers” and “Pushers” and call them “Climbers”
5.   At the top of the grade, unlink “Climbers”
6.   Return “Pushers” to the bottom of the grade for their next order
7.   Continue the train using the “Pullers”

Is this possible?  The answer will help me design my layout.  I don't have a layout or the RailPro system yet to do my own testing.

Merry Christmas,
LeRoy

G8B4Life:
The way you want to do this is not yet possible that I know of.  It might be with a software upgrade. Has anyone discussed this scenario with with Tim Ring?

Basically you'll either have to link the pullers and pushers as a single MU (think DPU), control them as independent MU's with very fast finger work from the one controller or use two controllers. I think the last choice is what most in the hobby that use some form of digital control do for pushers; even DCC can't control two separate MU's as one.

As for using pullers and pushers, or DPU, it works quite well with RailPro. There are a few video's around showing it.

- Tim

nodcc4me:
If you link the pullers and separately link the pushers, the pullers will not communicate with the pushers and vice versa. This could possibly cause the pushers to derail cars up the line. If you use two controllers, this could still happen. Since the MU linking and unlinking process can be done very quickly with this system, you may be better off unlinking the pullers, then attach the linked pushers, unlink them, then link all four together. At the hilltop unlink them all, uncouple the pushers, then link the pullers and pushers separately to move them off. It sounds complicated, but in practice, this can be done very quickly and the chance of derailing cars is minimized.

William Brillinger:
Linking and unlinking consists is so easy, there is no reason to worry about breaking up existing consists.


* Pull the pushers up to the train
* unlink the pusher set
* unlink the puller set
* form a new link with all 4 locos
* move the train
* unlink the units
* relink the 2 consists
* done.

Dean:
I have done this. Not adding pushers, but having pushers in the middle of a string of cars.
Try this. Build a consist with the lead engines, not the pushers. Run the consist and cars to the grade. Add the pushers to the end of the train, individually. Then delete the consist and build a new consist using the original consist engines and the pushers. Make sure the 'lead' engine is at the front of the train. Now run your train.
When done, delete the consist and build a new consist using the lead engines.
This description is harder than actually doing the consisting.
My consist with pushers goes up a 2.6% grade and around a 360 degree curve. ( think one loop helix ) The way RailPro does consisting I have never had a problem with the cars between the engines. It's great.
Unfortunately I haven't found a way to consist two different consist. Yet   :)

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