So then, "consist" means "everything" in the train? All locomotives AND cars?

Quote from: trainman203 on May 04, 2024, 07:12:31 PM"Consist" used to mean the cars in a train.  I don't know when it started meaning a bunch of diesels coupled together.

Consist is the proper railroading term. This is one case where the model world and the real world agree on the term. I remember as a kid sitting in towers on the B&O listening to the consist being given to the dispatcher for trains leaving the yard. The info given included the numbers of every unit in the consist, whether it was running or dead, car count expressed as loads vs empties, and caboose number(s) all over the train line, which was a party line telephone system that connected all the towers with the dispatcher. We were always on the lookout for odd number series in the consists, such as the rare occasions when a C&O GE u boat would stray onto the B&O main.

Can't do any of that on EZ command.  It is a train set unit, designed to at least open the door to DCC and sound for train sets. 

The customizing of CV settings is a more advanced Model Railroad process.  Most train set people don't want to fool with that or don't even know about it. So Bachmann has properly produced a unit that provides just enough DCC features to please them, allowing basic sound and some basic functions. 

EZ command is basically DCC training wheels.  At some point you'll want to take them off and get a big boy bike.  It took me a year to do that.  EZ command was great for a while, but it finally got old.  When I did get a full DCC system, it was akin to seeing the universe for the first time through the Hubble telescope.

Hmmm..........All I have is EZ Command Plus.

Well, I am very pleasantly surprised. My copy of the 2024 On30 Annual arrived today. I placed the order on April 14. This is absolutely the fastest that I have ever received the Annual, and I have been ordering since 2017 or 2018. Usually, it has taken 8 to 10 weeks but last year it took about 6 months. Anyway, I'm a happy camper. Now to my recliner and some serious reading 

I'm sure I'm not the only one who's had problems with zinc happen on the 1:20.3 Scale Spectrum Diecast Trucks on the Murphy Roof Boxcars.  All 3 of mine have had their trucks come down with zinc rot.  I was able to buy replacement ones for one, and get one replacement truck for another, but they're now out of stock and I can't buy anymore.
Do ones from Accucraft or Ozark Miniatures work? 
Also do you think Bachmann will produce a new batch given that they're ALWAYS producing batches of metal diecast trucks for the Spectrum Shays?
Any answer will help, thank you!

The D axles have remedied the problem of the older splined gear designs of the constant splitting and breaking.
However if you can't get ahold of the D shaped gear and axle, your best bet is to order an after market drive gear from Northwest Shortline.  Those will last you forever and never break given the thicker plastic.
They used to sell the metal gears from the newer spectrum Moguls, but because someone posted about converting their 2008 4-4-0 American from having a plastic gearbox to a metal gearbox on social media, many others jumped on the band wagon, and the bronze gear boxes from the 2017 Moguls sold out like hotcakes.
So best bet, Northwest Shortline gears.

A doubleheader was the steam era equivalent of a "consist."  Except they were independently operated by two different crews, whose coordination had to be perfect to avoid damage or worse.

"Consist" used to mean the cars in a train.  I don't know when it started meaning a bunch of diesels coupled together.

Cv's 209 and 210 govern motor control.

This will work for any sound value engine, and for Tsunami before series 2.

1.  Get engine on a track controlled by a system that can change cv settings (no EZ Command)
2.  Set cv 2 (starting voltage), 3 and 4 (momentum), 209 and 210 (motor control) to 0.
3.  Set throttle to step 1.  Engine won't move yet.
4.  Try gradually increasing cv 210 value until engine barely starts to move.  It will be jerky.
5.  Slowly increase cv 209 value until jerkiness smooths out.
6.  Set momentum values for smooth start and stop.  I like cv3=100 and cv 4=50 but you may want more or less, experiment.

At this point that baby ought to start and stop silky smooth and crawl like an ant.

If things slip up you can always reset with cv8=8 plus track power interruption.

Sound value.  I've read that the TCS decoders are even better.  Hard to imagine how.  And yes, the smooth running at slow speed makes it nice and easy to manipulate connecting cars, navigating turnouts....etc.