Hey there,fellow model railroaders out there, I'm just getting started in the world of HO scale trains, and I was wondering how to run locomotives in consist with each other on a Bachmann EZ Command Plus DCC controller. So far the only way I figured it out was to switch back and forth to each engines address while running, but that makes for some slightly uneven acceleration. What I was really after is how I can achieve that perfect scenario of paired acceleration and decceleration with horn and bell sounds coming only from the lead locomotive. Any advice or suggestions are greatly welcomed!
One would need a more advanced system beyond the EZ command to truly "consist" locomotives to operate as a unit. I suppose it's possible to run multiple engines at once with the EZ command, but they would have to be perfectly speed matched to not play tug-of-war with each other. "Consisting" engines to make only the lead engine in charge and be the only one making certain sounds is an advanced feature on Advanced DCC systems. Likewise with speed matching.
I'm speaking about the basic EZ command, the plus version may have more advanced features. I'm not familiar with.
Questions keep popping up on the forum showing that limitations and purpose of the EZ command are not well understood. You have to think of the EZ command as basically being the DCC version of the old train "transformer." It is really directed to the train set market, very good at running one DCC locomotive at a time, delivering basic sound control, and being able to address different locomotives, which are really intended to be held stationary until selected. Beyond that, you need more selective and specifically directed control to simultaneous operation of individual units. This is not a flaw of the EZ command, Bachmann really hit a home run with its creation, making DCC train sets an affordable possibility.
But they are not intended for more advanced model railroad operations.
Thanks Trainman203, that was truly a huge help in answering that question! Are there any advanced DCC controllers you would recommend for that type of running? Thanks again.
I run a pair of f7's consisted. I made them both the same address.
Kervin, since we're in the Bach Man's house, I'm reluctant to recommend different brands of equipment here. Bachmann offers an advanced system, there are people on the forum that use it, and I'm sure they would be happy to discuss it with you. It's not the system I use, but when I got it almost 20 years ago I wasn't aware of the bachmann system. There are two other systems I am immediately aware of, I'm sure there are YouTube videos that can help you select your system.
I spent a long time reading online about this one and that one, and finally made my choice based on what a couple of people told me. I still have it. I have never looked back. I have been very happy running DCC operations since around 2008 or so. If you send me a personal message, I'll tell you in detail about it, but I'm reluctant to do it out here in the main forum.
I won't be able to offer you any help in actually consisting multiple diesel engines since all I run is steam locomotives, I never have and never will do otherwise. A couple of times I ran double headers on a steep grade on my layout, but I had another operator present, and each locomotive was controlled by a separate engineer, just like the real ones were. To be clear, you have to have separate cabs for each locomotive. Doing that, both engineers have to be extremely careful about proper speed control between the engines. The lead locomotive always needs to be a molecule faster than the second one or they will bunch up the slack and fight each other . Seperate control of prototype helper engines was a major complication in the days of steam and was one contributing factor to their end. And a major source of fun on a model railroad.
Set both engines to the same address. Many people do this. Its easy and works fine
You can do that. Then all the different horns will be blowing at the same time and sounding ridiculous together.
I think there are currently 4 US made advanced DCC system available now. The system I went with has just grown with my layout. My first system is still the core Command station for my layout. I just added new throttles and expanded it over the last 25ish years.
Another option would be to replace your current decoders with Bluetooth decoders. (If you do not mind using you smart phone or IPad for your throttle).
Up to a point I agree with Trainman203 about not discussing other manufacturers products here, unless it's something Bachmann doesn't offer that enhances using their products. In the case of Bachmann's DCC locomotives, to access the full functionality of the decoder, especially sound decoders, requires something more capable than the EZ-Command. I think even the Bach-man will agree with this.
Without giving any specific recommendation, or personal preference. these are the more common 'Starter' DCC systems that give full configuration control of decoders. Read up on them and make your own decision which might be best for your situation and budget. In no particular order:
NCE 5240025 Power Cab DCC Starter System
Digitrax DTXZEPE Zephyr Express Starter Set DCS52
TCS LT-50, DCC Starter System With Throttle
MRC 0001420 PRODIGY EXPRESS 2 DCC SYSTEM
Len
Not hard. Mute the second, third, etc engines in consist
Easy and easy to undo
If all those engines are running on the same address, you can't selectively program individual engines to do different things, they're all running as one.
Plus, you have the speed matching problem. HO couplers are never very tight, and you'll see those engines pulling away from each other, then slacking and bumping each other the whole way as they fight each other for dominance running at slightly different speeds.
I don't ever run multiple diesels or even diesels at all, but that compounding slacking them bumping is bad enough for two engineers running double headed steam engines. It was equally a bad problem or worse on the prototype, and coupler knuckles or draw bars were pulled all the time with improperly operated helpers.
I remember seeing photographs of SP steam freights out west with sometimes two or three mid-train helpers, in pre-train-radio days. There were brakemen periodically spaced on the car tops with flags to relay signals back-and-forth between the several engines, which were all large cab forwards, or malleys as the SP called them. I can't imagine such an operation and would be certain that trains parting out on the line due to coupler or drawbar failure because of heavy slack action was fairly common.
Also I recommend reading all these systems manuals Multiple Unit "MU" operations section. The system I use adding and removing locomotives from an MU is different between new and older Throttles. You may like how one system does it over another.
And another note about using the DCC system to MU, is locomotive direction can be prototypical. In a 4 unit MU you can have 2 units forward 1 unit reversed and then 1 unit forward again. This is very fun and neat to setup and watch. And you can also set up an Push/Pull MU for an Amtrak train. For steam I use it for help services over steep grades. (Like modeling Winding Stair Mountain).
The professional DCC controllers take the fun out of consisting. Excerpt paraphrase from a previous topic:
"Doesn't consisting of individual engines take the fun out of railroading? Now if you are talking about having two engines on the same track and you want these two to stay spaced apart as they move around the track, that's one thing. But if you are using them in a consist configuration, that's where all the fun is. You can take either the first and/or the second engine and manually control their speed as a part of the fun to keep them at an equal stance with one another. The real fun comes in descending or ascending a grade where one engine may need assistance to support the other. To me that's a lot of fun keeping pace with the movement of the entire train, and it's an artist that can control both engines, keeping them from jerking along, but produce smooth movement".
Understand that the professional DCC controllers will allow you to do that consisting, or set the two diesel decoders to the same address, the way the other responders have indicated. I have the older Bachmann DCC controllers that allowed for two separate controls for each engine. Sorry, Bachmann doesn't make them anymore. But for me, I have great fun taking a lead engine with 10 cars, and a second engine in the middle with a trailing 8 cars and move them in unison on my layout. I perform speed matching on the fly.
I also was told, and I quote:
Quote"Why do all that to get two locomotives to run together when you can program them to do so? The way you are trying to do this, every time you want to speed up or slow down you have to adjust both locomotives, and until you make those adjustments, they will fight each other. Can you imagine what would happen on the real railroads if the engineer had to keep running from unit to unit adjusting throttle settings?"
So to me that's where the real fun comes in.
Whatever you decide- keep the fun in it! I have!