I have just purchased 2 kato sd40-2's and was wondering if I could use them both to power one train since they are the same engine(same speed)? This might be a dumb question but I am new at this so I don't know.
Well, you can run into a problem with uneven voltage power supply giving your engines speed differentials. To compute that, use Maxin's equation, so I suggest taking a college phyics course. Once you get that down in a couple of monthes, apply the formula and you'll have to re-adjust the quantum accelerators...nah, I'm just busting your balls! Yes you can run both engines on the same track. I suggest picking up a good beginners book offered by Model Railroader, preferably one of their N scale ones. I've got 1 or 2 beginners books lying around (they're in HO though, but it'll give you a good understanding), so if you'd want them email me at atirns@hotmail.com with your address and I'll be glad to send them (for free). Mike
Welcome aboard and just remember there is no such thing as a stupid question.Just some stupid answers every now and again.I run all of my kato engines together and run all of my atlas engines together.I hardly ever mix them up unless I have tested them first and they run about the same speed.I'm just saying that is what I do,What ever you do is your thing just remember HAVE FUN WITH IT!
First...WELCOME to Trainboard !!! Now, as others have posted, you can run your engines together, but electrical pickup may vary a bit between them (this depends somewhat on your power source as well). This may cause somewhat of a hurkey/jerkey movement between them. If you can live with it then that is all that matters . I have some really old Bachmann F-9s that I tripple head. Two run very well together, but the third does not play well with others !! Not too bad though, and it is a kick watching all three pull a long train....I am looking into DCC, which is supposed to ameliorate these problems, from what I understand. If you are just starting your layout, I suggest looking into DCC right away. Yes, the initial layout is pretty big dollar wise, but it is better to start now when you only have a few engines to decode, rather than a whole fleet!! Look at the DCC Forum for more info there! Whatever you do, have fun and there are NO dumb questions here, so ask away!! Happy Modeling!! John
Court, welcome to trainboard, what Ed said is exactly what I do and recommend that is to run the same brand together. I run all my Kato's to gether and all my Atlas together although just be careful if you buy and older kato or Atlas to a newer one as the speed could vary. all in all though it should work ok, I do sometimes run Atlas and Kato together.
Hello Court, Welcome I run all my Kato and Atlas locomotives together with no problems, but do not mix them with other types, like Bachmann, as they run much slower. Best way to test this is to put the engines on the track away from each other a bit, and see if they both run at or about the same speed. If one catches the other up very quickly, they are not compatible. Like someone said, the main thing is to have fun Please come back here and ask about anything you need to know, someone is bound to know the answer
I ran 15 of my engines once, It was all of them I had at the time, it was a mixture of Atlas, Kato, and Lifelike. man was that train loud, half of the engines were going full speed and spining there wheels and the other half were barley moving, I'm not sure why my Contoler did not trip the circuit and stop but it was cool. kevin
Too save yourself some grief, when purchasing two engines that will be mu'd together, test several out. If you want two, test out 6. Often you will find two engines will run better together than the other engines, even though they are all the same type and brand.
<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Jennifer: like these guys know <HR></BLOCKQUOTE> Hey, look who's here
Your SD 40-2's might or might not run well together, quality control at any model locomotive manufacturer does not include testing for speed compatibility. To see how well they will work together, place them on the track 1 foot apart, running light, and see how far they go at your normal train speed before they couple together or get 2 feet apart. You can find that two locomotives run well together at 30 scale mph, but the top speed of one is twice that of the other. Conversly, one might start at a lower voltage than the other, but have the same top speed. While generally two identical locomotives make the best "lash-up" I have a Kato GP38-2 that runs best with an Atlas RS11.
I lash up as many as five diesels on one train, diesel and steam on another and then three steam on yet another. I always determine which engine runs the faster and put it at the head of the pack or ahead of slower running engines. Much better control when pulling the other lashed up engines then with pushing them. Be sure couplers match well. Back/forth movement can uncouple between engines. No choice with the diesel + steam. PRR steam was determined to be the head end. (lack of front steam line connections?) ....Eddie
