Do You Run Multiple Diesel Units?

So far on my pike,I like three units as a standard or one locomotive per 12 cars. I also like my super size trains, four or five on the front and two or three pushing. All units are powered and no traction tires allowed. All scale size rolling equipment.

Clem 

All engines are powered, but I don't MU them all that often. The ones I have MU'd are usually only for a few days or so, and not done permanently. Two in an MU is all I have ever tried so far and with MTH DCS only so far, have not tried it with Legacy.

Yes right now I have six Lionel legacy MU'd up one set of Union Pacfic and go's like this the new Lionel es44ac+sd70ace+ac6000 sounds great. The next runner up is CSX es44ac+sd80mac+ac6000 superbass. I like running modern diesel two or three powered units MTH or Lionel. I like the sound combinations you get when this is done and how it looks.

I have done four but a pit to much for my layout. Some times I will add a pusher in back kind of cool and it add's some sound to the back. 

@ Billy Those MUs must have awesome sound with that "super bass" in the consist.

Streamlined diesels are run as AA, AB or ABA, with just one powered.  The later models are just run singly.

I run a 2243 A-B-A set with both A units powered.  All my other A-B-A and A-A sets run with only the lead unit powered.  The 2243 set runs smooth and quiet with very little current draw.  It is my favorite set.

Here's a nice set. FM Trainmaster and an old Baldwin. Don

That is nice Don. I'll bet there is a "Little Joe" that runs under that catenary?

Since I run scale-wheels now, I usually run a pair of powered diesels at the front of a train.

On occasion, I'll run three.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uB6lkEa1uvE

I have run three Williams SD-45's together, all three are powered units, on a freight train with over 30 cars. I have run two Williams GP-9's together on another freight train and they ran almost as good as the three SD-45's together.

I had to upgrade a Williams F-7 A unit to power to run my Santa Fe "El Capitan" passenger set of six cars. So I run two powered F-7's and one unpowered F-7 b unit with my passenger train.

I have tried a DCS lash-up of two engines and it was not easy to program at first but once programmed it ran decently.

Lee Fritz

I like to run at least two, usually three, and if I can, four units at a time.  

One unit alone: I seldom run just one diesel: about as rarely as I see one unit only in the real world.

Two: I like to run a cow and calf (WBB 44 tonners, both powered).   RK P23 NW-2s, just the cow is powered, the calf is unpowered.  I've bashed  a calf BEEP, too, it and the cow are powered when I run both.  

When I run BEEPs even stock ones,  I always run two (tethered together, they run so much more smoothly).  I also have two LC+ GP7s that I like to run together, as well as two Legacy U30Cs I run together, in both cases both units are powered.

Three units: I run F3 and E9 and Baldwin A-B-A sets a lot with passenger trains. Two of the three will be powered, the third, a dummy.

Four: I run F3 A-B-B-A once in a while, I have many different F3s (all Warbonnet) and can run anything from just one powered unit to all four powered.  Usually it is just two powered.  I also have -B-B-A set of BEEFs, all powered: good little set.

Five and six: I have enough Warbonnet F3s to run A-B-B-B-A sets, with only one B unit a dummy.  I don't run this too often - so many units make the train behind it look short even if its twelve cars long.  I usually run one A and one B powered and the rest dummies.  

I will run one, two or three, but only one powered.

DCS mu's in this video.

https://youtu.be/W_9J-KSpK3s

    @ beginning CSX BNSF 4 engine multi unit
    @ .55 West bound Guilford Pan Am  5 engine multi unit
    @ 1.54 East bound Guilford 2 unit switching track

My favorite multi-unit setup is four Ohio Central engines...two MTH RS3s, one GP38, and one GP35.  The GP35 is powered and so is one RS3...the other two are dummy units.

When this photo was taken, the GP35 hadn't yet arrived...

  Bridge to Scotty we need more power..............

Most of the time I just run one powered and one dummy Diesel locomotive and 10 to 20 scale cars.

Yes ABA alco PAs two powered and they all smoke. Run them all under one Tmcc number.

Which manufactures six car "El Capitan" set did you require extra Williams power to pull?  

Normally, I do not run huge locomotive consists, because my layout just does not lend itself to really long trains, but here's what I often run:

• FTA-FTB-FTB, sometimes doubleheaded by a 4-6-4.
• Erie-Built A-B-A, A-B, or A-A or Erie A alone. Sometimes the consist is doubleheaded by a 2-10-2, 4-8-2, or 4-8-4.
• Atlas GP7's and GP9's from one to five units (one dummy). Legacy GP7 solo.
• Baldwin AS-616 solo
• RSD4's single or two units.  Sometimes doubleheaded by 2-10-2.  Will add RSD7 to this consist when built this year or next.
• F7A-F7B-F7B when delivered. These will sometimes be doubleheaded by a 2-10-2, 4-8-2, or 4-8-4, or by diesels, pairs of geeps or Alco-GE RSD's.
• E8mA-B-A or A-B or A-A, or an E8Am alone. Sometimes doubleheaded by a 4-6-4.

Paul,

  Diesels were made to be MUed, I think it looks strange when only one unit is used.

  I run 3 Lionel Legacy SD70ACe on my intermodal train all are powered. I do have a SD50 MTH dummy if more power is needed (looks only) but siding space is becoming a priority.

  I am currently running a Lionel Legacy RS11 with a non powered Lionel RS11 Dummy on a mixed freight. 

   Also run ABA Kline F7 and a Lionel ABA Alco FA both TMCC.

   Forgot To mention the SD70s are NS Heritage and everything else is PRR.

JohnB