wasdavetheroad

When I was checking out consisting for my radio controlled locos ( I want some locos to double head) I checked out how they did it in the old DC days. In simple terms it will be fine if the locos don't have wheel spin or skid. On DCC wiki they suggest speed matching within 10% will be fine. I have a pair of Hornby 2P 4-4-0's which can double head and they had a difference of about 5% out of the box. Of course with DC the two locos will run slower with a given controller setting. For me the advantage of DCC would be simpler layout wiring and much better control of the individual locomotives, you are driving the loco, not the layout. As I model the late 50's/early 60's I have no need for lighting and as I have music or the radio playing no need for sound either. I disassembled my extensive DC n-scale layout several years ago and moved to 00 scale. As I had played around with radio control I followed that option, however if I had decided not to use radio control I would choose DCC rather than DC simply because of less wiring and more realistic control of locomotives.

Here is cab control and common return, the SPDT is the key. SPDT means single pole double throw. If I remember correctly each controller needs its own transformer.

This should work for 2 operators

Even easier would be to use some chocolate box connectors that plug into each other. " connectors with the prongs make the token key and there are a pair of connectors for each operator to plug the 'token' into

How far apart will your 2 operators be? You could use a token key, each operator has a switch for the final track feed to the central section. This switch is operated by 'inserting' the key. To pass control switch OFF and pass the key to the other operator who uses it to switch ON. Some mechanical jiggery-pokery to ensure the key can only be removed or inserted if the switch is OFF might be needed, or you could trust each other!. A slide switch would be easiest.

Here is a good guide to servicing a Lima pancake motor https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=servicing+a+lima+diesel+loco&qpvt=servicing+a+lima+diesel+loco&view=detail&mid=4D20ACD6E32F295868464D20ACD6E32F29586846&FORM=VRDGAR You can also fit a CD type motor inside the Lima motor casing

I find the Dapol wagons perfectly acceptable for how I run my layout and I have over 100 of them but very few Bachmann or Hornby. I don't notice the brake levers/blocks at a couple of feet on a moving train and the other main issues can be fixed. Reasonably priced packs of 20 wheelsets allows replacement of wobbly wheels and there are fixes for the floppy couplers and loose coupling hooks. They are reasonably priced at about half the cost of a Bachmann or Hornby model and even cheaper if you buy the unpainted version and paint them yourself. We are lucky that Dapol produce them as there is very little available from Bachmann/Hornby for the 1950's and early 60's. If I wanted to have a 30 x 16 ton coal wagon train tough cos they are not available. My Dapols chassis is too long so the train is 5 inches longer than it should be but I don't notice that. Maybe I find the suspension of disbelief easier than some and that helps in our miniature world full of compromises.

These are works in progress extended and modified Metcalfe kits with Scalescenes papers

Oops, that should be a 3mm spacer between the chassis and the top of the NEM coupler box. Actually nearer 2.8mm