I was working on the layout and decided to run the trains. All told I can run 7 trains at one time on my smallish layout. I have 4 different tracks that are DC and run a train on each one no problem. On the long main, which is DCC controlled, I have the option of running one two or three trains at the same time. Running two trains on the same track at the same time is adventurous to say the least as I have one particular crossover that no matter how spaced out the two trains are they eventually sneak up on one another and manage to kiss. I thought that I would slow the two trains on the same track down some and add the MOW three car consist to the mix. Now this would have been somewhat hard to do as my original NCE PowerCab can only place two loco's in a recall stack but I have added a third throttle just to control the third loco. I sure makes it easier. I tried it awhile back with only the PowerCab and what a mess. Trying to recall a loco and put a new one to control into the recall stack and then trying to control two loco's while the third one was running pretty much uncontrolled was more stress than I needed. Having that third loco on a throttle all by itself really was a fun experience keeping all the engineers on each train happy!
I'm not sure that a different DCC system that allowed more than two locos to be placed in a recall would be just as easy but watching the trains then trying to remember which was which and trying to push the recall button to gain control of each loco seems like too much to ask for.
I suppose that if I really slowed the trains to a creep it would be much easier too but while my loco's don't go screaming around the layout they don't creep either. Has anyone tried 4 loco's? If the layout was bigger it might also be easier too.
Gene
