Pootank Banking Video

Two serious working men in perfect harmony! Thanks for putting the video up Ian. 'Twas an excellent way of spending a Friday afternoon. :thumbup:
 
Yes, you guys were literally almost on a slippery slope there.... :nail:
 
Thanks for posting Ian. Beautifully orchestrated.
 
Nice one Ian :)
 
Stainzmeister said:
Nice vid :bigsmile:
Tis an operation I do on my steep line from time to time.
Always fun to do.

Have you tried setting off the train at a certain speed step on DCC and then running the banking engine up the the rear of the train and adjusting the speed of the banking loco to the same speed step ?

Alternatively, set the train off with the banking engine coupled to the back and set the two locos to a double headed setting on the DCC system....
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On the day, Ian's train engine was a battery electric running at constant voltage, but that didn't equate to constant speed on the gradient, so a certain amount of "fine tuning" was necessary in buffering up to the train with the other loco (which happened to be Cliff Barker battery-controlled).

Mel & I have tried DCC banking using both techniques you suggested, but we were too incompetent to yield happy results!

It's on my personal list of things to try when I have some "testing" time. Testing is good!
 
Mmmmm, it was a strange moment contemplating the watching of a couple of fellas doing some [strike]pootang[/strike] banking :bleh::o:...but so sorry it was my eyesight and misreading ..should have read it as of course pootank banking. :bigsmile:

Nice little vid.
Like you Peter, I have a very heavy incline or two.
Except for geared locos, multiple heading is a necessity (or the use of disguised motorised rolling stock 'helpers').
I tended to use multi-headed loco consists (with matched motors and properties) a lot when I was just running DC.
But now after seeing Ian's vid of your exploits and having dallied for a few months with DCC, I can see the idea of bringing up a banker or two, controlled independently from the main train, as a good prototypical operational device and being a pleasurable past-time.
Although DCC consisting is fairly easy (as long as the diesel locos point the same way when using the Massoth system!), it would be nice to try to have the loco bankers ('helper(s)' in US) come in independently as you and Ian were doing.
It will be fun to match the different chips and motors!

(PS I know that I can change the direction that the locos point in a consist by changing the direction CV, but I do wait for the day that Massoth just make it easy by having the handset be able to change direction for individual locos, that are being included in a consist, just from a button press or an instruction from the screen when making up the consist)
 
Stainzmeister said:
beavercreek said:
Although DCC consisting is fairly easy (as long as the diesel locos point the same way when using the Massoth system!), it would be nice to try to have the loco bankers ('helper(s)' in US) come in independently as you and Ian were doing.
It will be fun to match the different chips and motors!
Click to expand...
You can easily do this with DCC Mike - as my post above........one person can do it too. :)
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Indeed you can, but as with many things, it's more fun with two people. And you don't go crosseyed. From looking at the Navigator of course. 8D
 
Ah the things those of us on analogue can only dream of (or trawl up on t'internet) :thinking:
 
Hi Lads
Well I know you can consist locos (double/triple head etc) with the Navigator but as far as I know the individual locos of the 'lash-up' have to be set for direction of travel by changing their individual CV before consisting.

Are you meaning that the 'second' section of screen command on the navigator is used for controlling the second loco (banker/helper)?
 
beavercreek said:
Are you meaning that the 'second' section of screen command on the navigator is used for controlling the second loco (banker/helper)?
Click to expand...

Yessir. I find it easier to set the train engine to be the "subsidiary" screen and adjust the banker with the main Navigator control knob. That way you can set the train running, flick the subsidiary screen to points and change them to allow the banking engine out onto the main line while at the same time accelerating it onto the back of the train. When it works, it's really rather satisfying. When it doesn't, well suffice to say that Ian's video recorder also has some "outtakes" on it!

You can do it with battery control too, but you need to handle two physical controllers or, I suppose, have one which is tied down to a constant speed for the train and manipulate the bank engine using the second one. Plus figure out a way to change the points somehow!
 
whatlep said:
Yessir. I find it easier to set the train engine to be the "subsidiary" screen and adjust the banker with the main Navigator control knob. That way you can set the train running, flick the subsidiary screen to points and change them to allow the banking engine out onto the main line while at the same time accelerating it onto the back of the train. When it works, it's really rather satisfying. When it doesn't, well suffice to say that Ian's video recorder also has some "outtakes" on it!
Click to expand...

That's about how I do it as well:thumbup::thumbup: works quite well as long as you get forward and backwards the right way:rolf::rolf::rolf:

Also the rear end banker needs to be hook free so does the last wagon, as it all becomes pointless if the little banker pulls it down the hill again:bigsmile::bigsmile::bigsmile:
 
CoggesRailway said:
Peter, you lie, there were no outtakes, from my memory it was smooth operational professionalism all the way.

Ian
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Absolutely. Quite right.
Oh look: a flying pig.... :bigsmile:
 
Anyway joking aside there was something fun about this, it was replicating real practice in miniature- and it was real to the extent that without the right assistance the train would stall. I am thinking, after huge manual labour leveling my garden, how to introduce a gradient.
 
CoggesRailway said:
Anyway joking aside there was something fun about this, it was replicating real practice in miniature- and it was real to the extent that without the right assistance the train would stall. I am thinking, after huge manual labour leveling my garden, how to introduce a gradient.
Click to expand...
Every garden railfairer needs a Lickey. :thumbup::thumbup:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lickey_Incline
 
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