one address is easiest

Download the Java Model Railroad Interface (JMRI)

You can do almost everything with JMRI.  It is probably the easiest way to synchronize the speed of two or more units.  Often times lights or sound in one unit with none in the other will cause the one with more "bells & whistles" to run slower than the one without.

Consisting

Depends a bit on what system you have.  With NCE the easiest thing is to just follow the consisting menu on the throttle.  That sets them up so you can choose whichever one you want as the leader.  Takes about a minute.

If you give them the same address you will have to program the "second" unit to be facing backwards if you want a back to back set.  Then to operate the consist the "other" direction,  you will always have to operate it "backwards".  With NCE you just acquire whichever engine is the leader and then that engine becomes forward.  No messing around with CV's and settings after the initial set up.

Hallelujah!

I have an NCE system, and I've yet to consist (just runs the test tracks for now). It was with great joy I read dave1905's post about consisting with an NCE. Sounds like one of the easier systems.

Hands up, big HALLELUJAH!.. and a big sigh of relief.

Reckon' when the time comes, I may also consider following the oft repeated RTFM advice, too. (Nah... why would I want to do that?)

Andre

NCE Consisting

I use NCE as well and setting up and dealing with consists is dead-nuts easy. Much easier than actually reprogramming both engines to the same address and setting the one to run in the reverse direction permanently by tweaking CVs.

I haven't used other systems, but consisting is such a normal thing that if it isn't easy to do that system design sucks IMO.

AB Consists

First I assume that your are planning on buying an AB set, so ignore all of the comments regarding CV29 settings and going backwards. The front (F) of both units go the the front and rear (R) of both units go the rear. Those comments could apply if you were going to run an ABBA or ABBBA configuration which the Santa Fe did run on the Chief. At various time they also ran ABAB, ABB, ABB with a power car, ABBB and other configurations.

In N scale I would go for sound in both engines, but that additional $110 is a lot to pay. Hopefully some of the distributors will ease the $$ pain with discounts. If you do opt for sound in both engines you can enhance the sound effects by playing with the CV's to add a little variation to the sounds.

Consisting wise you are ahead with the NCE system so assigning individual addresses to each loc is appropriate. We have noted some variation in the performance of Kato engines, so you should check to see how "speed matched" the units are before attempting to run them in a consist. Having the same decoder in both engines will make support easier and reduce the work, if necessary, of matching the speeds.

Not hard.

Consisting is usually pretty easy.  The steps to doing this differ slightly with each system.  The best way to go is review the instructions that came with your DCC system. (Many times consisting is located in the quick step guides)

Now, you can consist giving the locomotives the same address.  Although this will limit “prototypical” settings such as  lighting and sound control.  (Horn sound coming from all locomotives instead of the lead locomotive for example).

Really, I would do a standard consist if anything just to learn how.  The other thing you may have to do is “speed match” the locomotives.  Even the same model of locomotive can differ some on speed causing one to pull or push the other excessively.  

Again, not hard to do and your system should have instructions on this.

Also, just remember if things get confusing you can always set the decoder back to the default factory settings and start over.

Joe

2 consisted sound locos == cool

As Ken K says if you twiddle the sound params just a little so the two locos aren't identical the effect is even cooler.  You get a sort of an enhanced stereo effect as the locos go buy, in fact kind of like standing near the track as a real multi-unit train goes by.  I'm not sure how much of the effect you'd loose in N scale due to the two locos being that much closer together while your ears are still the same distance apart, but I bet it's still a neat effect.

... ears are still the same distance apart ...

In N Scale my ears are about 90 feet apart, but in HO scale they are about 44 feet apart.

Really neat effects with consisted steamers even in N scale.

I sincerely appreciate the

I sincerely appreciate the great info. Thanks to all.

@Logger: great video!

Pauley