Re: 3801&3830

["Fred Morley" <fredmore@iprimus.com.au>]

I have never worked steam but with diesel it is similar as the bank engine
is not connected to the train  when the lead engine gets the road the
whistle is sounded and the bank starts to push and the lead releases the
engine brakes and throtles up till the rquired speed is reached  if the bank
cannot see the signals lead driver signals with horn the appropriate signal
when passed the clearance point over the bank the bank engine stops &
returns to the station in the rear while the train continues on.
Fred Morley fredmore@iprimus.com.au
"Eddie Oliver" <eoliver@efs.mq.edu.au> wrote in message
3AEC061A.B2AC4709@efs.mq.edu.au">news:3AEC061A.B2AC4709@efs.mq.edu.au...
> Neil O'Connor wrote:
> > >
> > I was wondering about the difficulties of running two steam locomotives
> > together. Like:
> > - How do they ensure they are working together rather than against each
> > other. For instance,
> >   if the driver in the leading loco wants to to slow down how is that
> > communicated to the
> >   rear loco driver so he doesn't keep pushing "full steam ahead" so to
> > speak?
>
> The rear driver also knows the road, watches for signals etc., and will
> generally drive much as he would do if he were on the leading engine.
> There is only a problem when the driver on the lead engine (who controls
> the brakes etc) plans to do something which will not be expected by the
> second driver, in which case whistle or hand signals may be used.
> However if the first engine eases off and the second doesn't, both
> drivers will sense what is happening very quickly. It's an art and a
> skill but not a miracle.
>