Advance Consisting of ESU decoders

Locomotive Shop Extra
This video I will show you how to create an advance consist with ESU's Lok Sound Decoders. This will allow the use of the drive hold feature during Multiple Unit operations. This video is good for all scales!
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[@doublediamondrailroad5949]

Thanks for this! Just built my first Dual ESU LokSound Switcher/Helper Consist. Manually got both engines sounds going but lots of Button pushing. I thought this is where I needed to make changes in LokProgrammer, but hadn’t yet. Will fix up El Pronto!

[@centraljerseyconrailinnsca5676]

Glad it helped! Once you get it, it easy to do, and you will love the results!

[@tnpotomacrr4792]

Joe, advanced consisting has so many benefits. If you want the engineer to switch engines for a return trip after an out and back turn, use a function button to activate a setup where Bell and horn are on in reverse only on the trail unit, then bell and horn are off in reverse on the lead unit. For simple backup moves where the crew stays in the lead unit the bell and horn should only be available in lead. But for switching engines the special programming switches bell and horn to trail unit only. Turn all functions on in CV21 and 22 for both engines. Use conditional programming instead. That way conditions are only active with the function button pressed for that setup. Use the lokprogrammer function mapping. By the way I use another function key to choose running a loco by itself while the other is parked and I don’t have to break up the programming or undo the advanced consist.

[@centraljerseyconrailinnsca5676]

🤯 I did not know this was possible. Wow! I will figure this out! Thanks for the info.

[@gmburzynski68]

Joe, Yup he is right, pretty cool idea. You need to get a Proto Throttle, then things will get real cool!! Keep up the awesome work. Greg

[@csxt6573]

I am quite curious about how you accomplish this? I presume it would be part of function mapping? I run on both loop and point-to-point layouts and this would be really helpful for the P2P layout which has no turning facilities at the far end.

[@TheSwitchList]

Great stuff Joe. The ESU decoders have so many options and features it can boggle the mind (mine at least!). Thanks for putting this info out. Congrats on 5 years - I just passed the 1 year mark and I cannot believe it. -Rick

[@centraljerseyconrailinnsca5676]

The Switch List thanks for watching Rick!

[@TrashMan2008]

This seems like a really good benefit when when say running a passenger train with two engines and you want to give it a number like #42 for the Amtrak Pennsylvania. Really have to take a deeper look. Thanks Joe, keep up the good work.

[@centraljerseyconrailinnsca5676]

TrashMan2008 interesting thought! Thanks for watching.

[@bhrailroad8339]

Great Informative video. Thank you

[@centraljerseyconrailinnsca5676]

B&H Railroad thanks for watching!

[@imme6376]

Advanced consisting is a neat thing to know. If you have a couple of engines consisted together, you are able to run said engines on another layout with dcc, without having to reconsist them again. This is because, when the advanced process is carried out, the address of the consist goes to the decoder itself, not the command station. NCE is a breeze for doing advanced consisting. I do use Digitrax, and it's more of a process. I do have both systems. Actually, I have four systems, but Digitrax is my go to system. Using universal or basic consisting, the command station keeps track of the consisting information, so hence the redo if going to another layout with engines consisted in the simpler fashion.

[@centraljerseyconrailinnsca5676]

I'm Me that’s huge. Never thought of it that way. Thanks for the insight!! Thanks for watching.

[@csxt6573]

Thanks for the video, this was the first search result when I googled the topic of advance consisting ESU so I'd say you've made the big time! Also a proud Digitrax user, so this was especially useful. Thanks!

[@centraljerseyconrailinnsca5676]

Awesome to hear! Thanks for watching.

[@mlkesimmons758]

Professor Desmond, another great tutorial. Mike

[@centraljerseyconrailinnsca5676]

Mlke Simmons thanks Buddy! Glad you liked it!

[@lowarcher]

Thank you so much for making this video Joe. I look forward to utilizing what I've learned very soon.

[@centraljerseyconrailinnsca5676]

lowarcher I’m glad you liked it, hoped it help Ben. Thanks for watching.

[@garykcs5532]

Great job Joe, very interesting, good stuff to know, great job...gary

[@centraljerseyconrailinnsca5676]

gary wise thanks for watching!

[@danielsr73]

Hey Joe. First, congrats on the recent addition to your family. Welcome Cassidy. Now, on the topic of advanced consisting. Put simply, this allows for the running of multiple units (three or more) beyond the limits of simple consisting (two units). Also, this enables the use of a generic consist address, such as a train number (i,e, 33 for WJSA33). With this consist address, all units in the consist will respond to the address of 33. And you don't need to switch from the lead engine number to the trailing engine number to switch direction. Feel free to pose any additional questions.

[@centraljerseyconrailinnsca5676]

Oh I never thought of that, train numbers for addresses! I like that. Thanks for the suggestion and thanks for watching!

[@Bardwell_Junction]

First, thanx for taking the time to put this together, I definitely learned a few things. Have you thought about adding F10 (Brake), coast mode and or notch 8 to the advanced consist also. Because the ESU function mapping can be made directional and motion dependent, things like the ditch lights or mars lights on each unit can be programmed to be on ONLY on in the direction of travel. In addition, the Lok Pilots have a way of mimicking the drive hold function in a consist. And as Greg B said, using a Proto Throttle will take all of this to a whole different level. Keep them coming, Sir!

[@centraljerseyconrailinnsca5676]

Rick Hall so after doing this video and understanding advance consisting I realized that there is a whole host of possibilities. But for the sake of keeping the video simple I omitted them. I’m gonna go back and tweet them. Maybe in the future I will make another video with follow up ideas. Thanks for the ideas and for watching!

[@vzjtothalo1]

Nothing wrong with using the LokProgrammer, Joe!

[@centraljerseyconrailinnsca5676]

John Loesch thanks for watching!

[@stephendepaola1402]

Hi, I did the advanced consist and all went well except the lead loco and trailing loco in reverse forward and reverse lights work. I thought the lead loco headlight would only work in forward and the trailing loco in reverse only the headlight would work in reverse.

[@williambryant5946]

I have a question about forward motion, how the train is stopped. Is this where you would program the locomotives to keep moving and not stop while throttling down to idle and you actually have to use the brakes to stop the train? I think that's called forward motion but I'm not absolutely sure if it is the correct term or not. Will those decoders do that? If this is not how or where you set those functions too, can you show how that is done? This was a very helpful, straight forward, easy to understand video. Helped me understand this programming better. Thanks. 👍

[@centraljerseyconrailinnsca5676]

William Bryant good question. The ESU decoder are programmed (assuming you have the full throttle features uploaded) to slow down using the F9 button. I think the rate of change in speed is adjustable with one of the CVs but I’m not sure which one. As for soundtrax I can’t say.

[@jameskalenowski2244]

Joe ,I use advanced consisting all the time .Did you know you can consist to a consist such as 10 and 12 on Digi-Trax throttle and run all four. Digi-Trax likes to use universal consisting which I am not a fan of Advanced is the way to go .JimK

[@centraljerseyconrailinnsca5676]

James Kalenowski thanks Jim I did not realize that. I’m gonna have to look into it. Thanks for watching.

[@SheltonDCruz]

Thanks Joe - this assumes that the Functions are mapped identically on both units right?

[@jibebuoy3451]

Nice video, thanks. Have you had experience consisting a Select and Lok 5 together? It seems one has a longer delayed start than he other and I can't sync them.

[@centraljerseyconrailinnsca5676]

Not yet! If I do I will make a video for everyone. Thanks for watching!

[@Archerman.4514]

Joe, where did you find that nice gondola crane you had in the video behind your loco's?? I cannot find them!

[@centraljerseyconrailinnsca5676]

It was part of the microtrain conrail pack. Thanks for watching! modeltrainguys.com/micro-trains-993-01-880-n-scale-weathered-conrail-tie-loader-gondola-3-pack/

[@jamesbraxton6132]

god bless the little ones

[@centraljerseyconrailinnsca5676]

James Braxton thank you 🙏

[@larrydayhoff999]

Don't you need to speed match those locos?

[@centraljerseyconrailinnsca5676]

Actually no. I find that the ESU decoders work really good together in a consist. The locomotives seem to run at the same speed. I really wonder if they are designed that way. It’s really nice! Thanks for watching.

[@MrTrainGuy1972]

Yes this absolutely drives me nuts that Athearn can put Tsunami decoders in their engines and some how manage to program them so you can run them in a advanced consist without all this programming of CV’s . ESU and its hold feature is a great feature and they sound great , but no one seems to want to touch how Athearn pulls this off . Is it lazy ness out of these other companies ?? I mean yes you will want to turn that cv for auto start up on Athearn Units off and maybe change the sound level or whatever , but you don’t have the fun of trying to figure out how to get these new Rapido or Scaletrains or walthers equipped with ESU units to run together in a advanced consist like the engineer in real life had half a brain and knew how to set up his head light controls . Heads up its GCOR violation to have trailing units number board lights on and any head lights . Stop being so dang lazy when you set up the programming on your units Rapido and Scaletrains , walthers . Hard to claim realism when it don’t operate like the real thing . Going through your trailing units in real life and setting up the headlight selector switch isn’t half as involved as setting up these engines that cost over 300 each MSRP . I know there are a lot of decoders out there , but at least set up your engines to advanced consist with one another , I mean Athearn some how figured it out .

[@centraljerseyconrailinnsca5676]

Wow that's a lot! I will say that since this video I have gotten much more proficient with advanced consisting using the LokProgrammer (advanced consisting with JMRI is still very hard for me). It now only takes mins for me to do. But I will agree why isn't it automatics when you build a simple consist. However thank you for watching and commenting. Thats why I do all of this, to promote conversations!

[@lindahurley-bruce7575]

It would be really helpful to develop a script where you can get to the actual subject without several minutes of shilly-shallying about early March.

[@centraljerseyconrailinnsca5676]

John Bruce sorry the video didn’t meet your expectations. Thanks for watching!