Double header trains

[jpendle]

Most recently produced steam outline locos have a front coupling or at least a housing. Speed match doesn't have to be exact but it should be reasonably close.

Huh, it's easy with kettles. Diesels are much harder as, for most,  you can't tell at a glance which is the front end 

I'll go away now and have a lie down. 

John P

I can tell the front of my diesels easily - its the end with no coupling and a few pipes dangling. Except for the ones I use for double heading.

That's like my CL68's. I use a pair straight out of the box to 'top & tail' a couple of flask wagons. Course that means that if the one at the front is running forwards then the one at the back has to run backwards and vice versa 

It's a good job I cheat and use my Z21 to do this 

John P

[ntpntpntp]

I've always understood that for diesels the end nearest the exhaust is the front - a translation of the chimney being at the front of a steam loco.

I would consider the "number 1 end" to be the front, certainly from a DCC point of view. 

According to the mid 60s operating manuals I have for BR classes 25, 45, and 47 the position of the exhaust varies. For the 25 and 25 it's near the middle, for the 47 it's nearer number 2 end.

Conveniently the majority of the European diesels and electrics I run in N have the ends marked 1 and 2 near the cab door steps.

[RailGooner]

I've always understood that for diesels the end nearest the exhaust is the front - a translation of the chimney being at the front of a steam loco.

I would consider the "number 1 end" to be the front...

As would I. The problem I find with that method though is that, apart from my Class 68 locos, none of my UK locos have the cabs numbered.

[kdcliff]

Many thanks to all of you for contributing to this subject. I am quite a novice modeller: I was very keen when young and only decided to have another go at the hobby three years ago. This is my first use of the forum and it has been successful!

After thinking further about my requirement to run an occasional (steam) double-header on the layout I realised that I had a couple of Dapol 4-6-0 locomotives and one had a coupling at the front. I have tested these today on the layout and they work together very well. So I am a happy modeller again and can run different train configurations through my mainline station.

[crewearpley40]

To tell some tell signs the number 1 end of a diesel is the end nearest the circular roof fitted grille. I've seen several classes inside cabs with a black stenciled no. 1 end painted above the driver ' s head in the can above the windows then looked to the roof for the grille. Maybe worth checking loco books on individual classes for detailing differences. The only part is if a loco is vacuum only fitted in the past it would be incapable of working stock that runs today