Double heading.

[Jarl of the Cwmbric]

Is there a way of double heading using AI Road?

[CMDR Sweeper]

You mean using a locomotive on each end or MU multiple locomotives together?
The latter is real easy, the two locomotives have to be coupled together with no cars in between them.
Then you have to set the 2nd locomotive to MU and leave it in MANUAL mode.
Switch to the primary locomotive and use the Ai Road or any other mode and the 2nd loco will mimic those actions giving you additional power.

[thebear05]

As already stated using MU is very easy. As I have Robinson Coal at tier 5 I always double head the train. If you want to run a helper at the rear set the loco to run under AI with the same speed setting as the locomotives at the front. It will not be as efficient as the MU setting but will still work.

[Jarl of the Cwmbric]

Thanks for the input guys, but as far as I can tell those methods require me to have one loco in AI mode and the other in manual with the throttle set, which isn't really what I meant. One loco still requires manual input, but I'm running multiple trains at once and don't want to be fiddling around with manual controls. Otherwise it's just one loco pulling another dead loco.

[AshHill07]

You just need the MU box checked on the helping unit (it'll automatically check cut out for the brakes as well) and leave it in manual. You don't need to give the helper any instructions at all.

As you give the lead locomotive instructions it's controls will just move to mirror the lead locomotive.

[DorniNerd]

Originally posted by Jarl of the Cwmbric:

Thanks for the input guys, but as far as I can tell those methods require me to have one loco in AI mode and the other in manual with the throttle set, which isn't really what I meant. One loco still requires manual input, but I'm running multiple trains at once and don't want to be fiddling around with manual controls. Otherwise it's just one loco pulling another dead loco.

If the engines are directly connected to one another, you can MU them together as they were describing. In MU mode, even if the engine is in manual, the engine will copy the controls of the leader... Just make sure when you do MU mode, that the engine is also "cut out" (check box below MU)

If you are trying to do helpers, where the engines are not directly connected, you have to set the leader in AI mode. Then on the other engines, release their brakes then open the inspector window. Then click the "cut out" check box. Then turn on the AI in road mode to match the leading engine's set speed... It is a bit inefficient, since the rear engine is always trying to push the train, but it is the best way to do it.

[CMDR Sweeper]

Originally posted by Jarl of the Cwmbric:

Thanks for the input guys, but as far as I can tell those methods require me to have one loco in AI mode and the other in manual with the throttle set, which isn't really what I meant. One loco still requires manual input, but I'm running multiple trains at once and don't want to be fiddling around with manual controls. Otherwise it's just one loco pulling another dead loco.

The Manual mode ALSO means "No input from computer or human mode"
You still control and issue speed commands to the Ai locomotive that is the "lead", what happens is that whatever the Ai commands, is mirrored to the controls of the locomotive that is in MANUAL mode as long as MU is active!

If you select the MU locomotive in manual mode, you can watch the throttle and brake inputs the Ai makes.

[Jarl of the Cwmbric]

Ok I'm clearly missing something. Where will I find the button/box for MU mode?

[DorniNerd]

Originally posted by Jarl of the Cwmbric:

Ok I'm clearly missing something. Where will I find the button/box for MU mode?

Control click any engine.

[Jarl of the Cwmbric]

Found it now. Can't believe how long that took XD. Thanks all.

[huddo]

Just don’t forget to cut the brakes back in when you’re finished double heading or you’ll have a loco with no brakes 🚂