Manned Helpers?

[REISCOOL]

Is it possible in MP to have manned helpers; i.e. one player controls the head end locomotives and another player controls the helpers on the back. Can this be done or does the lead unit's engineer control all?

 

[sniper297]

You can get behind another guy's train and push, but the couplers won't engage.

 

[REISCOOL]

so if I were to go into decouple mode it'd show the open coupler, right?

doesn't that mean that the head end could accidentally pull away from the helpers under the right conditions (Flying cutoff, but unintended)?

 

[sniper297]

Yeah, I tried it with another guy, if I uncoupled from the head end he could couple onto the train, but then I couldn't couple back on until he uncoupled. Problem is any "train" can only have one driver, and multiplayer is no exception to that rule. In single player try coupling onto the back of an AI train, the minute the couplers engage you lose control because your engine is now part of the AI train and is controlled by the AI driver. Like I said you can get behind and push, and we tried it on some grades that made it obvious the pusher was actually helping, but if the back guy slows down or the lead guy speeds up you separate since the couplers just won't couple.