The Golden Rules of Consisting

Consists that travel between layouts can get weird, especially between different manufacturers' DCC systems. Do not try this unless you have no alternative. I highly recommend you only create the consist on the system running the consist. This rule applies if you have two discrete systems from the SAME manufacturer.

Consisting rules to live by:

1. Verify the locos run 100% correctly as single units before AND AFTER killing/deleting the consist. 
2. Always CREATE and kill/delete the consist on the layout you will it run it on.
3. Always CREATE and kill/delete the consist using OPS mode / POM with all locos involved in the consist ON the tracks. 
4. NEVER use individual CV Changes to create or kill/delete a consist.
5. If your system automatically assigns a "Consist ID" do not change it manually.
6. On a layout using consists, never use any loco number BELOW 128 for any loco address regardless of whether it will be in a consist. This is a DCC address conflict between short loco addresses and consist IDs. Yes, really!
7. If things go wrong, check the consist list stored in your command station for multiple consists with the same loco or for consists you are no longer using and need to be deleted/killed.

How to check you consist list on an NCE system.

BROWSE CONSISTS (Shortcut = PROG 9)  Use 8 for the SB5.
This option lets you see what advanced consists are currently in the system's memory.
Press ENTER at the “BROWSE CONSISTS” prompt. The LCD will display the highest
numbered consist in the system memory. It will look something like:
CON: 127 10:42 AM
LEAD:2190 R:4484
Use the speed buttons or thumbwheel to scroll the next higher or lower item in the list.
When you reach the end of the list it will roll over to the ‘other’ end. Pressing ENTER will
show any mid consist locomotives of the displayed consist.
Pressing ENTER while the Lead/Rear locomotives are displayed will show any mid consist
locomotives. (The system will remember up to 4 mid-consist locos per advanced
consist). Press ENTER again to view the following consist.
Pressing SEL LOCO will exit browsing and select the displayed consist for running.
Pressing CLEAR then pressing one at the “KILL CON?” prompt will kill the displayed
consist.
Press PROG/ESC at any time to exit browsing.