STEAM CONSISTING: When I had my last layout I had fun double heading steam like the 1:1 scale..When beginning to roll the 2nd engine moves first. Why ? Because if the 1st engine moves first it could break the couplers pulling still idol, possibly still braked 2nd engine and the rest of the train... So, 2nd releases brakes and s l o w l y pushes 1st. At this point I toggle to front engine and get him rolling to match the 2nd's speed..I continue this volleying back and forth until train is under way (still doing a little adjust, here and there )..
Slowing down and stopping is the opposite; front loco begins winding down, 2nd then slows to first's speed until stopped..If 2nd begins wind-down first, front could rip the couplers between 1 & 2...All this, by myself, was a lot of fun. Oh, and don't forget the whistle toots between the two cabs.
Yes steam could instead be consisted like 2 diesels. But it'd be too easy (even though, due to driver size diffs, and general inaccuracies, even if in diesel type MUing there likely would still be a need for speed adjusts while under way........M
disclaimer: I imagined and developed this procedure for my own 1:87 scale RR. I did not know if 1:1 steam actually did it this way, too. But I would not be surprised if they did....