I found a couple of things really worked with short trains . I would allow the air to build up in the tender brakes ,allowing them to help before baling them off .My secret weapon ...I would cut in the driver brakes on straightaways ,careful to not let them to raise above 30 psi . I would cut them out before rolling into a curve .Sometimes I would lay down some sand as well . I never liked using the drifting throttle against the Johnson Bar as that would run in the slack in the cars ,causing rough handling . Other engineers did this ,and threw a few people on the floor. The trainmen liked my ride ,and I consider their judgement the most important criticism .