Dale,
The problem with any value in the loco id is twofold. First you have zero,
which is a valid number while also being the default from a reset. Second is
the command station keeps the id in a slot after the proper release (that
will let the command station over-ride it as needed.
So on a healthy system you will see a growing list of all the locos that
have been used at some time.
-Ken Cameron, Member JMRI Dev Team
www.jmri.org
www.fingerlakeslivesteamers.org
www.cnymod.com
www.syracusemodelrr.org
Ken Cameron