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My first experience into ‘Command Control’ trains was today.  I unboxed my new Lionel Legacy system because I wanted to make sure it worked properly.  A layout isn’t in the immediate future, so it’s best if I check the 990 out for full functions now!

 

With that said, I set up 3 long straight sections of track on my ‘Workbench RR” as I’ve named it.

 

I decided a Lionel Vision Line Challenger would be my test mule.

 

Before I turned on power, I spent quite a bit of time reading the directions and making sure I had a ‘clue’ what I was doing.  One of my biggest concerns was making sure I knew how to stop the locomotive!

Following the directions, I loaded the memory module, assigned a number and programmed it. Not bad for an electronic ‘Einstein’!

 

Powered up the track, hit the whistle slide (OH, how I love whistle steam!), rang the bell both continuous and single hit, pressed the speed bar and it was moving at restricted speed.  I even increased/decreased the labor and played with the train brake!  For an hour, I experimented with using different buttons on the remote and watching the reaction of the locomotive.  At one point, there was so much smoke from the Challenger my lab started barking at it!

 

I ran the VL Challenger in Legacy, of course.  Then I ran the following TMCC:   JLC Challenger, K-Line Mikado, and the 3rd Rail Fetter’s Challenger.  I was worried about the TMCC locomotive ‘lurch’ but they run very nice using the 990.  As a matter of fact, my JLC Challenger is impressive in the slow speed range!

 

It was a blast. The most relaxed I’ve been in some time.  Forgot all about the world as I watched that big 4-6-6-4 Challenger pound the track, responding to every command!

 

I’m totally ‘sold’ on command control.  My mind has been racing all afternoon of the possibilities.  Legacy, for me, was worth the wait!  I don’t think I’ll ever run another train conventional! 

 

 

 

Last edited by 86TA355SR
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Glad to know it is easy.  i am somewhat scared of getting to it myself as I plan to be a looper with a lot of trains at once.  What are you using for power?  Mike told me that the ZW-L with the Legacy 990 was all I needed to do 4 loops at once with no extra add ons.  I would love to do that for my 4 loops of non command locomotives and then use the TMCC/ Legacy functions for CW-80 powered sections.

 

Originally Posted by Ed Magruder:

Glad to know it is easy.  

Read the directions and take your time.  Ask here if you have questions.

i am somewhat scared of getting to it myself as I plan to be a looper with a lot of trains at once.  Don't be! I waited too long thinking it was really complicated.  

What are you using for power?  Mike told me that the ZW-L with the Legacy 990 was all I needed to do 4 loops at once with no extra add ons.  I would love to do that for my 4 loops of non command locomotives and then use the TMCC/ Legacy functions for CW-80 powered sections.

Today, I just had a CW-80 powering a few sections of track.  When I build the layout, I'll use 180W 'bricks' for power, except the round house area where a 80W brick will be adequate.

 

I'm very new to this command thing, so I still have tons to learn.  But it is really enjoyable to watch the locomotives respond and be able to walk around watching the train.  I enjoy not being confined to a transformer!

Dave,
It's been easy so far, but I've only done really basic stuff!  The instruction booklet remains open!
 
Originally Posted by chipset:
 

Just think about all those new engines you can buy now!

No kidding...Just what I need.  

 

Command control is awesome. I can't get enough of it.  This is what I've wanted to do with trains since I was a child-control them and not the track.  The future has only begun! 

Still remember my first time with TMCC

My Dad bought me the command system for Christmas back when Lionel had a $99 promotional price in place---first engine was the PWC 2245 Texas Special F3 AB

 

When I hit that horn button I just remember being floored---haven't looked back

 

And I'm a postwar junkie

Have fun

Joe S  

Originally Posted by gunrunnerjohn:

Sounds a little like what I felt when I discovered TMCC, it was a moving experience.

John, That is a ditto for me, a moving experience, can't seem to get enough, TMCC, Legacy, with the Powermasters also running conventional from anywhere in the room, to much fun. Want to run more and landscape less.

Ray

Originally Posted by Dennis Holler:

Iv'e been putting off getting the Legacy control but I now have two legacy engines... and it's getting harder and harder to ignore.     Sooner or later I'm gonna bite.  I assume by now the available 990's have all been updated?  Is there anything to watch out for?

 

I would only say when you do get Legacy, use it for a fair amount of time to make sure you won't have a failure when you are out of warranty. I don't know about current production but early units had problems. For the Legacy 990 system I would definitely recommend buying new. Lionel has been fantastic on repairing these but I don't know how long that will go on.

Ray

Originally Posted by gunrunnerjohn:

Sounds a little like what I felt when I discovered TMCC, it was a moving experience.

For the past 2 days all I've been having is moving experiences due to a bug of some sort... I hope that when my UP 4014 and SP 4075 arrive in a few days; a different type of moving experience will occur!!!

 

Been better,

Dave

Originally Posted by Spence:

Congratulations on your new purchase. Glad everything is working out for you.

I'm having a blast with it!

 

Originally Posted by Dennis Holler:

Iv'e been putting off getting the Legacy control but I now have two legacy engines... and it's getting harder and harder to ignore.     Sooner or later I'm gonna bite.  I assume by now the available 990's have all been updated?  Is there anything to watch out for?

 

When you pull the trigger, you'll never look back! 

 

Originally Posted by Dave Garman:
Originally Posted by gunrunnerjohn:

Sounds a little like what I felt when I discovered TMCC, it was a moving experience.

For the past 2 days all I've been having is moving experiences due to a bug of some sort... I hope that when my UP 4014 and SP 4075 arrive in a few days; a different type of moving experience will occur!!!

 

Been better,

Dave

There were a couple of reasons I wanted to use the 990.  First, to check out my VL Challengers to verify everything worked as expected.  Second, be ready to operate my VL Big Boy when it arrives.  I'm confident I can do that now!

 

Sunday I hope to have time to read the manual some more.  

Gentlemen,

    It took me a long time to invest in the 990 Legacy and a Legacy Shay engine,

Patrick held my Shay for me, until I fully recovered from my health problems.   The Shay will arrive sometime shortly, and I do believe I picked the right engine to start my Legacy experience with, having seen one run on a nice layout at the Monroeville, Pa train show, it is really something.   Got to admit it's one of the coolest engines I have ever seen.  One of the members here on the OGR hooked me up with an original K-line swivel, so the Shay will pull cars even on 031 FasTrack.  It took me a long time but I finally took the plunge also.

PCRR/Dave 

 

Legacy is a great operation system for sure. Far superior to conventional.  I've tried it and I like it but the downside is that these types of trains are expensive when compared to the conventional trains. I am also concerned about the reliability of the cheap quality electronics used in this equipment. If Lionel believes Legacy to be rock solid reliable, then put your money where your mouth is. Provide a 10 year guarantee on the control system components and I will start buying it. Until such time, I keep it simple, never have any problems, run stress free and sleep well.

Originally Posted by Rock Island:

Your story is a lot like mine, In 2007 I was still running trains conventional!

A friend handed me a remote, TMCC at that time and I was hooked for life!

When Legacy came out, I had to have it. Now I have a fleet of Legacy Locos.

I have been very happy with Legacy control and the sounds, hope you enjoy

it, Iam guessing you will!!

I didn't really have a choice-I had bought a lot of command control locomotives and decided after that investment, I needed the proper controls to run them!  The TMCC locomotives are fun; the Legacy is a blast!

 

I'm learning to toggle between locomotives, both TMCC and Legacy.

 

Originally Posted by Jeff T:

Legacy - Made my wife and daughters interested in trains again!! 

 

Great excuse for me to get more "stuff". 

My 20 yr old sister-in-law (who's thinks she's a princess) got her hand on the Legacy remote (READ-forced into her hand) and she is hooked.  I had to make her go to bed last night.  My wife asked if she was sleeping with the remote. She was up less than 15 mins this morning and asked if we could run a train.  That says a lot about Command Control in my opinion.  It's so much fun; people who never thought they liked trains are now running them at my house!

OK informal poll time since this comment was made...
 
Who here has paid for a Legacy System Repair other than shipping to Lionel?
 
As far as I know it has been Lionel's policy that all Legacy systems have been under warranty repair since it's release.  That has been going on at least 6 or so years.
 
Originally Posted by Dennis LaGrua:

If Lionel believes Legacy to be rock solid reliable, then put your money where your mouth is. Provide a 10 year guarantee on the control system components and I will start buying it. Until such time, I keep it simple, never have any problems, run stress free and sleep well.

 

Last edited by MartyE

Legacy IS really cool, ain't it??!!

 

It's what brought me back into the "O" hobby after a 20 year absence. I went into a train store where they had a Legacy system/engine running ... and I was blown away. Whipped out the VISA right then and there. Wife thought I was nuts.

 

Maybe it's me, but  .... I find that Legacy Owner's Manual kinda hard to navigate. Lol.

 

Enjoy your new system.

Last edited by CNJ Jim
Originally Posted by MartyE:
OK informal poll time since this comment was made...
 
Who here has paid for a Legacy System Repair other than shipping to Lionel?
 
As far as I know it has been Lionel's policy that all Legacy systems have been under warranty repair since it's release.  That has been going on at least 6 or so years.
 
Originally Posted by Dennis LaGrua:

If Lionel believes Legacy to be rock solid reliable, then put your money where your mouth is. Provide a 10 year guarantee on the control system components and I will start buying it. Until such time, I keep it simple, never have any problems, run stress free and sleep well.

 

Not me or anybody I know!

Which is exactly what Mike Reagan has said.  The best way to sell Legacy Engines is to make sure the Legacy System is working.  I have to believe that Legacy engine sales took a slight dip during the long wait for new systems.  In the same breath though I suspect that sales might have picked up after the recent availability of the system as well.
 
Mine has been to Lionel once for the 1.0 upgrade.  The battery charger wasn't an issue then but mine doesn't seem to work but then again it's not a big deal to me.  I think it should work but I just don't need it enough to send it back.
 
 
 
Originally Posted by cjack:

I don't think the warranty will end until it's totally replaced by something as featured and better. It's easily in Lionel's interest to keep the system repaired. Can't run expensive Legacy engines without it.

 

Last edited by MartyE
Will the Lionel Legacy system #6-14295 operate MTH Locomotives??
 

My first experience into ‘Command Control’ trains was today.  I unboxed my new Lionel Legacy system because I wanted to make sure it worked properly.  A layout isn’t in the immediate future, so it’s best if I check the 990 out for full functions now!

 

With that said, I set up 3 long straight sections of track on my ‘Workbench RR” as I’ve named it.

 

I decided a Lionel Vision Line Challenger would be my test mule.

 

Before I turned on power, I spent quite a bit of time reading the directions and making sure I had a ‘clue’ what I was doing.  One of my biggest concerns was making sure I knew how to stop the locomotive!

Following the directions, I loaded the memory module, assigned a number and programmed it. Not bad for an electronic ‘Einstein’!

 

Powered up the track, hit the whistle slide (OH, how I love whistle steam!), rang the bell both continuous and single hit, pressed the speed bar and it was moving at restricted speed.  I even increased/decreased the labor and played with the train brake!  For an hour, I experimented with using different buttons on the remote and watching the reaction of the locomotive.  At one point, there was so much smoke from the Challenger my lab started barking at it!

 

I ran the VL Challenger in Legacy, of course.  Then I ran the following TMCC:   JLC Challenger, K-Line Mikado, and the 3rd Rail Fetter’s Challenger.  I was worried about the TMCC locomotive ‘lurch’ but they run very nice using the 990.  As a matter of fact, my JLC Challenger is impressive in the slow speed range!

 

It was a blast. The most relaxed I’ve been in some time.  Forgot all about the world as I watched that big 4-6-6-4 Challenger pound the track, responding to every command!

 

I’m totally ‘sold’ on command control.  My mind has been racing all afternoon of the possibilities.  Legacy, for me, was worth the wait!  I don’t think I’ll ever run another train conventional! 

 

 

 

 

86,
   Dive in and give it a try, I now have both DCS & Legacy, got to admit I did wait till I believed Lionel got most of the bugs corrected from the system, before I purchased the Legacy.  Now I want MTH to expand the DCS remote control abilities to include operation of low voltage command control switches & having recharge capability, to equal that of the Legacy.  So I can run everything from either hand held remote control as well as being able to recharge as needed.
PCRR/Dave

 

Last edited by Pine Creek Railroad

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