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!