If I two rail a late model Lionel steam engine will I be able to retain basic chuff under DC only operation?
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I think you need to be specific as to the model you are considering.
You need to keep in mind that TMCC is an AC system even though the motor(s) are DC Most all the drive boards had the bridge rectifier, usually the lower layer of the board. That would indicate you need to get into the existing boards and figure out where DC starts or change the board to a DC in DC out system. IMO.
Interesting to note that Atlas offered a few engines (Diesel), two rail, that had electronics for either AC or DC operations. There was an AC/DC switch.
Lionel Railsounds requires AC power input so the sounds will not work with DC.
Lionel 6-11299 w/Legacy.
So an DC/AC inverter will reestablish basic Legacy chuff?
Just looking for recessive background ambiance. No desire to over fill the layout air with a cacophony of distinct sounds from multiple engines.
Thanks folks,
Lionel is pretty clear on the use of DC for Legacy locomotives.
Power your locomotive with an alternating-current (50-60Hz AC) transformer only. Powering your locomotive with a direct-current (DC) transformer, or in excess of 19 volts AC, may result in damage to sensitive electronic components.
John, honest question here.....would not there be an inverter that could supply those numbers?
We use inverters for camping & tool battery chargers in our work van. tt
It's not clear to me why the requirements for AC. Truthfully, I've never considered DC, so the question really never came up.
Are you talking about creating AC as input to a transformer from a DC/AC converter, no reason that won't work.
My layout is DC 2 rail only. I currently run DC and MTH PS-2 and PS-3.
I desire basic sound with Lionel Legacy on DC. I am asking about adding a inverter on board the engine to convert the track DC to suitable AC for the Lionel sound.
I wonder if Lionel has any idea of how many 2 rail sales they are missing because of their "three rail only" mentality??
Two rail and DC and DCC compatability with Legacy could position them to be competitave in Europe.
From my information, the European market really out shines the USA in 0 scale/gauge sales.
So much of what we have on this side of the pond are basicly retreads. Europe is hungry for product.
Interesting question, can't speak for Lionel, perhaps someone like Jon Z. will jump in and cast some light on the question. 
There's no technical prohibition against running TMCC or DCS on 2-rails (or DCC on 3-rails for that matter.) That's just a matter of where your "Hot" lead comes into your locomotive. You'd have to run it under AC on the tracks and keep your internal electronics.
Carl Tuveson uses TMCC on his S Gauge layout and if I recall correctly, has the circuit information to put the TMCC signal on both rails. His site is http://www.tuveson.com
Here's the link to Carl's schematic for feeding TMCC to both rails in a two-rail context: http://www.goldinhands.com/Sig...r_files/image001.jpg
Basically, the capacitors allow the TMCC signal to jump to the rails, but prevents electrical current from shorting.
