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Easy to answer, no. The TIU handles DCS exclusively, and has a pass-thru capability to allow you to run TMCC/Legacy from the DCS remote.
I have the components to install TMCC on my MTH DCS railroad. This opens the door for future additions of Lionel motive power. Other than a couple of bumper trolley cars, there is only one Lionel engine in my roster. It is the iconic New York Central S3, but I have only run it in conventional mode. Thanks for your reply John.
I have the MTH cable that allows me to hook my TMCC Command base to the TIU and run both DCS and TMCC locomotives from the DCS remotes. A little over half my locomotives are DCS, with the rest being TMCC (well one Legacy), so it's nice to be able to just run everything from one remote. I only really use my Cab-1 to program ERR boards. Other than that it sits.
My guess is that if DCS truly is abandoned by any promised MTH successor companies or those companies fail, someone will craft a third party version of DCS to operate your PS2 and PS3 locos in command mode. I'm told by those who should know that the reverse engineering of DCS is technically trivial and has only been prevented by threats of legal action. If and when MTH is truly gone, it seems unlikely that these legal threats would hold much water, and might simply vanish. So just let's wait and see what happens.
Since, IMO, the DCS remote thumbwheel sucks, I don't have any desire to run any of my TMCC or Legacy stuff using the DCS remote.
I agree with @Landsteiner but I'm also just an optimistic person when it comes to that kind of thing. I think DCS will always be around in some form. Just no telling the quality of the form.
PS-3 equipped locomotives run pretty well in DCC, which is how I run mine. Any PS1/2 locomotives I have or get will be converted to DCC probably. I never liked running DCS, so my layout has never had it.
Your TIU and Remote are DCS. Why do you care if DCS goes away? You already have it. Run the trains until the TIU dies and parts are not available to fix.
Something better to replace it always comes along.
Have Fun.
Ron
