I have a few standard post war lionel engines and would like to know if they can be converted to run with command control or some other control system?
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@vicsrc posted:I have a few standard post war lionel engines and would like to know if they can be converted to run with command control or some other control system?
Yes, they can be, if they are the old AC pullmor motor the AC commander from 3rd rail (the old ERR stuff), if it is DC would be the DC commander I believe. At that point they would be TMCC compliant, could be controlled by TMCC or Legacy command system.
Far as I know you can't convert AC engines to DCS.
Check out www.3rdrail.com. Click on ERR Products. Your looking for the AC Commander. You can view the installation instructions.
There are a few ways of achieving this. The easiest and least invasive way is to command control the variable voltage supplied to the track block with a PowerMaster and requisite command control system. This doesn't require opening any locomotives and undoing any of their original internals and whatnot. Thus, it is easily more economical since once done to the layout, there is no per locomotive costs. However, it doesn't unlock any features for which the locomotive is not currently equipped.
If you want to add it per locomotive, it isn't going to be inexpensive. First, you need to get the ERR board. As your postwar locomotives have AC open frame motors, you'll want the ERR AC/DC Commander. For sound, you need to select the appropriate accompanying ERR RailSounds Commander kit. You'll also need a compatible Lionel R2LC board. Then there are the miscellaneous items, such as wiring looms and connectors, any tethering connections, electro-coupler upgrades and on and on and now you've potentially spent more on the upgrades than the locomotive itself and now you have to put it all together. It can be done, but do not forget that acquiring an equivalent or better TMCC equipped locomotive can frequently be more cost effective. Additionally, any potentially collectible items of the postwar era, well, they are only original once...
@bigkid posted:Yes, they can be, if they are the old AC pullmor motor the AC commander from 3rd rail (the old ERR stuff), if it is DC would be the DC commander I believe. At that point they would be TMCC compliant, could be controlled by TMCC or Legacy command system.
Far as I know you can't convert AC engines to DCS.
The DC Commander is no longer stocked, you'd be using the far superior Cruise Commander for DC motors.
I recently did this with the old TMCC base, a power master, and a CAB1. Very reasonably priced and it works great. I picked up an old TMCC engine too since I have the system and works great too, just have to flip a switch on the powermaster to toggle between conventional and command. I wish my pap was still alive, he would have gotten a kick out of seeing his 226e run via remote.
