Conventional and DCS Fleet?

Joe

I have a couple of conventional MTH from the past couple years, a Piper and a Flying Colonel. Both were terrible at first, but run time has greatly improved them. The Flyer reverse in them is a PIA. Also a Lionel Classics 318 and it is a great runner from right out of the box. CP Bob has a few conventional ones (not Flyer types) run well, but have had brush issues. They came with braided tethers on the brushes and the tether would hang up on the brush tube causing not enough pressure on the brush. Snip off the tether and they became great runners. Because I do so much running at meets and shows, I generally prefer the PS types, but would not hesitate to take a conventional one if the price was right.

Steve

Our museum has an early MTH conventional 392E that we run for hours at a time. No unusual problems, just the usual maintenance needs of an open-frame motor - cleaning, lubrication, brush replacement. I also have an early MTH 385E and a 392E in my personal collection. The 385E is kind of noisy and the motor retainer clips are soft. They don't hold the motor tightly enough and if you bend them tighter, they loosen up again. I'll replace them when I get around to it. The 392E is fine. 

JoeG,

   If you have both DCS and the Z4K run your Lionel/MTH Repro Tin Pate Engines thru the TR Z4K mode on your DCS Hand Held Remote Control, you will need the side receiver for the Z4K to set it up, the engines run a lot smoother and perform great.  Nothing wrong with these conventional Lionel or MTH Repro, I do prefer the P2 for all the other cool running options, but like Steve I would not hesitate to own the Conventional Engines.

PCRR/Dave

Original Conventional Lionel on the inside Track, MTH Repro P2 on the outside Track.

 2 MTH conventionals. A 9E from the 1998 Stephen Girard set. and a 400E very early MTH.

The 9E was in the shop once and runs great ever since. The 400E I bought on E-Bay last year. It has terrible pulling power and spins the wheels. I think the wheels are too shiny and need a little scuffing. 

I run original STG most have been serviced before or after I purchased them.

I have several original Protosounds PS-1. These are the best runners of all. Pittman motors,sounds on or off smoke on or off. No cruise control to worry about when running at shows.

As far as wiring the layout. It gets one z-4000 throttle per loop running through a DCS channel per loop. All channels set to fixed and DCS always on. Yes I use the AUX port to power the TIU.

To run conventional I use a Z-4000 throttle. I get voltage and amps drawn on the throttle meter. That simple.

For command I run 5 trains at once. All big trains.

Wow, great input everyone, thanks!

JimC - My only concern on the purchase of a PS1 used , would be not knowing if it was in neutral lockout or some other issue that I could not get repaired, but agree could be great runners.

JoeG

The kit for the 3 clangs of death is $24 maybe less and reusable. A lot of PS-1 stuff was made in Korea and have Pittman motors which are superior to the newer Chinese stuff.

Do not fear PS-1 repairs they are cheap.