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Just a few questions from a new guy

M MikeFOGR Forum Member

Hi everyone, I've been on here a year..ever since my on got me back into trains!  Everything we have is Lionel at the moment, and currently have an 8X4 layout in my son's room and a 6 X 6 temporary one around the Christmas tree.  A few random questions if I may:  He has all RTR sets now and uses a transformer to run both tracks.  If we were to buy an MTH set, could we just put the train on it and start running or does it require an additional transformer?  I notice some MTH sets come with a remote like Lionel's Lionchief sets.  We run his Thomas Lionchief sets on both his layouts with the transformer turned up and then use the remote...at first I didn't think it was a great idea but now I think the remotes are the way to go.  MTH has some nice looking stuff and I'm thinking of taking him to a shop near by and having a look.  Lastly, he and I have been watching a show on TV called 'Alaska Railroad".  It's a pretty cool show and we're kind of "hooked".  It's a great show that really shows how important trains can be at least in that part of the country.  What kind of diesel engine in that thing?

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Allan MillerAllan MillerOGR Editor-in-Chief SUPPORTING MEMBERDIGITAL SUBSCRIBER

You can certainly run Lionel and MTH trains with conventional (transformer) control from the same transformer.  Be aware, though, that MTH does not list the Lionel CW-80 transformer on its list of recommended power sources.  Some 25 other transformers are listed.

 

Both Lionel and MTH trains will operate via their respective remotes so long as there are 18-volts (or a bit less) applied to the track.  The remote operating systems are a bit different in how they work, but your hobby shop folks can explain this and describe how to hook things up.

 

I didn't see the Alaska RR program (although that's my favorite railroad), but the engines you saw were likely SD70MACs.

Last edited by Allan Miller
FM Former Member

I wish I could help you with the Lionel remote question for use with MTH equipment, but I do not know the answer here. I too have watched the Alaska RR show and find it quite entertaining. I believe Allan is correct, their engines shown so far appear to be SD70s. I am amazed how clean they look.

B bigdodgetrainOGR Forum Member
Originally Posted by MikeF:

  Lastly, he and I have been watching a show on TV called 'Alaska Railroad".  It's a pretty cool show and we're kind of "hooked".  It's a great show that really shows how important trains can be at least in that part of the country.  What kind of diesel engine in that thing?

there is a thread in the real trains about railroad Alaska.  if you want to know what each engine is put "Alaska engine xxxxx" where xxx is the engine number in google and it should tell you. 

c.demillec.demilleOGR Forum Member
Even though the lionel cw 80 is not on the list it will work. I have 2 cw 80's. One works normally while the other requires a light bulb to be connected on the layout, whether that is a lighted car or a light on the layout. I believe the bulb does something to the wave frequency. However there are a series of button push sequences in the mth manual that allow other features to be activated, but I could never get those to work. Only the bell and whistle worked for me. I had a proto 2 engine.
R RailRideOGR Forum Member SUPPORTING MEMBER

You can run the remote-equipped MTH sets the same way you used the Thomas set--as long as the MTH receiver is also connected to the track you're running on. In fact, you can have the LionChief Thomas and MTH train running on the same layout, each controlled by its respective remote--as long as the track is supplied with sufficient voltage, neither engine will care about the signals intended for the other companies' unit.

 

The MTH set can also be run conventionally via the transformer handles (I don't believe the LionChief Thomas engine has that capability), but as mentioned before, operation with a CW-80 in particular can be iffy or erratic. 

 

---PCJ

Last edited by RailRide
Barry BroskowitzBarry BroskowitzOGR Forum Member MEMORIALIZED MEMBER

Mike,

 

If you add the MTH set, just connect the included receiver to the track, red terminal to center rail and black terminal to outside rail.

 

Then do one of the following:

  • Do not connect the included MTH transformer to the MTH receiver, or
  • Connect the included MTH transformer to the MTH receiver and also disconnect the Lionel power pack from the tracks.

Either way you'll be able to operate each train with its own controller.

Last edited by Barry Broskowitz
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