This may have been asked before. I did a search and came back with no results. Is it possible to run Legacy/TMCC engines on the same rails along with DCC engines?
Ray
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No, the DCC track waveform will scramble the TMCC signal, not to mention that TMCC and some Legacy count on 60hz AC on the tracks.
I run tmcc and dcc on the same track but not at the same time with a double double pole double throw switch and dead siding so i dont have to handle the trains
Ray, if you power the track with DCC, the DCC equipped engines obviously work as designed. All the recent Lionel S gauge Legacy engines are "DCC Enabled" so they will also run. The cover of the instruction manual states "DCC Enabled" There is a big difference between "enabled" and "compliant" related to the S gauge Legacy engines. The manuals have a list of DCC control systems that were tested. DCC will only actuate most built in Legacy features, it will not provide DCC features not part of Legacy. No TMCC engines nor older Legacy engines will work. I believe the Y3 is the first DCC enabled engine.
If you run both Legacy and DCC, how do you compare the two?
@gunrunnerjohn posted:No, the DCC track waveform will scramble the TMCC signal, not to mention that TMCC and some Legacy count on 60hz AC on the tracks.
Thank you John, that was what I needed to find out. I never knew if they would work at the same time.
Ray
@Rayin"S" posted:I never knew if they would work at the same time.
Now you know. 
@Rayin"S" posted:This may have been asked before. I did a search and came back with no results. Is it possible to run Legacy/TMCC engines on the same rails along with DCC engines?
Ray
You can if you use BlueRail. BlueRail is like a DCC system. You use your favorite DCC sound decoder and program the CVs just like DCC. But BlueRail can run on AC, DC or battery. I can run my track powered BlueRail engine on the same track at the same time with my DCS and Legacy engine using a Z4000 for power.
@Ron045 posted:You can if you use BlueRail. BlueRail is like a DCC system. You use your favorite DCC sound decoder and program the CVs just like DCC. But BlueRail can run on AC, DC or battery. I can run my track powered BlueRail engine on the same track at the same time with my DCS and Legacy engine using a Z4000 for power.
Ron,
WOW! That is the DCC system that I was looking at, I'm not well versed in all the remote systems that are out there. I read through information on their website but, was not sure of it all meant. Seemed to be some conflicting information, I saw a statement this it was Iphone only and saw somewhere else that android would also work. I need to look deeper in to the Bluerail DCC.
Thank you so much for picking up on this for me.
Ray
Just remember Ray, you need to use your phone to run your trains when you opt for that system. 
Yes, I realize that but, Lionel is heading that way with Legacy now.
Ray
@gunrunnerjohn posted:Just remember Ray, you need to use your phone to run your trains when you opt for that system.
@Rayin"S" posted:Yes, I realize that but, Lionel is heading that way with Legacy now.
Ray
They're heading to "must use phone only"? Has this apparent change in direction been published somewhere?
Mike
@Rayin"S" posted:Ron,
WOW! That is the DCC system that I was looking at, I'm not well versed in all the remote systems that are out there. I read through information on their website but, was not sure of it all meant. Seemed to be some conflicting information, I saw a statement this it was Iphone only and saw somewhere else that android would also work. I need to look deeper in to the Bluerail DCC.
Thank you so much for picking up on this for me.
Ray
Ray,
For now you need an IOS device. I believe the old BlueHorse board used both IOS and Android. I've used an iphone 6 and a very old ipad 4. If you want to play with controllers, there are actually some options, but it takes some initiative from the user.
Have Fun!
Ron
@Mellow Hudson Mike posted:They're heading to "must use phone only"? Has this apparent change in direction been published somewhere?
Mike
Well, they still support existing CAB2 remotes, and for some period of time they'll still make the CAB1L, but it seems pretty clear that they're pushing in the direction of "smart devices only" sometime in the future. I predict that new product will start having "must have" features that are only available using the smart device interface and not the CAB1L or CAB2. Their first shot across the bow is the 4-digit addressing, but that's not a "must have" for me, and probably won't be for a majority of folks.
Don’t mean to hijack this thread, but another about about TMCC. Will an Atlas TMCC equipped engine run ok with just a conventional transformer for track power? I only run conventional but see Atlas/TMCC engines available now and then.
@mowingman posted:Don’t mean to hijack this thread, but another about about TMCC. Will an Atlas TMCC equipped engine run ok with just a conventional transformer for track power? I only run conventional but see Atlas/TMCC engines available now and then.
It should run fine, all TMCC should run in conventional mode.
TMCC engines will also run conventionally, the only type of command engine I believe that doesn't run conventional was the original lionchief; lionchief +, lionchief 2.0, legacy and ps2.0 and 3.0 will run conventional.
Thanks for the quick response. This opens up a lot of new possibilities for me.
It is becoming apparent that Lionel is moving in the direction of wireless loco control and smart device app control. This does not in any way reduce the posture of TMCC/Legacy or DCS in the model train market, but merely creates another operating protocol. Although I have worked with wireless systems for several years, I still use my track power based control quite often and have no plans to eliminate it. It does seem apparent that all significant future development will be in the wireless area. Lionel's introduction of the CAB3 represents recognition of the installed base of Legacy and in my opinion is a proper move.
