Lionel Fastrack to MTH Genesis Premier

You'll need to invest in at least the DCS Explorer if you want to run a PS/2 or PS/3 locomotive.  That will allow you to use the phone application for control.  How big is your layout?  The DCS Explorer is pretty limited, and three locomotives suggests you have too much layout for the Explorer.

If you want to stick with just Lionel control systems, you might consider finding a nice Premier PS/1 Genesis and having it upgraded to TMCC, that will allow you to run it with the Lionel WiFi and the Legacy system.

Need information about what you are currently using to power your Lionel engines.  I don't think the DCS app by itself will help you.  You could buy the DCS Explorer to run the MTH engine with the free MTH app.   It would also require a MTH brick to connect to it and power the track.  Although LionChief engines can be run on the same track at the same time using the Lionel remotes, my experience is that the MTH bricks produce track voltage a volt or so above the 18v the Lionel engines run on.  If the MTH engine is on a separate loop of track that would not be a concern.  I have never tried running Legacy engines using a Cab2 on the track that is connected to the Explorer and MTH brick.  I suspect a Lionel Powerhouse 180 would power the DCS Explorer but you would need a wire adapter to connect the two since they use different types of connections.

Hi. Thanks for responding.   We are running a Z4000 to power the layout.    All Lionel Legacy and or LionChief Plus engines are controlled by the Lionel hand held remotes or the Lionel Bluetooth app

appreciate your help

I think I can say that's too much track for the DCS Explorer to properly handle.  It has a 6A limit on power handling, and it will not run in passive mode to allow for more power.

I see you don't have any Lionel control system, so anything you do is going to cost some money.  I'm guessing you're running all LionChief or LionChief Plus stuff?

With that large a layout and 4 trains with some passenger cars, the DCS Explorer option won't work very well.  It will only handle a maximum of 6 amps total.  I bet you would blow its fuse if you ran all the trains, especially if you turned on smoke units.  I suspect your only option is to invest in a full DCS system.  Then set the Z4000 to 18 v and run the Lionel off their remotes/app while the MTH runs off its app or remote.

Sorry to duplicate GUNRUNNERJOHN's advice.  He has a much more experience in this area so I would definitely trust his judgement.

gunrunnerjohn posted:

I think I can say that's too much track for the DCS Explorer to properly handle.  It has a 6A limit on power handling, and it will not run in passive mode to allow for more power.

I see you don't have any Lionel control system, so anything you do is going to cost some money.  I'm guessing you're running all LionChief or LionChief Plus stuff?

We have two Lionel Legacy engines and the rest are LionChief Plus. My son, loves the Lionel remotes... we can run 5-6 max engines at the same time in the current layout. 18V with the Z4000...

I know nothing about MTH... other than they have the one Genesis loco we want.... (I found a PS3 Premier one) so to run let’s say I want to run  2 LionChief Plus engines + the Amtrak Genesis ps/3 using the MTH app, I need the DCS explorer? (WiFi module?)  I add this to the track.... then I can run all 3 at the same time using remotes and/or the MTH app?

whats the difference between MTH PS1, PS2 or PS3? How is a PS1 Genesis upgraded to TMCC?

Premier PS/1 Genesis and having it upgraded to TMCC

You must not have read my previously response too carefully.   I don't think the DCS Explorer is going to be sufficient for the amount of track you pictured, I suspect you'd have some very annoying issues with DCS signal strength.