I am fairly new been lurking a lot but this is my first post. I am running a Lionel 990 command system and have two Legacy Locomotives. My question is this. I am pretty sure I can only run one Locomotive at a time with the 990 system. In order two run my second Locomotive would I need to buy another 990 system so I can run them both at the same time? I see they have an expansion set the Legacy 993. Not sure what the expansion means or would that work to power my second locomotive?
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A no, you can run as many as you want with one command base.
Only one 990 command base per layout, Jim. If you want each operator to have their own remote, you can add more of these, either the CAB1L or the CAB2/Legacy remote.
While it takes a little practice, you can also put two or more locomotives in motion just using a single remote and switching back and forth as needed.
Jim293 posted:I am fairly new been lurking a lot but this is my first post. I am running a Lionel 990 command system and have two Legacy Locomotives. My question is this. I am pretty sure I can only run one Locomotive at a time with the 990 system. In order two run my second Locomotive would I need to buy another 990 system so I can run them both at the same time? I see they have an expansion set the Legacy 993. Not sure what the expansion means or would that work to power my second locomotive?
the expansion set is if you want two remotes.
I run two trains all the time with one remote.
program the first engine as normal, and press eng and program the second engine, then when you want to go back to the first engine press eng twice and the first engine will be controllable and twice again for the second engine.
This is where Lionchief plus excels. I love running my GP7 around the big loop with the NW2 switcher working the yard and adding cars as needed. I've added cars to the train with the train never stopping. The precision of both thumbs on the throttles is awesome.
Don't get me wrong Legacy is great and I have a few on order from new catalog, but Lionchief has some good points also.
I run 1 Legacy and 2 Vision Line trains on one 990 but I have 3 loops, I know more than one train can run on one loop but my experience doing this is nothing to brag about.
Brent
One cab 2 will operate as many separate engines as the person feels comfortable running at the same time. I run 4 at once, two as engines, two as trains. That way all four engines are either one click or three clicks on the Cab 2 for access. See BIGDODGETRAIN's explanation above. The Train button works the same as the Engine button.
At $50 the iCab app for the iPhone is more economical for a second controller than a 993 expansion base.
You can also use the following apps to control your engines:
You'll need the LCS WiFi module:
You can find out more about Lionel LCS here:
As Rudy explained you can run more than one Legacy/TMCC engine with your Legacy Cab2, just program them all in and run a bunch all at the same time, I have a multi-level Christmas layout that runs 4 different Legacy/TMCC engines, all at the same time, A Legacy Shay, a NP Scale GP9, a TMCC Scale JLC GG1, and a 249ERR Tin Plate, just program your different TMCC/Legacy engines into the Cab2, and reference them they will all run, along with controlling all 99 Command Control FasTrack Switches, all at the same time.
PCRR/Dave
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Awesome. Thanks for the replies. I will do that this weekend. Saves me some cash too.
This may sound very basic, but I can find no reference or instructions or discussions on it. If I have TMCC engines that have been programmed and are running normally (I have 5, four of which are in a lashup), and I get a new Cab2 remote, do I have to reprogram the engines, or can I just use their existing ID and add them to the remote. If so, how, exactly, do I do that?
@kbaybob posted:If I have TMCC engines that have been programmed and are running normally (I have 5, four of which are in a lashup), and I get a new Cab2 remote, do I have to reprogram the engines,NO
or can I just use their existing ID and add them to the remote. YES If so, how, exactly, do I do that?
Go to the 1:30 mark on this video:
Thanks, Rick!
Up to now I have been running the TMCC locos with the DCS remote and my iPad, but I decided to get a Cab2 for more flexibility. Lately on a new layout that is still in the trouble shooting phase I have found two problems that occurred on that layout after normal operations. One of my Atlas F-7 diesel B units suddenly will only run in one direction. It is not set that way in software, and the other three engines in the lashup work fine. Also, my 3rd Rail SP AC-9 Big Boy will start up and shut down, and I can blow the whistle and ring the bell, but it will not move. Replacing the battery helped with the startup, but not motion. It was moving fine initially, though in non command mode. Does anyone have any ideas on either of these issues?
Was the Atlas F inadvertently picked up and placed backwards compared to the lash-up settings?
Or do you mean all alone it is locked in one direction?
If so have you attempted to reset it to factory default?
I was running the lashup with the locos uncoupled and also individual locos. Same result. Later today it started working OK. I found that one of the A units had a loose pickup roller that could swing sideways enough to touch an outer rail and short the system out. After removing that loco the B unit worked fine, but I will watch it to be sure it does not revert. These locos have only had about 4 months of light use over 2 1/2 years, so I'm disappointed.