Lionel Legacy Command System

Let me ask you this. How many engines do you run on the outside loop at once?

Only 1, the outer loop is 072 radius, I run my larger engines here along with proto sound 1 engines and the Lionel engines I have

I think you can get away with a #990 set if you only run one locomotive on the loop at a time. You'll use the transformer when you run conventional locomotives and then you'll put the transformer at 18v and use the remote for Legacy locomotives. Somebody else should chime in if I'm wrong on this.

The #990 set is discontinued. You can still find them if you hunt a bit. The CAB1L 637155 and Base1L 637156 are the remaining pieces produced. It's like a smaller version of the #990. I have one and it works well. I was very concerned about it having no screen but that hasn't been an issue.

Thanks for the input, am I right when I hook up the legacy system if I'm not using it I can still run my other trains in

conventional mode?  I like the lion chief app I just wanted to take advantage of all the Legacy engine features.

@oxydave posted:

Thanks for the input, am I right when I hook up the legacy system if I'm not using it I can still run my other trains in

conventional mode?  I like the lion chief app I just wanted to take advantage of all the Legacy engine features.

As long as the engine(s) you want to run in conventional are not equipped with TMCC or Legacy you will be fine.  Otherwise you will have to at minimum unplug the Legacy Base.

@BillYo414 posted:

The CAB1L 637155 and Base1L 637156 are the remaining pieces produced.

The BASE1L is no longer produced, just the CAB1L.

Thanks for the info

Dave

FWIW, I run Legacy/TMCC, DCS, and conventional on the same tracks.  DCS and Legacy/TMCC run seamlessly at the same time, obviously conventional runs when the command stuff is parked.

The Lionel Legacy #990 command base and the TIU are wired to the tracks, I also support both the MTH and Lionel WiFi if someone want's to use them.  The switches are all TMCC controlled and have the Lionel LCS CSM2 boxes for position feedback to the LCS system.  Power is supplied by four Lionel Powerhouse 180 transformer bricks.

I use the #990 Legacy System (and I love it, too) on my current layout, and will continue to use it (and the new Base-3 when it becomes available) on my new layout that I'm beginning to work on. I run both command and conventional trains (not at the same time) using a Legacy Powermaster and 180W Powerhouse. My new layout will have three 180W PHs and three LPMs for its 3 loops.

As for DCS, you could use one of the TIU's variable outputs for conventional trains.

The Legacy signal piggybacks off the DCS signal with no interference, so the two systems will run together.

Thanks for all the feedback. gunrunnerjohn WOW, very impressive pic. of your bricks and wiring!

Dave, my wiring is sloppy compared to some I see.  It's functional, and neat enough for me to follow.

Are you aware of how much the legacy #990 goes for now

@trainbob posted:

Are you aware of how much the legacy #990 goes for now

I just bought one new in box for 500 bucks.   There are plenty out there - just need to search for them.

You got a great deal. At auctions that I watch they usually sell for about $1000

Recent sales on eBay go from $550 to around $1500.

gunrunner John, my wiring is functional for me but not nearly as neat and complicated as yours. kudos to you..

I didn't realize the Legacy 990 was so expensive. I like using the Lionel app to run my Lionel engines w/bluetooth

I'm just trying to access the additional features my few Legacy engines have. I recently purchased the Lionel Legacy ES 44AC

Flying Tiger. Would the Cab 1L allow me to access it's advanced features or just the basic features I get with the Lionel app.

@oxydave- I bought a used Base/ Cab 1L last year. It works well on all of my Lionel command engines. They are available at lower prices than the 990 sets. You can't access some of the Legacy features with a 1L but I'm not concerned about it.

With the Base 3 not yet released, and MTH in no man's land with a new DCS system, I found a good solution until new systems are on the market.

I have 2 new Bluetooth equipped engines that work well on both the app and the 1L remote.

An added feature looking forward is that the 1L remote will work with the new Base 3 since Lionel will not be producing a physical remote for the Base 3.

I also have a MTH remote commander for my Proto 2/3 engines.

Bob

Thanks for the feedback, I also use the DCS system on my inner track and like it a lot.

From what i'm understanding I probably won't be able to access all the features with a cab 1L.

This ES44AC flying tiger engine has a siren built into the sound package which is pretty cool.

@oxydave posted:

gunrunner John, my wiring is functional for me but not nearly as neat and complicated as yours. kudos to you..

I didn't realize the Legacy 990 was so expensive. I like using the Lionel app to run my Lionel engines w/bluetooth

I'm just trying to access the additional features my few Legacy engines have. I recently purchased the Lionel Legacy ES 44AC

Flying Tiger. Would the Cab 1L allow me to access it's advanced features or just the basic features I get with the Lionel app.

Some Legacy features are only available using the full Legacy system.  Since I rarely run with Bluetooth, I honestly can't say what would be missing, if the feature uses the AUX3 key, it's probably not available.

I am just a looper on a small layout however one feature that I can not find when running Bluetooth is the shutdown feature

I believe that the Cab1L setup will activate the trip sequence.

@trainbob posted:

I am just a looper on a small layout however one feature that I can not find when running Bluetooth is the shutdown feature

I don't believe there is a way to execute the shutdown sequence with the BT app.  With the CAB1L, you use AUX1/5.  However, with the CAB1L, I don't know how to do the shutdown without the crewtalk like you can with the CAB2.

@RSJB18 posted:

I also have a MTH remote commander for my Proto 2/3 engines.

Bob

Bob,

I think you would like the MTH 50-1035 DCS Explorer.  I bought one from a forum member and I like it a lot better than the remote commander.  With the remote commander you have limited functionality and the engines require a factory reset to be recognized.

With the Explorer you can use the WiFi app on either your home network or the MTH network.

You can run programmed announcement sequences.

You can use the STOP button to cut power to the track, switch engines, then ask it to find the new engine and start running without having to restart the app or the network.

You can do a factory reset as well.

I have both and I hardly ever use the remote commander mostly because the engines need a factory reset each time.

New ones are around $140.

John

@Craftech posted:

Bob,

I think you would like the MTH 50-1035 DCS Explorer.  I bought one from a forum member and I like it a lot better than the remote commander.  With the remote commander you have limited functionality and the engines require a factory reset to be recognized.

With the Explorer you can use the WiFi app on either your home network or the MTH network.

You can run programmed announcement sequences.

You can use the STOP button to cut power to the track, switch engines, then ask it to find the new engine and start running without having to restart the app or the network.

You can do a factory reset as well.

I have both and I hardly ever use the remote commander mostly because the engines need a factory reset each time.

New ones are around $140.

John

I've looked at the Explorer a few times. The reset feature is good since I buy used engines that usually need to be done. At least PS3's can be reset with the RC. Running more than one engine at a time is a plus over the RC too.
Not a big fan of the smartphone apps. I just started using the LC app and while it works well, I'm always looking at the screen. I may still make the switch but the RC works for now.

Thanks

@RSJB18 posted:

Not a big fan of the smartphone apps. I just started using the LC app and while it works well, I'm always looking at the screen. I may still make the switch but the RC works for now.

Thanks

I absolutely cannot stand using a phone to run trains.  But my Samsung Tablet is pretty nice.   It's probably my age.

John

@Craftech posted:

I absolutely cannot stand using a phone to run trains.  But my Samsung Tablet is pretty nice.   It's probably my age.

John

Yea- me too. I have an old Dell mini tablet that I need to try. I have to figure out how to unlock it first since none of us remember the code....I'd want to add a mount to hold the device next to my control panel too so that I don't need two hands to operate it all the time.

This thread that @BillYo414 started is interesting.

Bob

@RSJB18 posted:

@oxydave- I bought a used Base/ Cab 1L last year. It works well on all of my Lionel command engines. They are available at lower prices than the 990 sets. You can't access some of the Legacy features with a 1L but I'm not concerned about it.

Bob

I looked and the CAB 1-L BASE is not generally available and go for a premium price just like the 990's do.  The 1-L system was only produced from 2013 - 2021.  The color of them is Navy Blue.  What is readily available is the older CAB-1 system unfortunately.  Those are the Gray ones.

John

@Craftech posted:

I looked and the CAB 1-L BASE is not generally available and go for a premium price just like the 990's do.  The 1-L system was only produced from 2013 - 2021.  The color of them is Navy Blue.  What is readily available is the older CAB-1 system unfortunately.  Those are the Gray ones.

John

I got lucky and picked mine up from a forum member. I wanted the 1L because the antenna was internal on the hand-held. The old external antenna would have been a PITA.

@RSJB18 posted:

I got lucky and picked mine up from a forum member. I wanted the 1L because the antenna was internal on the hand-held. The old external antenna would have been a PITA.

I'll keep an eye out for one Bob.   Most of what I buy is from forum members.  Great bunch.

John

@RSJB18 posted:

I've looked at the Explorer a few times. The reset feature is good since I buy used engines that usually need to be done. At least PS3's can be reset with the RC. Running more than one engine at a time is a plus over the RC too.
Not a big fan of the smartphone apps. I just started using the LC app and while it works well, I'm always looking at the screen. I may still make the switch but the RC works for now.

Thanks

I wish there was a way to isolate the dcs signal from the explorer - I don’t need power, I just need the dcs signal.  Anyone tried something to do this?

-chris

@ChrisFromCle posted:

I wish there was a way to isolate the dcs signal from the explorer - I don’t need power, I just need the dcs signal.  Anyone tried something to do this?

-chris

Are you looking for the watchdog signal?

Get in touch with @gunrunnerjohn- he used to have RC's that he converted to WD's for just this purpose.

Here's his thread on the subject.

The DCS Explorer doesn't function in passive mode, but the full TIU or the DCS Remote Commander work in passive mode with external power that doesn't go through the device.