Lionel Or MTH 2-10-4

Stuart,

Thanks. This may be the problem with my Pennsy Decapod. Mine stops and shuts down completely. By pressing start again on the DCS controller it starts right back up and runs for a while, then stops again.

Richard

i have both lionel prr versions. i'd have to say go with the tmcc version these are quite a bargain anymore for a beast of an engine. they can easily be had in the $500-700 range. while the whistle doesn't quill like the legacy one will it is an amazing sounding whistle. good luck finding a legacy one and if you do they are extremely pricey the last used one i saw on ebay went for almost $1600 used. in my opinion the legacy one isn't worth the extra money it's a great engine but not worth the difference in money. the same could be said about alot of other tmcc engines that everybody sells when the new legacy ones come out. 

Based on experience I would recommend the TMCC version only if you intend to never run the loco in conventional.  I run only conventional, and most TMCC steamers, particularly old ones, jackrabbit on start up and have rather non-linear response to the throttle particularly at low speeds, particularly older ones.  By contrast, Legacy steamers run very well in conventional - smoothly, slower, with good response to the throttle.  

That said, if you have the controllers and intend to use them all the time, as was said, TMCC is often a bargain. 

I really like my Lionel TMCC J1a, the Legacy version does not sound as nice. I had EOB and TAS Turbosmoke in it for a while but later installed ERRCo Cruise M and took out the smoker.

Here's a short vid of it on my old layout running with Cruise M:

Here's a shot of it sitting on my old TT:

Thanks Norm!  BTW:  I'd always been a BIG fan of your layout and modeling skills.  They looked great on the pages of OGRR Magazine.....but look even more impressive on video.

So please add this to the thousands of well deserved compliments that you received over the years.

Lee:  You touch on a good point that I don't think gets brought up enough simply b/c so many people never attempt this.....but the three large Legacy steamers that I have all run surprisingly well in Conventional mode.  Most people who buy them are running Legacy or TMCC on their layout and never/rarely run them in old school conventional mode.  But when they do, the really run well in this manner.

This is part of the reason I've never bought "the sky may one day fall" attitude that some people have towards newer models with all of their electronics that may one day fail.  If all of the Legacy specific features disappeared, for whatever reason, you could still run these locos and enjoy great low speed operation, a smooth and wide operating speed range, four chuffs per revolution, along with an excellent whistle and bell.  Much better than pre-1990ish, IMHO.