Lionel Trains and DCS

Yes you need the lionel base1 or lionel base1L or cab 2 base and a cable hooked from lionel base to TIU then you can run TMCC or Legacy  

 You mentioned sets. Lionel didn't produce many sets with Command Control. Are you sure they have command  ?  You can only add TMCC or Legacy engines to the remote and run them with DCS. You can run them in conventional mode using the variable channels. If they happen to have TMCC. As mentioned above. You will need a TMCC base as well as a cable to link it to the TIU. 

You need to specify the actual Lionel model numbers, it's very likely that a Polar Express "set" is either LionChief or conventional control.  I'm guessing the other "sets" are similar.  The LionChief will ONLY run using it's remote or the new LionChief 3 channel remote.  The conventional model can be run from the DCS remote using a variable TIU channel.

Chance,

    If you received the new (LC) Lion Chief Remote Control RTR Lionel Train sets this Christmas, they are only controllable with their own hand held remote control, you can power your track with your AC transformer, MTH or Lionel, set to 18 volts.   However the remote control that comes with the RTR Lionel Train set must be used to actually run the trains, all commands for these new LC Engine/Trains only comes thru the Lionel remote control, provided with each RTR set.  Your DCS or the TMCC/Legacy have no operational running control of these stand alone trains.  I just received the new Hallmark/Lionel Santa Train for Christmas this year, it's one of these stand alone RTR Lionel Train set.  Read the instructions that come with your new trains you will quickly see how they have things engineered with these trains.  It is a little bit of a bummer that the DCS & TMCC/Legacy can not fully control them.  Your new trains come with a DC power supply also, along with their own FasTrack loop, a real nice RTR stand alone starter set.  Just fantastic for the kids to play with.  I have my new Lionel Chief HallMark/Lionel Santa Train running on an inside loop of RealTrax, on the 2nd level of our Christmas layout, powered by one of my old Lionel AC-ZW Transformers, controlled by it's own hand held remote control.  You can also run the Conventional mode thru the DCS if you choose to run all conventional, the kids however are going to want to run with the small remote control hand held unit, very easy to use and understand, Lionel definitely made these Stand Alone Lion Chief Train Sets, child friendly.  

PCRR/Dave

Hi,

Thank you for all the responses back.

I attached 2 pictures of the the sets I got, from what i am reading there is a good chance there is not a way to add these 2 engines to my DCS. Please let me know what options i have.

Thank you,

Kenny

You can only add Command Control engines to a DCS system. They either have to have TMCC or Legacy built into the engine. If they did. You would still need a Lionel command base and a cable. These do not. These sets are transformer controlled. You have a couple options. They must be opperated on a separate loop with no other engines present on the loop no matter what. Either use the provided transformer to control them or you can use a variable channel of your DCS setup.

Chance,

    It looks like your trains are regular Conventional Lionel sets, no command control, however you can use the DCS TR Mode to run you conventional engines/trains from your DCS hand held remote control.  I suggest you purchase Barry's DCS O Gauge Companion Book, and the OGR Video guide to DCS.  Both give a great education on your DCS, Rich Melvin in the OGR Video guide shows step by visual instructions on the use of DCS.

PCRR/Dave