It seems the ZW-L was designed to control two trains, with two accessory controls. Personally, I would rather control 4 conventional trains with the "Big Iron" ZW-L. What do you think of these possible ZW-L modifications to create a new ZW-4 transformer model from Lionel:
1) Why are the handles not connected to the inside B&C control rings, rather than the outside A and D dials? The A&D control rings are already easy to get to. I suppose obviously because the B&C rings were originally intended for accessories, where you set them once and then rarely change them. But for those who see the ZW-L as a way to run four trains having the handles on the B&C rings would be a big improvement. Or, simply have 4 handles, one on each ring.
2) Seems like the bell, whistle and direction buttons would be convenient if assignable to any of the throttles. Like power window controls in a car, you first choose whether to adjust the left or right mirrors, prior to making the adjustments. Again, it seems that the B&C throttles never evolved (in the manufacturers vision) from accessory controls. Personally, I want to control my accessories with inexpensive CW-80s, not use the "big iron" capability of the ZW-L for that lesser task.
3) For remote control capability, perhaps the ZW-4 could include an option to control the 4 throttles cost effectively by remote:
3A) Include a Legacy 1L (the new, coming soon lower-cost controller) command base inside the LW-L, or
3B) Adapt the new radio control technology being used to control the new Thomas, so that each of the 4 throttles can be controlled by a remote. [4 different remotes like the proposed thomas technology - or one remote that can transmit on any of the 4 channels - I don't know what would be best. ]
What other suggestions do you have for the proposed ZW-4 to make it the optimal 4-train transformer?
, having four usable throttles would be the cat's meow! With just 2 usable throttles, it's just a bigger Z4000, with adjustable accessory power. Ho Hum
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