MTH 2-6-6-4 NW 20-3036 PS1 to PS2/3, is it worth it?

I have done this engine and it has plenty of room so it is not a hard conversion.  The MSRP for a PS-2 3V version is $1399, so the value decision is really yours, but your into it for a lot less than buying new.   G

$1399? or $139.99

includes smoke unit of course and back up, marker lights and so on? Cheers!

I think GGG is saying if you bought this locomotive as a factory PS-2, then it's be $1399.  Upgrade kits are $200+.  So as far as value, it's 1399 vs 550+200+your time.  Which ever is less is which one you should go with.

Me personally, I love the PS-1 systems and have several of them and plan on keeping them as such.

Bigboy4014;

Having owned a pair of PS1 Galloping geese and then receiving a PS3 one for Christmas this past year I have a valid comparison.

Result:

I will be upgrading the PS1 units with Command control and keeping the sound they have. They are superior to the PS3 station stops sound set by a large margin.

I would get the engine and listen to it prior to determining upgrade status.

A DC Commander may be a better choice as you can then retain the existing sound system.

Getting a video of the PS2 version would be a bonus as you could compare the actual sounds involved.

Russell, exactly how are you keeping the PS/1 sounds with a command upgrade?

You can download a sound file and load it into a locomotive to check what it sounds like.  I just load them into a board set on my test set and then I can check out the sounds.

John;

Leave the PS1 boards in place. Upgrade to TMCC,not PS2.

It does require lots of space, thus is not applicable in all engines but the Geese have plenty of internal space.

I now have a PS1 Premier Big Boy in this condition. Upgrade was done by Train America Studios. Not an AC commander but has TMCC.

I LOVE it.

Can I ask a favor of you Russell?  Could you post a how-to thread on upgrading PS-1 to command while keeping the sounds?  I have several PS-1 locomotives I love the sound on and thus have nixed them from the upgrade list as the plug and play TMCC upgrade kit is no more for them (DD Equalizer).  If there is a way I would love it.  More info, with step by step instructions and video of the upgraded locomotive in action would be great.I have many more questions about the process, so instead of taking any more room here, I'll wait for a thread (or email) from you.

How do you trigger the whistle and bell from TMCC?

Sinclair;

I will have to do a bit of research. The one I have was not done by me.

It was not upgraded to PS2 but to TMCC which has small boards available.

Take a look at the ERR offerings. A simple TMCC control without sound should work.

I will get a Video of the Big Boy as soon as I get a layout up it can run on but that will not be soon. The current layout in the den has a section of O-31 in each corner.

And as I posted above, you will need room for all the boards. So not applicable for mid to small steam engines or small body diesels.

John;

Not sure how TAS did it but the Commanders have a digital output signal for it or you can configure other outputs to trigger on specific inputs.

I will have to get one and play with it to give specifics.

Since I plan on doing so for my PS1 geese, this will happen, but not this month, I have far too much going on in the spring time.

The AC or DC commander has a single digital output that is activated when you blow the horn.  However, that doesn't help for stuff like the prime mover speed, chuff, or the bell.  Also, I'm assuming you'd need an interface of some sort as the signal is a low voltage 0-5V logic signal.

John;

Looks like I will need to open the Big Boy and see how TAS did it.

If I have to I can always build a circuit to vary track voltage to the PS1 board for the speed changes.

The PS3 Goose only seems to have idle and run for the engine sound so I can't do worse. I pumped the Labor button a few times with no effect so It seems to not have RPM/Power steps.

Well, once you have it figured out and know what you have to do, circuit building and all if need be, I am interested as I have 9 PS-1 locomotives I'd like to be TMCC, at least 2 must keep their current sound set.  Most of the others I could live with the general sounds of the TMCC upgrade kits, but keeping their factory sounds would be grand.

I'm interested if they managed to interface all the sounds to command.  I'm guessing it's a UCUB or UCUB2, that's the only way I know they'd have done it.

Gotta be a UCUB II. The original UCUB wasn't made to work with Protosound. The UCUB II is a pretty rare beast these days. There was a used one on eBay recently for $100, buy it now. There is also the Digital Dynamics Equalizer. I've got one of those earmarked for one of my last two Proto-1 diesels, but I haven't gotten around to installing it yet. Too many higher priority projects.

Great comments by all.

Does a PS2 or PS3 kit come with the smoke unit? Can I use the stock PS1 smoke unit with the PS2/3 conversion kit if it does not come with smoke unit? are there added lights with the PS2/3 kits for the 2-6-6-4?

Cheers!

MTH has not yet offered PS/3 kits. The PS/2 kits are in two flavors: steam and diesel/electric. The difference is that the steam kit includes a tether, and of course the installation instructions are different. Kits have been in short supply for a long time. MTH received some a while ago and was sending them to customers who had back ordered them, but I don't know if kits are now available. There is a pair of them on eBay right now, a day or two from closing, and the current bids are right around the retail price.

Kits do NOT include a smoke unit. You can adapt a PS/1 smoke unit - the instructions in the kit tell you how. There are not specific kits for each engine, just the generic steam or diesel. The instructions are focused on converting an MTH engine with PS/1, although the kits can be used on anything with a can motor and a flywheel. I have only done one kit conversion myself, a brass Weaver engine. That was a lot more work than upgrading an MTH engine. I've done a couple more by buying PS/2 engines cheap and gutting them for the electronics. That can be cheaper and easier than using a kit, but there are no instructions so you kind of have to know what you're doing to go that route. 

Thx a bunch for your detailed answer.

Let GGG do the upgrade to PS2. His knowledge and skills are exceptional in this regard.

While I haven't actually used the UCUB, the instruction manual clearly talks about installing with ProtoSound 1 boards.  From the UCUB Installation Manual.

Interesting. The TAS catalog published after the UCUB II was added to the line recommends the UCUB II for Protosound and the UCUB for everything else. Probably the UCUB II has more functionality with Proto-1, but the UCUB will work. 

The UCUB and UCUB II are very hard to find these days. I don't think too many UCUB II's were produced. 

You can go to MTH site and download the upgrade instruction.  If it looks like more work than you want to do you can contact me via my profile e-mail.  My work comes with warranty as an MTH Tech.  G