mth

Not in command control mode, you can run it conventionally only with the right Lionel equipment like a TPC or Powermaster.

MTH DCS will run Lionel Legacy/TMCC in TMCC mode only if you have a Lionel base. I think you may need a bridge also?

Here's a video from ericstrains that explains it much better than I can.

TMCC/Legacy/DCS Cross Compatibiity Questions Answered

bkm,

   rtr12 is correct, if you plan on running MTH P2 or P3 engines the best thing to due is purchase a full DCS unit and run your Legacy and DCS at the same time.  Although DCS will run most Legacy/TMCC engines, it will not run certain Legacy/TMCC options.

Legacy/TMCC was never designed to run DCS engines.  However it is possible to run some of the engines in the Conventional mode.  This is frustrating to people who would like to own P2 & P3 engines, and only have Legacy/TMCC, it's just the way Lionel engineers its product.

PCRR/Dave

I think you may need a bridge also?

All you need is a Legacy or TMCC or Cab1L base, and an MTH #50-1032 DCS to Legacy/TMCC Cable.

Thanks, I'll get this all straight one of these days...maybe?  I was close.  

rtr12,

   The farther you get into the DCS & Legacy combo the more interesting the engineering becomes, I am just starting into Legacy myself with this years Christmas layout.  With Barry and the guys here on the OGR to advise me, I plan to have a blast building this next Christmas DCS/Legacy layout.  Have fun with your layout!

PCRR/Dave

I just got Legacy this year in Sept. after a year long wait. I don't have the two systems connected together as far as the base & TIU, just at the tracks for the signals. Just connected the black wire from Legacy to all black terminals on the TIU outputs. Worked perfectly first time. 

I also enjoy having both systems, it adds variety and makes things more interesting. I run them separately, Lionel with Legacy and MTH with DCS. I actually like it this way so far, maybe someday I will connect the base & TIU and see what that is like. Legacy is different, but has it's own unique features, some different than DCS. I think you will enjoy them both too.

Only thing was stumped with far is my grandson figured out the Legacy brake slider way before I did and used it to stop the train. He went home and grandpa had trouble getting the train to go again to park it. After a few minutes of head scratching, finally figured it out and got going again. Watch out for that one, always make sure the brake slider is all the way up to the top of the slide before trying to operate train.