MTH DCS and Lionel LionChief plus at the same time?

We do it all the time at the club.

Yes

no reason you can't run both.  DCS signal goes on central rail and Lion Chief signal goes wireless from controller or Bluetooth as I understand.

Art

Art Lites posted:

no reason you can't run both.  DCS signal goes on central rail and Lion Chief signal goes wireless from controller or Bluetooth as I understand.

Art

That's my understanding as well. But it never hurts to check in with those who have experience.

Thanks to all who responded.

Dan

I did it on my DDS layout and they both worked fine. Only problem is the extra controllers to operate, better having a partner if you run several trains at once.

Lionchief runs with everything, even conventional with the remote.

I was on the understanding that the two,(MTH & Lionel) can not be run on the same track together as MTH is DC and Lionel is AC I wanted to do the same, but I watched a you tube video from Eric's Trains and he stated it was not possible. I have invested a lot of my pension on Lionel where as MTH is cheaper and with better sounds. I started with Lionel so that's what I have.

Lionel Man UK, I run MTH(DCS) and Lionel (TMCC & Legacy) on my layout, at the same time. With the DCS system, you can run MTH engines and Lionel TMCC and Legacy engines with the DCS controller, but if you do so, you cannot access all the Legacy features.  You can not run MTH/DCS engines using the Lionel TMCC or Legacy system.  So, if you want to run Legacy engines and you want to access all Legacy features, you must use the Lionel Legacy command system.  If you search "running DCS and Legacy on the same layout" in YouTube, you'll find many videos on the topic.  

Hi Guys

many thanks for the information, but I will now stick with my Legacy, as boring as the dialogue is. LOl

Many thanks again for the various postings

Ernie

Essex UK

Lionel man UK posted:

I was on the understanding that the two,(MTH & Lionel) can not be run on the same track together as MTH is DC and Lionel is AC I wanted to do the same, but I watched a you tube video from Eric's Trains and he stated it was not possible. I have invested a lot of my pension on Lionel where as MTH is cheaper and with better sounds. I started with Lionel so that's what I have.

MTH Engines normally take AC track voltage in a 3-rail operation. The DCS command system will take AC or DC track voltage as a source and control the MTH locomotives. Lionel TMCC/Legacy are for AC track voltage only. At the club, we run TMCC/Legacy and MTH DCS at the same time and have been doing so for more than 15 years.

One important note: If using a Premier MTH locomotive equipped with Protosound 3, make sure the DCC/DCS switch is set to "DCS". I've had two locomotives new out of the box with the switch improperly set.

Thanks for the info, so in theory I could purchase an MTH Locomotive and run it on my legacy system. Would it have Bell's, whistles and crew talk???? I must admit I am still a bit confused? Comes with old age.???? So she who must be obeyed tells me. Lol.

Lionel man UK posted:

Thanks for the info, so in theory I could purchase an MTH Locomotive and run it on my legacy system. Would it have Bell's, whistles and crew talk???? I must admit I am still a bit confused? Comes with old age.???? So she who must be obeyed tells me. Lol.

Not quite. You can't control MTH locomotives with the Legacy system. You need the DCS system (TIU and Remote) for command control of MTH locomotives. Both systems can coexist on the same layout, but they're different systems that can't control each other.

As Ed stated, for command control operation, the DCS system (TIU and remote and/or Wifi) , will allow you to operate both MTH engines and Lionel TMCC and Legacy engines using the DCS controller (with potentially reduced features).

However, the reverse is not true. The Lionel TMCC or Legacy system will not allow you to run MTH/DCS engines - you can only run Lionel TMCC or Legacy engines.

You can operate full featured TMCC/Legacy engines and MTH/DCS engines on the same layout by installing both systems, because they are compatible for installation on the same layout. 

Obviously, the above does not take into account conventional, non-command operation and control of engines with either system.

Hi Guys

Ok I am more confused than ever, I guess I will stick with what I know, I really appreciate the input though. It has been a very long learning curve since my first foray into Lionel in 2012, my layout although simple keeps me from going insane,

thanks again though

Ernie Essex UK

Richie C. posted:

As Ed stated, for command control operation, the DCS system (TIU and remote and/or Wifi) , will allow you to operate both MTH engines and Lionel TMCC and Legacy engines using the DCS controller (with potentially reduced features).

However, the reverse is not true. The Lionel TMCC or Legacy system will not allow you to run MTH/DCS engines - you can only run Lionel TMCC or Legacy engines.

You can operate full featured TMCC/Legacy engines and MTH/DCS engines on the same layout by installing both systems, because they are compatible for installation on the same layout. 

Obviously, the above does not take into account conventional, non-command operation and control of engines with either system.

To clarify if you want to operate TMCC/Legacy locomotives with the DCS remote or DCS app you need a Lionel TMCC base or Legacy base and a MTH adaptor cable (https://mthtrains.com/50-1032). I have the cable connected from my TIU to my TMCC command base and run my DCS and TMCC locomotives from my DCS remote. I only use the Cab-1 on occasion, mostly for programming the radio boards in the locomotive. I find it easier to run everything from one remote.