MTH PS1 southern crescent

(1) This is a Southern Crescent PS-4 steamer, right? 

(2) Is it the Premiere version of 1994, or the RailKing version c. 1997.

(3) Has the board ever been upgraded?

PS-1 was the OS until c. 2000 when the first engines equipped with PS-2 were released. But we had to run them like PS-1 for a couple years until the TIU and Remote were delivered c. 2002.

Good memory Richard.  All the dealers had plenty of time to sell off the PS1 locomotives before the DCS system was released.  Many people early on were a bit scared of the DCS until they were exposed to the system operating.   The rest is history.    Mike did all of this at the correct time for both dealers and operators.   PS1 locomotives run great using the DCS remote on variable tracks.

RailKing version 1997

Like I said the engine runs fine with the DCS remote as far as forward, reverse, bell and whistle when moving.  I was told by someone else that I could only change features, release couplers and PFA  through the transformer and a bell button, but I thought I read in Barry's book that I could I could start the engine with the #4 softkey labled PS1 which should be in reset mode at this time and then press #1 sofkey labled MPG which is suppose to be PS1 progam mode.  I am new to DCS and if I can ever figure it one time I can get it from that point.  I even have a Cab 1 connected and have no issues running TMCC engine on the fixed voltage.  I like this PS1 engine and would just like to take advantage of all the features. I was offer to to upgrade it to PS3 for $350 with the board cost at $199.  If I had the board I could do myself.  Just not ready to drop $350 yet.  Anyway any help would be appreciated and feel that Barry would not have mentioned these options if it could not be done from the remote.  

"Southern Crescent PS-4 steamer"

Just for the archaeological record, there was never a real or model "Southern Crescent PS-4 steamer"; there were some Southern Ps-4 (small "s") Pacifics lettered "Crescent Limited" for service on that train from DC to Atlanta in the 30's and 40's. (From Atlanta it was routed on the WofA/A&WP to Montgomery, then the L&N to Mobile and N.O., and pulled by their engines.)

The "Southern Crescent" was a later diesel-era train formed by combining the Crescent Limited and Tennessean (I believe), then drastically changing its route.

It matters. 

Thanks D500. Such things matter to me as well. Had I just glanced at the loco in my display cabinet, I would have seen “Crescent Limited” on the tender. As a west coaster, I have greatly enjoyed the Southern Railway. We rode part of the route from Philadelphia to New Orleans via AMTRAK’s “Crescent” eighteen years ago, and I was blown away by the real engine in the Smithsonian.

Thanks Jeff. Your 1997 RailKing version has a few more features than my 1994 Premier with bare bones sound, so you are ahead of me here.  

Thanks for trying i will eventually get this figured out. I may have mentioned earlier but I don't think there would be soft keys for accessing PS1 features on the remote if it is not a possiblity.