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As I was culling through 1990s issues of my train magazines I came to a 1993 issue that featured Neil Young's incredible 3-rail layout (this issue is a keeper) and then wanting more layout action I looked online for videos. I could only find one video of the original layout on YouTube - and it turned to be a nice story - some of which I was already aware of - and some was a pleasure to learn. For those who are not familiar with Neil's past involvement with Lionel and developing TMCC, this is a worthwhile video to watch. I have to say Neil's mountains are among the best I've seen...he says most of the scenery was taken from the forest. O-gaugers owe a LOT to Neil Young for his contributions and development of TMCC and Railsounds - the latter still being the best IMO. I don't think he is still active at Lionel, but hopefully he has a voice there.

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If you recall Neil also posted a bit on the forum during that time.  I remember Neil had Lionel send out a new TMCC Command set to Barry B so Barry could do an evaluation of the system as compared to DCS.  Its a shame that turned out the way it did but Neil is a kind fair playing guy. During that time the forum would do surveys on who liked which Neil Young song.  Fun times - good memories !   JP

The train magazine article about Neil Young and his layout that I remember showed him and his son having a great time with the trains. It also showed marvelous scenery including a mountain or cliff made of a red wood forest tree stump.

I also vaguely remember that Neil may have used real water on his layout.

The interaction with Neil and his son together with the layout and its scenery demonstrated that Neil is a creative genius with model trains as well as music. He was, and may still be, a very prolific songwriter. Arnold

FWIW: there's another Neil Young train layout on Youtube - it seems to have been part of a traveling Lionel exhibit, a nice figure 8 shape.

I understand Neil and/or Neil's band members or studio techs were instrumental in developing good systems in the trains. People who visit my train layout and have an ear for sound fidelity comment on Lionel's items.

I remember years ago reading about his contributions to the hobby, and his desire to open it up to a much wider audience by increasing accessibility of the control systems.

On that note, if anyone on this board still knows how to get in touch with him, send me a PM.  We've been working on something at our company that might be interesting to him.

Kind of a shame knowing Neil and Peggy divorced not all that long ago when watching this now, but it doesn't discredit that Neil really did a lot for this hobby, and being just a really cool person who thought about others.

The story behind Trainmaster Command shows his intentions were really done out of a lot passion and love, especially for his son.

We do owe a lot to him and Richard Kughn for bringing Lionel to where it is now.

Last edited by Mikado 4501

I remember years ago reading about his contributions to the hobby, and his desire to open it up to a much wider audience by increasing accessibility of the control systems.

On that note, if anyone on this board still knows how to get in touch with him, send me a PM.  We've been working on something at our company that might be interesting to him.

He's on Twitter @NeilYoungNYA

I believe both his sons had disabilities that was the impetus behind TMCC.  One sour note was for all the work he did with TMCC (and I believe also with Legacy, if I remember the story correctly), he kind of got the shaft when the Lionel bankruptcy happened, he had a piece of the company and basically ended up with little or nothing when the whole mess ended in 2008. From what I can tell he didn't end up bitter about it, but it was kind of sad that that happened. Hopefully, though, he is proud of his contributions.

One thing I wonder about (and this, folks, is pure speculation), had Neil not pushed Lionel to develop TMCC, would three rail toy trains have ended up with DCC? The DCC standards were approved right around the time that TMCC was introduced (1993-1994), so timing wise it was a possibility. I don't know if there was a technical hurdle there,if DCC could work with a Pullmor equipped engine (which raises a question, was TMCC ever offered on Pullmor equipped engines, or was it always on engines using DC can motors).

By the way this question is not in any way regretting that TMCC was developed, for many years TMCC and then Legacy were way ahead of what DCC could do (in large part I suspect because given DCC was aimed at the HO Market primarily along with 2 rail O, the size of the decoders was an issue, basically HO was the de facto target, TMCC had more room to work with in terms of decoders so could implement more). Grateful it was developed, but obvious if things played out differently we might have had a standard control/sound system in three rail, though likely one that would have taken more years to become as robust as TMCC/Legacy (and yes, DCS).

At the time, those who should know said the development of TMCC was driven by at least two technical limitations of DCC at the time.  The lack of ease of retrofitting AC open frame motors (which were the predominant historical motor in three rail) and the lack of availability of high capacity (e.g., 5-10 amperes) hardware for DCC.  Young also, as many know, is extremely passionate about sound quality and Railsounds was his solution to the sound quality issue of QSI sound and similar systems available at the time.

@Landsteiner posted:

At the time, those who should know said the development of TMCC was driven by at least two technical limitations of DCC at the time.  The lack of ease of retrofitting AC open frame motors (which were the predominant historical motor in three rail) and the lack of availability of high capacity (e.g., 5-10 amperes) hardware for DCC.  Young also, as many know, is extremely passionate about sound quality and Railsounds was his solution to the sound quality issue of QSI sound and similar systems available at the time.

Given that DCC was in its infancy at the time, neither of those surprises me, the NMRA standard if the Wiki I read was correct was only formalized in 1993 or 1994. TMCC remained a superior product to DCC for many years as did its follow on, Legacy, as well as DCS. Was just speculating about what might have happened if Lionel didn't develop TMCC. Lionel could still have ignored DCC and sometime down the road develop its own proprietary standard if TMCC didn't happen when it did.....obviously doesn't matter.

Paul K.,  Wow, what a Wonderful thread, and yes, Neil Young and family have really added so much fun to our three rail hobby, what ingenious idea, for kids with very special needs, being able to have Fun running their toy trains. Wow!  When I watched the video, it brought tears to my eyes, it shows how “with a lot of Love” mountains can be moved, rivers crossed, and Friendships for a lifetime made. Yes, he has/had a wonderful layout, brought a new way for Us to operate our trains. You know, Kevin Costner, actor, was a star in the movie “Field of Dreams”, build it, “They will come”  It’s so true. Also, Richard Kuhn, although deceased now,  saved Lionel at the most critical time, (Money Talks) and together, listened to each other, and made the TMCC operating system that changed the way we look at the hobby. This new command system brought me back into the hobby, TMCC, now Legacy, and all I can say is, Thank you Neil Young and Lionel for sharing great ideas and making this the most fun hobby in the world. Happy Railroading Everyone

A couple of months ago we were having lunch at a restaurant in Solvang (CA) and looked over at the next table and recognized David Crosby (of Crosby Stills Nash and Young fame). We started to talk and I mentioned that I was a train guy and how great a contribution Neil made to the development of Lionel train technology and he we discussed Neil’s amazing train room and how he created the technology to enable his son to run trains with him.

Watching the video really made me appreciate the amazing creation that Neil provided for all of us! Simply wonderful!

@leapinlarry posted:

Paul K.,  Wow, what a Wonderful thread, and yes, Neil Young and family have really added so much fun to our three rail hobby, what ingenious idea, for kids with very special needs, being able to have Fun running their toy trains. Wow!  When I watched the video, it brought tears to my eyes, it shows how “with a lot of Love” mountains can be moved, rivers crossed, and Friendships for a lifetime made. Yes, he has/had a wonderful layout, brought a new way for Us to operate our trains. You know, Kevin Costner, actor, was a star in the movie “Field of Dreams”, build it, “They will come”  It’s so true. Also, Richard Kuhn, although deceased now,  saved Lionel at the most critical time, (Money Talks) and together, listened to each other, and made the TMCC operating system that changed the way we look at the hobby. This new command system brought me back into the hobby, TMCC, now Legacy, and all I can say is, Thank you Neil Young and Lionel for sharing great ideas and making this the most fun hobby in the world. Happy Railroading Everyone

Love your passion, Larry.

I actually have a set of Pennsylvania F 3's that are signed by Neil Young....He was at an auction back in 2005 doing a benefit event for a private school on the upper west side of Manhattan.  At the time, he was promoting the Neil Young Signature Line in Lionel Trains.

Besides that, I have loved his music!



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@Bruce Brown posted:

Neil Young has at least 20 toy train patents. Attached is his most well known.

Hey Bruce,

Thanks for the INFO. on his Patents. Was really interesting reading. I had the Pleasure of meeting him and shaking his hand one time at a LIONEL Meeting in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania. He was a down to earth kind of guy when it involved "TOY TRAINS" and TMCC.  Thanks Neil, for what you have done towards the development of the Control for our O Gauge & S Gauge Trains!

FREDSTRAINS

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