THIS IS FANTASTIC NEWS ,
THANK YOU SCOTT MANN !!!!!
Scott,
Thanks for taking over the Err boards.
I hope you 'll add the mini Comander HC for accessory cars at some point in time.
john
Great News from Scott and the 3rd rail team and Lionel for allowing it to happen.
Win Win for everyone.
Long Live the Shelf Queen (NOT), Let them run.
Gray Lackey
Great news!
Nick
Finally - we can all relax
Wow that is fantastic news! I felt like I had lost a family member after leaning about Electric RR but this is definitely very welcomed news for the O scale hobby.
Thank you 3rd Rail!! Can't wait to finally get my hands on a board from you guys!!
Chris Lord posted:
Now, are all the folks who swore off Lionel forever back on the bandwagon?
Until the next outrage when the noses get out of joint. Short memories seem to be a sign of aging. . .
now to save for four ac commanders or cruise commanders and railsounds for four GG1's by Williams/Williams by Bachmann 
Great news and sooner than I expected. I may order something without knowing what it will go in.
Thank you, Scott & Lionel, for making this happen. There are a lot of us that were holding our breath hoping for a positive outcome. We can all resume normal breathing and return to our regular griping and catalog speculation
Tom
Scott and his team absolutely deserve credit for jumping in to save the ERR products. However, everyone should heed Scott’s own words that this can’t last forever and 3R/GGD should not be vilianized (in the way Lionel was) when the product ultimately is discontinued for technology turn/obsolescence reasons. That day is coming, and when it does, it won’t be Scott’s fault. TMCC is contemporaneous with Windows 3.1 - a technology Microsoft replaced 23 years ago and wholly stopped supporting 17 years ago. At some point, a replacement technology will be required no matter how much goodwill and effort Scott’s team infuses into the current effort. In the meantime, it’s great Scott’s team can make it work for everyone involved.
A good deal for everyone.😊
Which sound sets will be offered? I know that the steam turbine and gas motor were two recent additions, will they plus the 3 steam, the GG1, and all diesel sound sets be available?
Rider Sandman posted:Scott and his team absolutely deserve credit for jumping in to save the ERR products. However, everyone should heed Scott’s own words that this can’t last forever and 3R/GGD should not be vilianized (in the way Lionel was) when the product ultimately is discontinued for technology turn/obsolescence reasons. That day is coming, and when it does, it won’t be Scott’s fault. TMCC is contemporaneous with Windows 3.1 - a technology Microsoft replaced 23 years ago and wholly stopped supporting 17 years ago. At some point, a replacement technology will be required no matter how much goodwill and effort Scott’s team infuses into the current effort. In the meantime, it’s great Scott’s team can make it work for everyone involved.
Great post, I can agree with you in most of what you said. I may or may not speak for myself here but the root of the issue here isn't the "inevitable death of TMCC", I mean every type of technology dies, like windows 3.1 and the extremely useful Turbo button lol, BUTTTT those technologies were replaced with new, better, shoot even more affordable and durabel technology. What I'm trying to get at, and the reason I think people "villainized" ERR and/or Lionel, which was the same company technically speaking, was because they are saying that the technology is becoming obsolete but not offering a viable replacement.
Look at MTH for example, I've used their PS3 upgrade kits, be it a killer on the wallet and a little harder to install, with great success and that is, and will always be, their product for those with great running engines but want to add some current features and/or you are like me and just like tinkering with stuff, I digress...
If Scott and Lionel really want this to work for the long term, and that's a big IF, gosh knows what they have planned to be honest; Those upgrades, be it to TMCC or LEGACY or TMCC with new components and features or LIONCHIEF Extreme, whatever it will be called, needs to be available. If it's not, it just looks like Lionel is just making it's customers buy new engines VS continue to enjoy our investments by adding a new smaller investment. It's a win win for Lionel to offer the upgrade.
Yay! Don't have to sell 3 locomotives. Soon I can update them.
This is excellent news! Will be definitely ordering from Scott! Thank you and good luck in the new venture!
Guys,
What's really great about this business is that the customers have some really intelligent and thoughtful suggestions. I listen even if I don't respond.
I think in the future, the path for upgrades will continue. It's just a little early to see who and what will be involved in the upgrade business or even what the technology will be. But what I did see, is that it was too early to drop the ERR product without something else to jump to. My hope too, is that I can be involved in this evolution. But one never knows, you can just keep yourself open to it and positioned for it.
I want to take this opportunity to thank Jon Z. Without his invention and creativity, we wouldn't be having this discussion.
Scott
Dear Scott
Thank you and please let us have the web address as soon as it goes live. I hope the website does not crash from the orders that will come thru.
When you can also let us know if you get any other parts of the ERR product line. I have some milk cars, log and coal cars that need a refit.
Good news!
Lots of anti-anxiety medication prescriptions won't need to be refilled.
sdmann posted:I think in the future, the path for upgrades will continue. It's just a little early to see who and what will be involved in the upgrade business or even what the technology will be. But what I did see, is that it was too early to drop the ERR product without something else to jump to.
Scott
I think Scott succinctly states the salient point in this whole affair - the product shouldn't have been dropped until a replacement was available, as many others above have noted as well. It's wonderful that he's picking up the loose ball and is going to keep running with it.
Daniel J. Gonzalez posted:Rider Sandman posted:Scott and his team absolutely deserve credit for jumping in to save the ERR products. However, everyone should heed Scott’s own words that this can’t last forever and 3R/GGD should not be vilianized (in the way Lionel was) when the product ultimately is discontinued for technology turn/obsolescence reasons. That day is coming, and when it does, it won’t be Scott’s fault. TMCC is contemporaneous with Windows 3.1 - a technology Microsoft replaced 23 years ago and wholly stopped supporting 17 years ago. At some point, a replacement technology will be required no matter how much goodwill and effort Scott’s team infuses into the current effort. In the meantime, it’s great Scott’s team can make it work for everyone involved.
Great post, I can agree with you in most of what you said. I may or may not speak for myself here but the root of the issue here isn't the "inevitable death of TMCC", I mean every type of technology dies, like windows 3.1 and the extremely useful Turbo button lol, BUTTTT those technologies were replaced with new, better, shoot even more affordable and durabel technology. What I'm trying to get at, and the reason I think people "villainized" ERR and/or Lionel, which was the same company technically speaking, was because they are saying that the technology is becoming obsolete but not offering a viable replacement.
Look at MTH for example, I've used their PS3 upgrade kits, be it a killer on the wallet and a little harder to install, with great success and that is, and will always be, their product for those with great running engines but want to add some current features and/or you are like me and just like tinkering with stuff, I digress...
If Scott and Lionel really want this to work for the long term, and that's a big IF, gosh knows what they have planned to be honest; Those upgrades, be it to TMCC or LEGACY or TMCC with new components and features or LIONCHIEF Extreme, whatever it will be called, needs to be available. If it's not, it just looks like Lionel is just making it's customers buy new engines VS continue to enjoy our investments by adding a new smaller investment. It's a win win for Lionel to offer the upgrade.
I disagree about one thing. You computer OS Comparison. A toy train goes around a track. The increase of what can be done with techno will be limited. The OS changes in computers correlated to faster hardware and features and integration with a wide variety of devices. The train functions are limited. Therefore, backward compatibility can be maintained with ease. Beside's, receiver chips are not going away any time soon. Nor FETS or optocouplers. Used in a mass number of things. Redesign, for parts non availability is another thing. Happens, all the time. So, it comes down to the expense of redesign.
Thank you Scott and thank you Lionel. I will be out shopping again. Also, thank you to all the forum members for stressing to Lionel in MANY ways the importance in this hobby of having options to upgrade our trains. The ERR products are easy to work with for the average Joe.
The earth almost moved off its axis when Microsoft announced a couple years ago that they would no longer support XP. The difference, of course, is that there were other products available at the time to take its place, even though millions of people complained and were perfectly content to just keep their XP.
Reading between the lines a little, I think Scott is saying (and Lionel CEO Hitchcock in his statement, as well) that Lionel will have another control system coming down the pike, which will supercede TMCC and be available for installations (and to 3rd Rail and Atlas as well), but that product is still in the development stage.
sdmann posted:Let me allay some fears and give you a few more details to avoid a lot of back and forth emails and questions.
A. We are licensed to produce only the following products:
1. Cruise Commander v4.1 (Including) o R4LC o Prog/Run Switch o Antenna
2. AC Commander (Including) o R4LC o Prog/Run Switch o Antenna
3. DC Commander (Including) o R4LC o Prog/Run Switch o Antenna
4. RSOE (RAILSOUNDS KIT) o Interconnect cables o Speaker
5. Cruise “M” o Motor Driver
I am sorry if you don't see other items you may have wanted. Perhaps in the future we can consider it, but for now this is all that has been released based on previous order volume.
B. Dealers of Electric Railroad will be offered Dealership status with us as well. Dealer discounts by % are the same. We know many of the dealers's business relies on this to provide upgrades and service with some profit. So don't worry...
C. Prices will be determined by costs. We will do our best to keep the costs down, but if there are increases at the board manufacturer, we will have to pass these on in our Dealer and Retail Pricing. We won't know until we have received a quote. Give us until June 30th to know the exact prices.
D. If you missed ordering before, you will be able to order soon when our web site is up and running end of May. Orders for October will be similar to our Reservation system. No deposit required, but you better buy when the boards arrive, or we will look at you funny when you try to order again. Then just sit back and wait for a notice of arrival when the boards are coming to us.
E. Service calls for previous product purchases (Before May 15th), will be referred back to Electric RR Company. We currently can't answer your technical questions until we have staff in place. We warranty what we sell after May 15th 2018.
F. I think that's enough details for now. Once I have reviewed our web site with the folks at Lionel, and get the OK, we will release our link.
Until then, sit tight and play play play.
Regards,
Scott Mann
So no Cruise Lite, No MiniCommander2 ???
That is NOT good news. I hope you can add those or "S" gauge upgrades will not happen.
Carl
I think this is great news for the hobby. Thanks to Dave Olson and Scott Mann for getting this agreement to the finishline. I think this also shows the worth of the OGR forum and its members to do a modern version of a write in campaign like we tried to do in 1970 to get Billy Grabarkewitz voted into the baseball all star game by writing his name on the ballot. That was kind of hard to do, given the small space for actually writing in the name. That was a long shot then, just like getting the ERR back into production today. But, Billy G did, in fact, get named as a reserve for the National League. Billy G was a rookie third baseman for the Dodgers.
Congrats Scott for picking this up. I specialize in TMCC installations and particularly "S" gauge. There are a bunch of us in S gauge that only use the Cruise Lite because the DC, AC and Cruise Commanders are to big for most of S gauge engines. I am hoping that in the future this may be something you can also manufacture.
Thanks,
Carl Tuveson posted:sdmann posted:Let me allay some fears and give you a few more details to avoid a lot of back and forth emails and questions.
A. We are licensed to produce only the following products:
1. Cruise Commander v4.1 (Including) o R4LC o Prog/Run Switch o Antenna
2. AC Commander (Including) o R4LC o Prog/Run Switch o Antenna
3. DC Commander (Including) o R4LC o Prog/Run Switch o Antenna
4. RSOE (RAILSOUNDS KIT) o Interconnect cables o Speaker
5. Cruise “M” o Motor Driver
I am sorry if you don't see other items you may have wanted. Perhaps in the future we can consider it, but for now this is all that has been released based on previous order volume.
B. Dealers of Electric Railroad will be offered Dealership status with us as well. Dealer discounts by % are the same. We know many of the dealers's business relies on this to provide upgrades and service with some profit. So don't worry...
C. Prices will be determined by costs. We will do our best to keep the costs down, but if there are increases at the board manufacturer, we will have to pass these on in our Dealer and Retail Pricing. We won't know until we have received a quote. Give us until June 30th to know the exact prices.
D. If you missed ordering before, you will be able to order soon when our web site is up and running end of May. Orders for October will be similar to our Reservation system. No deposit required, but you better buy when the boards arrive, or we will look at you funny when you try to order again. Then just sit back and wait for a notice of arrival when the boards are coming to us.
E. Service calls for previous product purchases (Before May 15th), will be referred back to Electric RR Company. We currently can't answer your technical questions until we have staff in place. We warranty what we sell after May 15th 2018.
F. I think that's enough details for now. Once I have reviewed our web site with the folks at Lionel, and get the OK, we will release our link.
Until then, sit tight and play play play.
Regards,
Scott Mann
So no Cruise Lite, No MiniCommander2 ???
That is NOT good news. I hope you can add those or "S" gauge upgrades will not happen.
Carl
Carl Tuveson posted:sdmann posted:Let me allay some fears and give you a few more details to avoid a lot of back and forth emails and questions.
A. We are licensed to produce only the following products:
1. Cruise Commander v4.1 (Including) o R4LC o Prog/Run Switch o Antenna
2. AC Commander (Including) o R4LC o Prog/Run Switch o Antenna
3. DC Commander (Including) o R4LC o Prog/Run Switch o Antenna
4. RSOE (RAILSOUNDS KIT) o Interconnect cables o Speaker
5. Cruise “M” o Motor Driver
I am sorry if you don't see other items you may have wanted. Perhaps in the future we can consider it, but for now this is all that has been released based on previous order volume.
B. Dealers of Electric Railroad will be offered Dealership status with us as well. Dealer discounts by % are the same. We know many of the dealers's business relies on this to provide upgrades and service with some profit. So don't worry...
C. Prices will be determined by costs. We will do our best to keep the costs down, but if there are increases at the board manufacturer, we will have to pass these on in our Dealer and Retail Pricing. We won't know until we have received a quote. Give us until June 30th to know the exact prices.
D. If you missed ordering before, you will be able to order soon when our web site is up and running end of May. Orders for October will be similar to our Reservation system. No deposit required, but you better buy when the boards arrive, or we will look at you funny when you try to order again. Then just sit back and wait for a notice of arrival when the boards are coming to us.
E. Service calls for previous product purchases (Before May 15th), will be referred back to Electric RR Company. We currently can't answer your technical questions until we have staff in place. We warranty what we sell after May 15th 2018.
F. I think that's enough details for now. Once I have reviewed our web site with the folks at Lionel, and get the OK, we will release our link.
Until then, sit tight and play play play.
Regards,
Scott Mann
So no Cruise Lite, No MiniCommander2 ???
That is NOT good news. I hope you can add those or "S" gauge upgrades will not happen.
Carl
Carl, I didn't even think about them for S gauge. The size constraint's . I've used 2 of them for smaller lionel steamers. It's sad, especially, when Lionel has been trying to increase interest and production of S. No, one knows the license deal that Scott has with Lionel. It did sound like he had the right to make them. But, the order numbers didn't justify making them. Understood!
Maybe, you could put in a big order?
I also wonder, can he pass on the right to someone else that would be willing to do small runs. He seems like a square guy. So, I'm sure he will clarify.
What do you mean “this is not good news” this morning there was no chance of an ERR product being available, now there is. You’ll have to wait n see. I’m sure Scott will pick up the cruise lite down the way
Forgot to include the Mini II
For those who have specific requests or needs, might I suggest avoiding too much heat, without much light which was a significant element in the original discussions? Please just let 3rd Rail and Scott get things going, stay calm, reasonable and polite. Let him know what you want with a civil, informative and rational email or letter. When the dust settles, you may get what you need.
Brewman1973 posted:I think this is great news for the hobby. Thanks to Dave Olson and Scott Mann for getting this agreement to the finishline. I think this also shows the worth of the OGR forum and its members to do a modern version of a write in campaign like we tried to do in 1970 to get Billy Grabarkewitz voted into the baseball all star game by writing his name on the ballot. That was kind of hard to do, given the small space for actually writing in the name. That was a long shot then, just like getting the ERR back into production today. But, Billy G did, in fact, get named as a reserve for the National League. Billy G was a rookie third baseman for the Dodgers.
Lol, Boog Powell, Look at all those poor players never on a World series team. Lol, If we took all the Yankees World series rings and melted down the gold. One could make electric railroad PCB's for a couple of hundred years.
YEEEEEEEE - HAWWWWWWW !!!!!!!!!!
Jesse TCA
Matt Makens posted:HMMMM, I’m surprised nobody saw this coming. This is a great deal for everybody. Congratulations Scott on a job well done.
I need to get my $900 back from ERR before I can order more
Lol, 900.00... I leave that for tips.
All good suggestions. I am listening. Give us time. I want to focus on the product line that can support the cost of production first. After all, it's a business and it can't run on good intentions. Gots to have sales.
Out of the various mini commanders, which one, if only 1 could be made, would be the one that has the most universal usage?
Thanks Scott and Lionel for keeping a great product line available!!
I know it's old tech but like the old Maytag washers it works reliably and dependably.
Now I have a path forward to update more of my older Weaver and Williams brass steamers.
Some sort of a "dummy" commander would be useful for sound cars and non powered locos.
Now I need to save up for a bigger order when production resumes !!!!!
Dave
Landsteiner posted:For those who have specific requests or needs, might I suggest avoiding too much heat, without much light which was a significant element in the original discussions? Please just let 3rd Rail and Scott get things going, stay calm, reasonable and polite. Let him know what you want with a civil, informative and rational email or letter. When the dust settles, you may get what you need.
I let you spear head this one. It didn't go so well last time with some even though a lot of folks tried. LOL!
I'm glad people will be able to get what they need.
For what it's worth the only part on these boards that I can think of that could become unavailable, without another part existing that is a direct drop in replacement, is a microprocessor. Perhaps before a new high volume run of boards is produced would be a good time to update the processor, if that is an issue. Unless some obscure footprint part was used elsewhere?
I can't see it being unprofitable to make any of these boards, unless the licensing fee is obscene.
Great news, Dave. Thanks for listening.
Matt Makens posted:What do you mean “this is not good news” this morning there was no chance of an ERR product being available, now there is. You’ll have to wait n see. I’m sure Scott will pick up the cruise lite down the way
For the S Gauge world it is not Good news. This is My and many other users world too.
People seem to forget that back then need for small format modules was the reason ERR got started in the first place with the Mini Commander, their first product.
Conversion of American Models Diesels is impossible with out the Mini's and Mini-2s.
I hope they reconsider these. The Cruise Lite was also great for smaller O gauge conversions.
I don't have the resources to buy a large lot myself but the engineering and tooling still exists so how much would it cost to crank out these too?
Carl
sdmann posted:Out of the various mini commanders, which one, if only 1 could be made, would be the one that has the most universal usage?
Scott, I can think of two that would probably be of fairly universal appeal. First off, the Mini Commander II for really small motorized units. As mentioned, this was one of the first ERR products, it filled a need for a truly small command board for motorized units. It comes in three "flavors", but the only difference is the firmware that gets loaded, the boards are all the same. I understand that offering three versions might present a packaging issue as you'd have more inventory to maintain. I believe ERR used to load these as needed with the correct firmware. If only one firmware option was to be offered, my personal favorite is the one with smoke & front light options. That gives me an extra remote controlled output, very handy for small motorized units. The one with both incandescent lights isn't really all that useful as the MC-II also has LED outputs for the lights. I've only used the coupler option a couple of times on these, I find the smoke/HL one a lot more useful for the reasons stated previously.
My other choice is the Mini Commander ACC. It appears from my examination of both the ACC and HC versions that the only difference is a more robust triac on the HC version, they're the same PCB and code from all appearances. That's a modification that folks could do "in the field" if they needed the HC version, so stocking the MC-ACC would appear to be the best path. The MC-ACC is the key to doing a lot of TMCC controlled accessories and rolling stock, so it rates high on my list.
So, my vote would be for these two.
Mini Commander II
Mini Commander ACC
That's my 
FWIW. Thanks for listening, and a BIG Thank You for picking up the ERR product line!
