Operating MTH R-1 with Lionel Legacy

WSJ -  IMO You have 2 options:

1. a DCS Remote Commander in order to run the subway off the brick. I assume you do not want to go full blown DCS, which would give you access to the neat features of the set. Word of warning on using the Remote Commander - if the engine is not at a factory zero setting, it will not respond to the Remote Commander. Needs to be reset with DCS. I have never been successful with the transformer button sequences - of course since you don't have one this is a mute point.

2. pick up a Z1000 set (or Z750) as an alternative to give transformer control. Will allow you to run post-war engines.  Looks like this is the lowest cost option below $100.

Lionel controls are not backward compatible with DCS, although it is possible to control Lionel engines through a Lionel base and the MTH TIU and DCS app. (not full featured however)

UPDATE:  forgot about the legacy powermaster option - that you be your best option - cost seems to be even with the Z and you stay with your Lionel system.  

The legacy controller will not run the R1 since it uses dcs. To run the R1 conventionally, you will need a legacy powermaster and feed 18v into it. The legacy power master is addressed by the legacy base unit and can vary the track voltage to allow conventional running. 

What are using as a power supply for the current engine you had? What powers the 990 system?Legacy requires constant 18v on the track...how did you get power to the track? If you go the legacy powermaster route, you will have to make sure that the 18v constant voltage source is not on. You could prob wire the power source to the legacy powermaster and when not running conventional, just keep the output power at 18v on the power master.

You could add a Legacy Powermaster which will allow control of the MTH features in conventional mode and allow you to operate other conventional engines.

Page 19 and 20 of the manual explains this.  Legacy Powermaster Manual

Yes. This is what I have. A Legacy 180W Powerhouse, a Legacy Powermaster and a Legacy Base. Thank you for that reference to the manual. So it seems I shouldn't have to change anything in my current control / power setup.

I'm sure I'll find the answer to one more question in the manual, but I'll ask it here anyway: do I need to set the CMD / Conventional switch on the Powermaster to Conventional before running the R-1?

OK, the MTH R1 is on the track. Here is my setup: Legacy Powermaster, CMD/Conv switch set to "Conv", Legacy Cab2 controller. I turn on everything, call up the Powermaster on the Cab2, and press Aux1  9 per the Powermaster manual on page 20. This turns on the track power and the R1's lights and sounds. I can control some features like the couplers and the horn. But as soon as I press the Cab2's direction control or the big red speed control knob, the track power turns off.

After starting the track power, I also tried calling up an unassigned engine number, at which point the Cab2 displayed "CAB1 Mode" on the display. But then there was no response from pressing the direction or speed controls.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

I now find that if I turn on track power with the Cab 2, all I have to do to turn on the R1 lights and sounds is turn up the speed control knob. But that's all that happens. Even when I turn the speed control up to max, the train still doesn't move.

MTH trains in conventional mode power up in neutral. Did you interrupt power and re-apply it to the set?

---PCJ

Well, I feel like such an idiot. I finally figured out how to control the R1.  Ramping up the voltage sufficiently, stopping, going into neutral, reversing direction, alternating between the train brake and the throttle, it's so totally different from what I'm used to with analogue DC control.

I'm sure that with DCS the R1 runs as smoothly as the R27 does with Legacy. With conventional control it runs OK.  And the station sounds are positively charming.

Sorry to have been so ignorant as to how AC works. It's been about 62 years since I had a conventional control Lionel train! Thanks for bearing with me.

Now I'm curious as to what the number is on the set...I did voiceovers for the first ProtoSound2 R-1 set

---PCJ

If that's you on the announcements, kudos to you. They are clear and they got feeling.