Programing Lionel TMCC Auxiliary Tender

In order to do that, you need to program it as a separate engine number and configure the locomotive and aux tender in in a lash-up (MU for Rich).

John, thanks for pointing me in the right direction!

Also thanks to Mike CT for the TMCC CAB1 MU refresher that he posted on a previous thread.

Try what I do.  Program the tender with the same number as the engine.  Open the tender and move the rear coupler plug to the front coupler position.  Now if you want to uncouple the engine and keep the aux tender coupled on, you hit the front coupler button and the rear tender will uncouple and stay with the engine.  If you want to leave the train with the aux tender  coupled  on, just hit the rear coupler on your engine.

Marty Fitzhenry posted:

Try what I do.  Program the tender with the same number as the engine.  Open the tender and move the rear coupler plug to the front coupler position.  Now if you want to uncouple the engine and keep the aux tender coupled on, you hit the front coupler button and the rear tender will uncouple and stay with the engine.  If you want to leave the train with the aux coupler hooked on, just hit the rear coupler on your engine.

Pretty ingenious Mr. Marty!

Marty, that's great!  I have the Veranda, and I was thinking on how to make them run as one ID, this is a perfect solution.

After much frustration and a self-imposed three day "cooling off" period, I think I might have the MU working properly (knock on wood!!!). Most of the problem centered around programming the aux. tender.  My first mistake was following the procedures in the TMCC manual instead of just using the tender manual. I had a lot of difficulty getting the tender program to "stick". I would program the tender by itself on an adjacent track, set to "Run", shut off the power, then place it behind the engine on the other loop. Everything worked correctly before shutting down the track power. However, when I attempted to program the "train" the engine would respond but the tender would act as if it wasn't programmed (both lights on, no coupler response).

Today I decided to give it another try. Programmed the aux. tender with a new assigned number and moved it to the track with the engine and coupled it up. Followed the instructions in the tender manual and it worked, even though the engine's whistle didn't blow (and now the headlight is out). Ran it forward and reverse, the tender's lights changed and the coupler worked. YIPPEE!

Not so fast, Casey Jones. Shut everything down to check out a hotbox (squeaky axle) on one of the boxcars and when I came back I tried to fire back up using the Train#. The engine powered up but, you guessed it, the tender did not respond. AARRGH! I shut it down and waited a minute or two, then addressed the engine, addressed the tender, and finally addressed the train. Seems to be working, at least for now. There truly is something to be said for Postwar trains! And BTW. the loco's headlight still isn't working (was working before).

Marty, thanks for the coupler suggestion but doesn't apply to my tender as the front coupler is the magnetic style. 

 I think I'll go do something relaxing like rebuilding a Super O 112 switch.....

For the headlight, are you sure you didn't hit AUX2 by mistake?

As far as the tender, I'd probably consider a switch in the primary tender to turn off the coupler when adding the aux tender.  Easy to wire and foolproof.  Then you can use all one TMCC ID and no lashup.

Hey John, I don't think I hit the aux2 button but might have, I'll check that.

And I'll keep the coupler switch suggestion under consideration, thanks! 

Common mistake.  I almost replaced the front light triac on the R2LC once because I turned the light off.  I had it on the bench warming up the soldering iron and then thought I should check that.  DUH!  The headlight came right on!   I'm glad I didn't go to the trouble of replacing it, imagine how unhappy I'd have been when it still didn't come on?

Well, "DUH" just about sums things up! Thanks for the heads-up on the AUX2 button!

I repeated the "address engine#, address aux. tender#, address train#" sequence this morning and it's all good. I think I'll just enjoy this little success for a bit before attempting the Super Chuffer install in the locomotive!

Go for the gold, don't be shy!   Rip into it and install the Super-Chuffer!