PS1 Units... What would you do?

Well, you only really have two realistic options, PS/3 or TMCC. 

Have you considered just leaving them alone? Run them in conventional? If you bought them new, you knew they were non command. I have several of the PS-1 locos I still run without any command. You will never get your money back out of them if you upgrade and try to sell them later. (not that matters to some). just my thoughts

They were gifted to me.  No investment, and I new what they were as I was getting into the hobby just as DCS was being announced.  I'm thinking ERR.

I have a ABA F3 PS1 I'm upgrading to PS3 in a AB and A configuration which I can run in a ABA lashup, or as a AB or just a A.  Yes two PS3 kits cost 400 bucks but I get two engines out of one and the ABA set was cheap on eBay.  Going with PS3 kits will be slightly cheaper than going ERR

Hmm...  Actually, for diesels, it's pretty much a wash.  The ERR Cruise Commander is $120, and the RailSounds Commander is $85.  So, $205 does one diesel upgrade.

I can tell you from experience plugging in an ABBA arrangement is a real "PITA" especially if you don't have the extra siding to park it on your layout. I would convert one A unit to PS-3 or ERR which ever you prefer and turn the other A unit into a dummy.  Unless you really need 4 motors to pull anything you have the one A unit I would think would be sufficient.      I would take the extra money and convert the passenger car lighting to LED's and save the power as well.     I think there is a guy on the forum that might be able to help you with that.  I think his name is Gunrunner something????

If you go ERR, you can put the dummy locomotive board in the dummy and have directional lighting and electrocouplers.

If you go ERR you can save money and run powered trail unit of Lead unit board.  Run it AA or ABA or even ABBA.  2 wires to the motor, and still leaves two for reverse light and coupler, picking up chassis ground locally in the Trail A.  Though I would rather have the power leads shared too.  Lots of options for diesels.  G

gunrunnerjohn posted:

If you go ERR, you can put the dummy locomotive board in the dummy and have directional lighting and electrocouplers.

John,

Can you also add prime mover sound with a dummy board?  Thanks.

Lots of great suggestions/information.  Need at least two powered as trains are 12 car minimum.  I have been considering a light conversion, 1) to reduce power consumption, 2) to add interior detail and 3) to eliminated flicker.  Glad it was mentioned.  I have an ABA E8 set that has at least 18 cars and needs all 4 motors, could even use two more.  On my layout it's a tail chaser, but it's still fun to pull out and run once in a while.  Once again appreciate all the input, lots to think about.  And... save up for

CAPPilot posted:

gunrunnerjohn posted:

If you go ERR, you can put the dummy locomotive board in the dummy and have directional lighting and electrocouplers.

Can you also add prime mover sound with a dummy board?  Thanks.

Well, I don't normally like my diesels to chuff, so that's a non-starter.   But yes, you can add audio off the dummy locomotive board for full sounds.  Of course, chuffing still requires a chuff switch, but I don't see many dummy steamers, can't recall more than one.