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Hi friends,

For the most part I enjoy and collect postwar lionel. I've never been a big fan of the newer locomotives than run off digital systems (and good lord the cost...) so I like postwar engines as well as ones without the super smarts in them.  That being said, I've happened to acquire a few PS2 engines due to getting them for some good deals.  I've had my fair share of troubleshooting PS2 on my Z1000 transformer, but that is another story for another day.  I'm looking for any advice or examples on running postwar / "simple" engines along with PS2 engines.  Namely looking for how they will interact together.  My primary goal with PS2 is more the various functions and consistency of control as opposed to movement of the engines.  Is this something that can be done via maybe a ZW275 along with a DCS add-on or something?

Thanks!

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Susan, do you have personal experience with DCS? From my understanding, DCS can directly control the voltage to the track and if I am using postwar and PS2 engines at the same time, I'd assume those engines would need to be in conventional mode? I also see there is an option to assign tracks. Does that mean I can split the track into blocks and control the voltage of each block uniquely?  My end goal would be to have multiple trains running at once through various interconnected loops and switches etc.

"Susan, do you have personal experience with DCS?"  Yes, my track runs with 4 TIUs feeding 16 blocks.

"From my understanding, DCS can directly control the voltage to the track and if I am using postwar and PS2 engines at the same time, I'd assume those engines would need to be in conventional mode?"  Yes, and the track power would be through the TIU Variable Voltage outputs. 

"I also see there is an option to assign tracks. Does that mean I can split the track into blocks and control the voltage of each block uniquely?"  Yes

  "My end goal would be to have multiple trains running at once through various interconnected loops and switches"

With my table track shown below the Mains are Black and Red.  Divided into a black block and red block, the black block can be powered with the fixed voltage TIU outputs and the red block can be powered by the variable voltage output.  Your PS2 trains would run in the black blocks and postwar trains in the red block.

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If you decide to run through the TIU, purchase the DCS Remote Control and/or WIU box to control with a smart phone or tablet.

For more comprehensive information see Susan's South Plains Railroad website.

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Last edited by Susan Deats

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