Question for Lee Willis: Conventional w/Legacy

Chipset,

The problem in running different manufacturers of engines is not the sound vs no sound. The engines often run at largely different speeds and one ends up pushing or pulling the other. this puts strain on the motor and could also stretch the tires. A lot of Williams run pretty fast compared to Lionel and MTH. There are exceptions. Even MTH proto1 and proto 2 are not compatible in conventional mode because of speed control in proto 2 requires higher voltages to run in conventional. The other problem is not all engines start in the same direction. some power up in neutral before forward while others power up in forward. If the engines are balanced they run well together. The sound is not the problem.

If the B unit was non powerdriven, but had sounds you might be OK. Not sure how many b-units match that description though

Here is one, perhaps you can find a similar TMCC only unit

Yes, that is what I meant to ask exactly.

Forgot about the motor issue, but yes a sound dummy would do it, if such an animal exis

ts.

Definitely THE major consideration if/when you're considering MUing locomotives of different makes, and even some locomotives of the same make.

It looks like they made a few in 2001 and a few more that were breakdown B units

Lionel TMCC sound B units

Breakdown B units

Yep, seems some of those B-Units although having no power (movement) they do have sounds.

Now the next question would be if they derive the power for those sounds from the track or a tether?

If there is no tether, I bet it can be hooked up to Williams AA sets, as that would remove any issues regarding motor speed, as there is no motor.

I have a ALCO PA/PB set from the same era, the power comes from the track and is triggered by wheel movement

I just noticed on the page I linked you to is a link for something called a"MANUAL" In there might be the answer you seek

Sure does! The manual states it can be done, i.e. RS with Transformer Ops.

Sorry I have not responded sooner, been tied up and such.

Yes, the sound works fine in conventional.  There are some aspects you can't control as to options, people talking and such I think, but I've never bothered to even check it out.  A legacy loco with chuff or rumble in conventional just as well as in digital control.

TMCC locos don't run that well in convetnional, many of the jackrabbit a bit and I avoid them.  Recent Legacy locos run very well in coventional, better than conventional locos, they seem to have some programming built into them that makes them respnd to the conventional throttle well.  

Also, note that cruise works in conventional if you turn on the Odyssey switch.  You can even turn it on and off in conventional, although it is a bit cumbersome to do.  

I don't run my Legacy locos with WBB, particulary because of the speed differences cited above, but also because I prefer to run locos with sound.  If you are talking about a WBB diesel and you wire the tow motors in series, the loco will run a lot closer to the same speed as the Legacy diesels, but still not quite the same.  If the difference is not that great when you leave them free, it probably won't hurt to hook them up - I'd do it if they were mine.