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looking into some Electric Railroad Upgrade Information. Let's Say I have A Williams Semi Scale Steamer- The steamer has a Blown out Smoke unit and other than this it operates and the TRU Blast Horn Works Perfect.  But I am updating and Adding Command Control.  I am Having a couple of MTH Signal Man Box Cars outfitted with Electric Railroad Mini Commanders. So by Doing this I have to accomodate TMCC in addition to MTH DCS. 

So To Justify the Additional Expense of the Legacy Unit to the CFO. I have to upgrade a few of the Conventional Engines To make it worth Wile for the Additions.

So Looking at this What Would I need to upgrade This Williams 4-8-4 To Tmcc.

Also going to look into Adding The Rail sounds Board.  But I am not sure if I need the Cruise Commander or not.  Or If I should just say the Heck with it and have it added as well as A working Coil Coupler added to the Rear of the Tender, I am also Considering Using Evans Designs Led's for replacement Head lights and Rear Tender Lights on the Engine.  I am told that this is an easier upgrade to do than a Proto 2 Upgrade as The Proto 2 involves Tach readers and Tach tapes.  Please Guys Laymens Terms.

A Complete List would be appreciated including all the Small Parts too

Thanks Much

 

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If you want to have cruise control, you would use the ERR Cruise Commander.  IMO, it's pointless not to go the extra few bucks if you're going to do the conversion.  For adding sounds, the ERR RailSounds Commander will do the trick nicely.  Whenever I do a TMCC conversion, I always add the coil coupler(s) and the directional lighting.  Sometimes I really get carried away with the lights, why not?

 

I've never done a Proto-2 conversion, so I can't comment on the ease or lack of ease of that conversion.

 

Things to consider converting your steamer.

 

You'll need a chuff switch for the RailSounds.  That can either be a reed switch and magnet mounted on a tender wheel, or you can mount it in the locomotive if you'd like to try for synchronized chuffing.

 

If you don't have a tether between the two, you'll have to add one unless you plan on trying to stuff everything including the speaker into the steamer.  Normally, that's a pretty tight fit if it's even possible.

 

You have to plan for the TMCC antenna.  For steamers, I normally isolate the tender shell and mount all the electronics in there.  Most Lionel steamers use the handrails for the antenna, obviously that's not always possible if they're not insulated now.  On a SP Daylight I'm converting, I'm actually floating the locomotive shell for the antenna, but sometimes that's pretty difficult.

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