Remote control Fastrack & accessories

Haven't heard a peep!  So far just the switches are on deck.  Nothing mentioned in the Track/Power catalog, except for the LCS track.

Charly,

   I heard something about individual remote control operating rolling stock,

have you heard anything about them?  Stuff like remote control couplers, doors that Open & Close, and Box Cars like the UPS that dumps boxes, initiated by the remote control.

PCRR/Dave

If you don't already know about it, you might want to check into the new Layout Control System (LCS) sensor track. I'm also new to Legacy, don't have a sensor track and don't know a lot about it. It requires newer engines that are sensor equipped, like in the last 3 years or so I believe. May not be exactly what you are looking for here, but none the less a new and exciting product for Legacy with a lot of potential for Lionel to expand on.

MartyE and gunrunnerjohn are two forum members that know a bit more about it and can probably explain further on it's capabilities and functions, if you ask them about it. It does quite a few new things already. There are others in the know as well, but these are the only two I could think of just now.

We've been lobbying for more command controlled rolling stock, I'm hoping it'll happen sooner rather than later.  I haven't heard about any new command stuff for the layout, other than LCS. 

I've automated many operating cars, right now if you want them command controlled, you pretty much have to do it yourself.

I think the Gantry Crane in the new cat. is CAB controlled.

Art

Even the old Gantry Crane had a command version, I have it.  The culvert loader and unloader also came in a command version, I have those as well.

There was a log loader with the AMC\ARC built-in. 6-24115 2007 vol2.

As it turns out, I have that one too.

Is it for sale?

Nope Carl, not for sale.

Gentlemen,

   Well I got my answer, only a few things around and nothing really new, guess I will be waiting like the everyone else.

PCRR/Dave

Dave,

I would surely think that Command Fastrack Uncoupler and Operating track sections would be in the works at Lionel.

I'm surprised that we haven't yet seen them.

I'd also expect an integrated signal system at some point down the road as well.

graz,

   I really do like the Remote control uncoupler on the front and rear of the Legacy engines, way cool stuff, was hoping to see some rolling stock with that also and maybe some remote control unloading cars (UPS), Milk Can Throwers, log dumpers, coal dumpers, that kind of technology from the legacy Cab 2 controller.  We will see what the future holds with this technology.

PCRR/Dave

You can "roll your own" cars with electrocouplers.  Use the ERR dummy locomotive board and pick up some trucks with electrocouplers and you're all set.  These even have the provision for the center rail pickup rollers to make the job easy.

Guns,

   This is a cool way to build your own remote couplers for sure, but each car would need an EER board, and new trucks, looks like it might be a costly upgrade if you want more than a few remote coupler cars.  Maybe Lionel will come out with some of these up graded remote control coupler cars in the future.

PCRR/Dave

Yep, it's not cheap to do a bunch of cars!  You'd also be running out of addresses if you had every car equipped.

My thinking is to take a couple of scale generic cars and equip them with the capability, then you could do some cool switching operations where you dropped off a string of cars on a siding, etc.

Guns,

   John that would definitely be cool, the other thing I would like to see from Lionel, would be CC similar to MTH's Silver Bullet Train cars, wireless operation of rolling stock doors with smoke coming out of a refrigerated Milk Car, A CC spot light car with rotating lights, turned off and on by the CC, a CC hook and ladder fire car, with swivel boom and ladder that extends.  A CC operational Tin Plate 810 Crane Car that works realistically.  A CC log station, would be seriously cool also.

The Lionel engineers could have a ball bringing operational rolling stock into the technical modern era.  Some of their stuff is timeless and making it CC would be incredible.  I do believe it would bring the kids back to this hobby of ours in a big way.

Making it phone APP controlled would be icing on the cake.  This Legacy CC on rolling stock could be a big big money maker for Lionel, if they played this all correctly and the product worked properly.

PCRR/Dave

Well, MTH has a operating reefer that has lights and smoke.  I'm planning on adding command operation to mine, so it'll do all you ask.

I have a spotlight car that I installed TMCC on, I can start and stop the rotation and turn the light on/off from the remote.

I picked up some RC servos to play with opening doors under command control as well.

Which spotlight car do you have that rotates?  Is it a recent one?

That's what I wanted too, but got one that does not rotate. It is Lionel, not sure what vintage? Should have looked closer.

My spotlight car is the PWC Operating Searchlight Car, 6-26768.

It came along at a good price, and looked to be a candidate for an upgrade.

The board fit nicely under the cover, I actually hogged out some of the deck and it sits up into the plastic generator cavity.

Guns,

   Great stuff however there is no way I have the time to roll my own, your Legacy remote control search light car is exactly what I had in mind for Lionel to supply fully built and operational.  Guns I still say you should be working for Lionel in their engineering design think tank.

PCRR/Dave

I used the ERR Mini-Commander ACC board, not the high current one.  It's a pretty simple mod.

Dave, I'm retired, and I'm already too busy to take on another job!

Dave

We been asking and JonZ has been wanting to get more Legacy equipped accessories and cars produced.  Jon has told us at the Legacy Users Group meetings to make sure the production folks know we want them.

At this years LUG meeting Mike gave us some insight as to why we won't see many due to cost of building a standard and Legacy version.   While I understand I disagree with his comments.

I'd rather see many of the operating cars and accessories come with Legacy. I think they'd sell more Legacy systems and operating device. My ACC button on the Cab2 doesn't get enough use.

Thanks John.  I'll look into that!

Marty E,

   You mean to tell me some engineer from Lionel is sacred of the cost of producing Legacy remote controlled rolling stock.  IMO in the long run this will undermine Lionel's entire business, the only way to keep modern kids interested in trains and train layouts is to provide them with modern working technology.  Lionel & MTH have to engineer & provide this kind of remote control technology, or they will kill their own businesses over time.  Kids today are very computer/remote orientated, it's their modern way of life.

PCRR/Dave

Thanks, I got this one. After looking again, the light does rotate, but only by hand. I am starting a new search for one like yours. Mine is Lionel also, didn't realize they had different versions? Nothing like learning the hard way.

Hmmm...sounds like a good opportunity for a 3rd party to come in and start adding boards to some of these like GRJ did. Wonder if someone could do it cost effectively and still have room to make a profit? Probably have to get parts and cars at dealer prices to make a go of it? I am not a candidate, but many others around here are, you and GRJ included, but I know he already has a lot of irons in the fire. I think you said you were pretty busy as well, but nice thought anyway.

Not sure I understand or agree with the production comments? They make a few hundred (or thousand or whatever amount) conventional cars, then change the line a bit and make the Legacy versions in what ever quantities desired. That's what manufacturers do all the time. That's sort of like saying they can make only one type of car? How do they switch between box cars, hopper cars, flat cars, etc.? I realize they cost more, but they also make engines detailed for specific rail roads.

Almost all current Lionel operating cars can be upgraded via ERR boards. I'm hoping for more Legacy specific cars and accessories that take advantage of Legacy commands and sound abilities. 

BTW the car John shows is the PWC series searchlight car. It was triggered via a operating track. Pretty cool actually. You can vary the speed and intensity using the uncoupling track. 

It was an interesting car, but of course I wanted to be able to use it from the remote.  I sacrificed the ability to adjust speed for the ability to trigger it anywhere at anytime.

Guns,

   I really like what you did with that search light car, big time great.  If I had that car in my train inventory, you would be getting it in the mail for the Legacy upgrade.

PCRR/Dave

Banjo,

    I have heard about the Williams remote control, however I have never seen one work with their remote control rolling stock or accessories.  Would like to see an educational video of it for sure.  I do not think they have a search light car like Guns has engineered however.

PCRR/Dave

I used to have a couple of the K-Line cars with their remote, but it's just not the same as having everything working with a common control system, at least IMO.

Guns,

   I agree and for this reason I never investigated them to much.

PCRR/Dave