Shout out to Gunrunnerjohn

John has done several upgrades to TMCC for me on several MTH Engines!  Nothing to say but an Excellent Job well done !   Completely satisfied, to say the least !!!

Fredstrains

That sure sounds real good'... You can't beat the sound systems of today's trains.

Sounds like the 'Gun Runner is on his game'...

I hope the engine wasn't insulted, I threw away that old horn board.

I think the hardest part of this upgrade was the whole plastic bottom was riveted onto the chassis, and in order to install a decent speaker and the program switch, I had to separate that stuff and then bolt it back together.

I'm glad it survived the shipping, I've had mixed results lately with stuff getting here and back.

A number of years ago, I tranplanted the body shells of this set onto the chassis' of a PWC TMCC/RailSounds-equipped F-3 ABA set that I bought, to upgrade my Illinois Central City of New Orleans set (the same one as yours). I'd think it would be cheaper to have ERR components installed, though, as you did, at least in most cases.

Always thought this was a beautiful set, and has spot-on prototypical paint as well (many browns of other versions are too light). I also swapped interiors of the cars with a set I bought that had finished interiors and passenger figures. That made a big difference as well. It's a great passenger train.

I dont know if it was cheaper. With shipping involved and buying the tmcc A units I think I have about 350 in the engines.  I bought the complete set I think for 200 a few years ago.  I bought it for the memories of where I was born and who my greatuncle worked for and retired from. The IC.   I absoultely love the set even with the silluoettes. Keeps the nostalgia alive.  I have one more engine to fix with command and that is the boy scout set. I am really wondering if you can just take the shells and swap them with a lionchief plus set. 

Southern4501 posted:

I dont know if it was cheaper. With shipping involved and buying the tmcc A units I think I have about 350 in the engines.  I bought the complete set I think for 200 a few years ago.  I bought it for the memories of where I was born and who my greatuncle worked for and retired from. The IC.   I absoultely love the set even with the silluoettes. Keeps the nostalgia alive.  I have one more engine to fix with command and that is the boy scout set. I am really wondering if you can just take the shells and swap them with a lionchief plus set. 

If you bought the complete set for $200, you should be arrested for stealing.   My method required buying the set, plus buying a TMCC/RailSounds equipped A-B, plus a separate unpowered A (they're also TMCC-equipped). It ends up being a pretty good-sized outlay unless you get a heck of deal on the items. I sold the unused shells and the unused chassis', but it still wasn't cheap.

Granted, the ERR route isn't cheap, particularly if you have someone do the installation. Cost-effective only for engines you really like, and want to keep long-term. Lionel hasn't made any F-3s in the LionChief line, so F-3 shells aren't going to fit any LionChief chassis.

I was trying to figure out if the 080 boyscout engine and tender will swap onto and lionchief plus 080.  It looks like the same tooling.