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hi everyone, we need help with some issues we are having with lionel trains with legacy.

first problem is lights flicker all over ,train stops, put hand over it and it runs fine.

we have run a grounded wire underneath of layout and above the tracks that the train is on and still light flickers.

the only way to get it to stop is by placing wire about two inches away from engine just above it. the train will not run if we sit the wire next to the track?

the engine we are testing with is a lionel legacy blue comet. now I know the antenna needs to isolated from the frame and all that stuff, and on the uppermost level we do have the train running ok I guess, the lights don't flicker although the whistle does not blow everywhere. the train will not run at all anywhere if we turn on the smoke unit. we took this to lionel before they moved from canfield and they "fixed it".  the headlight just flickers when you turn on the smoke unit.

we have run a wire all along the uppermost tracks and we placed a wire that zigzags under the three lowest tracks and we have yet to do anything on the middle three tracks.

very frustrated with lionel, trains need to run for autistic boy, and I cant get it to run no matter how many grounded wires we place next to the engine.

please help.

jerry

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Hi, I had this same issue a while back, phoned Lionel tech and he had me send in my Legacy

base and hand held remote for repair.

Some thing inside went bad, fixed my problem.

while talking to him I said if I put my hand over engine it..then he finished off

my sentence with "it works fine"..

 

give them a call..

You only mention one engine.  Have you tried it with any others?

 

Do you have the Legacy base plugged directly into an good known grounded outlet?

 

Do you have the ground wires you mentioned connected to a good earth ground...NOT the transformer ground?

 

Do you have the wire from the U terminal of the base connected directly to the outside rail of the track?

 

Do you have access to another Legacy base that you can try.

 

 

Last edited by Chris Lord
Originally Posted by bigdodgetrain:

our club layout is 42 X 44 feet.  I can go anywhere and not have an issue.  we installed the external larger antenna and now we can go outside and down the hall a hundred feet (just checked) and no issues.

Two different signals.  The CAB-2 to base signal is 2.4Ghz.  A problem with this shows as the red light on the CAB-2.  The TMCC signal (TrackLink) is 455Khz and a problem with this is what causes the headlight flicker.  The two sides of this signal are the U terminal to the outside rail and through the engine's wheels and the wall wart to the building's wring earth ground (and then through the air to the engine's antenna.)

Last edited by Chris Lord
Originally Posted by Chris Lord:
Originally Posted by bigdodgetrain:

our club layout is 42 X 44 feet.  I can go anywhere and not have an issue.  we installed the external larger antenna and now we can go outside and down the hall a hundred feet (just checked) and no issues.

Two different signals.  The CAB-2 to base signal is 2.4Ghz.  A problem with this shows as the red light on the CAB-2.  The TMCC signal (TrackLink) is 455Khz and a problem with this is what causes the headlight flicker.  The two sides of this signal are the U terminal to the outside rail and through the engine's wheels and the wall wart to the building's wring earth ground (and then through the air to the engine's antenna.)

Chris is right, this is truly a case "apples and oranges". I can go anywhere in my train room and my Cab-1 can communicate with the TMCC base no problem. It is the track signal and the locomotive's ability to pick it up that is so vexing.

Jerry, I recently had a problem were the engine was not communicating with the base. I put my hand over the engine and it ran fine around my entire layout. I added an additional foot of antenna wire into the plastic shell and it's been fine. I'am not saying that it will solve your problem but it can't hurt to try it. I am sure you will get were you won't to go with help from the wonderful people on the OGR. Good luck,    Steve

Originally Posted by Chris Lord:
Originally Posted by bigdodgetrain:

our club layout is 42 X 44 feet.  I can go anywhere and not have an issue.  we installed the external larger antenna and now we can go outside and down the hall a hundred feet (just checked) and no issues.

Two different signals.  The CAB-2 to base signal is 2.4Ghz.  A problem with this shows as the red light on the CAB-2.  The TMCC signal (TrackLink) is 455Khz and a problem with this is what causes the headlight flicker.  The two sides of this signal are the U terminal to the outside rail and through the engine's wheels and the wall wart to the building's wring earth ground (and then through the air to the engine's antenna.)

the op stated legacy and I never mentioned anything else. 

 

where did TMCC or cab1 get into the picture?

Originally Posted by bigdodgetrain:
 

Two different signals.  The CAB-2 to base signal is 2.4Ghz.  A problem with this shows as the red light on the CAB-2.  The TMCC signal (TrackLink) is 455Khz and a problem with this is what causes the headlight flicker.  The two sides of this signal are the U terminal to the outside rail and through the engine's wheels and the wall wart to the building's wring earth ground (and then through the air to the engine's antenna.)

the op stated legacy and I never mentioned anything else. 

 

where did TMCC or cab1 get into the picture?

i Shouldn't have mentioned CAB-1 in my 1st reply. As to using "TMCC", it's commonly used as a shorthand for what's properly called Tracklink.   As to Legacy the OP was experiencing a problem with engine response (flashing headlight) not CAB-2 to base signal.

 

Sorry if I confused you.  Just trying to offer valid suggestions to the OP.

Last edited by Chris Lord
Originally Posted by bigdodgetrain:
Originally Posted by Chris Lord:
Originally Posted by bigdodgetrain:

our club layout is 42 X 44 feet.  I can go anywhere and not have an issue.  we installed the external larger antenna and now we can go outside and down the hall a hundred feet (just checked) and no issues.

Two different signals.  The CAB-2 to base signal is 2.4Ghz.  A problem with this shows as the red light on the CAB-2.  The TMCC signal (TrackLink) is 455Khz and a problem with this is what causes the headlight flicker.  The two sides of this signal are the U terminal to the outside rail and through the engine's wheels and the wall wart to the building's wring earth ground (and then through the air to the engine's antenna.)

the op stated legacy and I never mentioned anything else. 

 

where did TMCC or cab1 get into the picture?

You're right, he didn't come right out and say it, but it is strongly implied to be a track signal issue. When the complaint is it works when he puts his hand over the engine, that is kind of a giveaway.

 

As for the Cab-1 remark, that was just me. And while the Cab-1 and Cab-2 may communicate with their respective bases on different frequencies, those communications are relatively trouble free, compared to the track signal.

 

I own a Legacy base and Cab-2, but I've never gotten them to work. I'm beginning to suspect that I got a bad one. Because of that, still use TMCC and Cab-1's. If I'm having bad reception between the remote and the base, first I'll extend the antenna on the remote, and if that doesn't do the job, I check the batteries. When the batteries are good, I leave the antenna down, and my layout is as big as your club's.

hi everyone thanks for all the info.

turns out  that the new legacy base is not working.

tried my brothers on this layout and all engines worked perfect all over the layout on all levels.

what a trip this has been, don't know why I didn't post questions sooner on this sight rather than going to lionel.

thanks again to everyone.

you were right the problem is with the base. thank you for helping us.
Originally Posted by NRSS:

Hi, I had this same issue a while back, phoned Lionel tech and he had me send in my Legacy

base and hand held remote for repair.

Some thing inside went bad, fixed my problem.

while talking to him I said if I put my hand over engine it..then he finished off

my sentence with "it works fine"..

 

give them a call..

 

Originally Posted by Chris Lord:
Originally Posted by bigdodgetrain:
 

Two different signals.  The CAB-2 to base signal is 2.4Ghz.  A problem with this shows as the red light on the CAB-2.  The TMCC signal (TrackLink) is 455Khz and a problem with this is what causes the headlight flicker.  The two sides of this signal are the U terminal to the outside rail and through the engine's wheels and the wall wart to the building's wring earth ground (and then through the air to the engine's antenna.)

the op stated legacy and I never mentioned anything else. 

 

where did TMCC or cab1 get into the picture?

i Shouldn't have mentioned CAB-1 in my 1st reply. As to using "TMCC", it's commonly used as a shorthand for what's properly called Tracklink.   As to Legacy the OP was experiencing a problem with engine response (flashing headlight) not CAB-2 to base signal.

 

Sorry if I confused you.  Just trying to offer valid suggestions to the OP.

the confusion comes from people who do not understand CAB1, TMCC, LEGACY (not you) but other people who read these forums and are not registered to post, of which there are many.  I try to keep my answers so any one reading will get useful info. 

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