TMCC compatibility

Well, a Legacy engine will work under TMCC control, but you do loose some functions.  However, how well two engines from different manufacturers will run together in a consist may be affected by other factors like motor sizes, gear ratios, etc.  Sometimes, the only sure way to know is to create the consist and test run it, especially if you are thinking about buying one or the other solely for a consist.  However, if you really want both engines, then buy them and let the consist, if it works, be gravy for your mashed potatoes.

Chuck

@a1hobo posted:

Can a Lionel Legacy under TMCC control be compatible to be lashed up with Atlas TMCC, are they close to speed match, or just need to be totally separate?

Its all about the gear ratios. Likely both have the same motors but if the gear ratios are different they won’t play well together.

Pete

Simple test, put them on the tracks programmed for the same TMCC #, run them about a foot apart and see how closely the speeds track.  If one is significantly faster or slower than the other, it'll likely be an issue.  In order not to fight, they should be able to go 15-20 feet and not gain or lose a foot of space between them.

First, just to clarify, you have one Lionel Legacy engine and one Atlas TMCC engine- does the Atlas engine have speed control??(TAS/EoB, ERR for more recent models) If not, it's a crap shoot and I'd set both to Cab-1 mode with relative speed steps to try a lash-up.

Assuming that the Atlas engine can be programmed to 32 speed steps, try using the Cab2 remote to make your lash-up, that procedure had previously worked with my Legacy F40PH & TMCC SD80mac.

IF the Cab2 remote procedure doesn't yield the desired results AND you have either a Lionel cab1/TMCC base OR MTH DCS TIU w/ remote- you can try either of these methods. It worked for me with Legacy and TMCC(both engines were Lionel, however)

Method 1: Lash-up with DCS

1.) Make sure both engines are in your DCS Remote, if not- program them in according to the DCS instructions then turn off base & track power

2.) Place Legacy engine on track and then place TMCC engine about 1 foot behind it like gunrunnerjohn said

3.) Turn on track power, use Legacy remote to put both engines in TMCC mode

4a.) Turn both track power AND Base(s)/TIU(s) off. Then turn both back on(ensures base(s)/TIU and engines don't get signals confused from multiple remotes)

4b.) Turn off Cab2 remote

5.) Using your DCS Remote, start each engine, click the Speed softly and click 32. USE ONLY DCS Remote from here on

6.) Go to advanced and create a TMCC lash-up following the prompts on the screen

7.) When finished, both horns should sound(but they might not), regardless, try running lash-up

8.) Turn off track power ONLY. Then couple the engines together- Legacy first and TMCC second.****(Assuming engines started moving within less than a second of each other and speeds were matching****)

9.) Turn track power back on, run your lash-up

Method 2: Cab 1/TMCC base Method

1.) Place Legacy engine on track and then place TMCC engine about 1 foot behind it

2.) Turn on track power, use Legacy remote to put both engines in TMCC mode

3a.) Turn both off track power AND Base(s). Then turn both back on(ensures base(s) and engines don't get signals confused from multiple remotes)

3b.)Turn off Cab2 remote, don't turn on until step 9

4.) Using your Cab1 remote, start both engines and follow the procedure to make a lash-up according to TMCC directions(lash-up ID will have to be a TR between 1-9)

5.) When finished, both horns should sound(but they might not), regardless, try running lash-up  using CAB1 remote

6.) Turn off track power ONLY and couple engines together with Legacy first and TMCC engine second(****Assuming engines started moving within less than a second of each other and speeds were matching****)

7.) Turn on track power and run your lash-up with your CAB1 remote

8.) IF you want to use your Cab2 remote, slow down your train to a halt but keep it running.

9.) Turn on Cab2 remote, enter your lash up's TR ID and turn the throttle wheel- everything should run fine with just "cab-1" appearing on screen(No speed graph will appear, no train break, etc....)

10.) If you want to name the lash-up in your cab2 remote- you can(TR ID#, Info, "Name"). NOTE: Trying to "build" the lash-up into your cab2 remote is something I haven't tried and thus would have unknown results on the lash-up

Both first and second methods have been tested and worked with a Legacy Amtrak F40Ph and TMCC Lionmaster Conrail SD80mac(odyssey 1 with no odyssey on/off switch).... I've only tried the second method with the same Legacy Amtrak F40PH and an Amtrak Dash 8(odyssey 1 with odyssey on/off switch) and it worked fine

Thanks everyone for your input. I was mainly concerned about the electronics of it all. I went a ahead and programmed them into the TMCC, both responded fine, but after setting the speed steps to match, it’s just not capable, due to the gearing difference. Even fine tuning with speed steps there’s just too big a difference.