TMCC, Odyssey, ERR & Legacy...

Odyssey is close to ERR but not quite as smooth at startup. Once the engine is running both maintain constant speed well. ERR is better for double heading but as with all TMCC/Legacy engines you pretty much have to run the same kind of engines to get speeds that are close and stay together when speed is changed. Early Odyssey engines tend to buck each other even with identical engines are used.

if an engine has Odyssey and is working I leave it alone but if it breaks I would replace it with ERR rather than another Odyssey board.

 

Pete

Startup is the key! I'm looking at videos of 2 steamers TMCC/Odyssey. One is smooth and the other appear like a horse at the starting gate, it can't wait to get going.

 

Thanks Pete!

Have you ran the TMCC locomotive using the Legacy 990?

 

I've never had a Cab 1, so I can't compare it.  My TMCC locomotives are very smooth starters with the Legacy remote controlling them.  As a matter of fact, my JLC Challenger was impressive-much smoother than I anticipated.  Not as smooth as a Legacy locomotive, but nothing to shake your head about either!

 

I'm new to command control but learning as I go.

Yes, I have the Legacy system. I have a couple locos that just won't start slow. Turn the red wheel one increment at a time, then after 6. 7 or 8 they just jump. 

My Odyssey engines will start at the first blink on my Command base. So do my ERR engines. The difference is the ERR engines move imediately and the Odyssey engines sit there for a few seconds and then move. The only time it takes 5 or 6 steps for the Odyssey engine to move is when Odyssey is turned off. Early engines don't have the switch but later ones do. The switch was added so you could double head them and not have them fighting each other.

 

Pete

Jeff,

I am in S gauge so am restricted as to size of the motor driver boards, if you are in O gauge you are fortunate, I have been very happy with the ERR boards. I have used several different boards, Mini Commander 2, AC Commander, and Cruise Commander. I started with TMCC and was thrilled with it, then came Legacy, I acquired an AF Big Boy with the Legacy system so upgraded to the 990, all was good til the 990 upgrades came out. When this happened I was having issues with sound in TMCC engines containing Mini-2. Was not able to get this resolved so I ended up going back to a simpler system, the Cab 1-L. This did present some new problems with lighting, blinking headlights, most of which were resolved through dealing with Lionel. The only thing I now lack is the sound and lighting that worked well with TMCC in lash-ups, it has not been resolved in the Cab 1-L system.

Ray

Unless you are running a yard engine, all Legacy engines run the same as a MU, run diesel with steam, no problem I run my JLC Big Boy with my SD70 all the time. Old TMCC yes those have to be matched

Also if I am not mistaken most yard engines switch into mainline mode one MU'd

Jeff,

 

Do the TMCC engines that will not start slow have any kind of speed control?  You said you do not have any Odyssey equipped engines, and the ones you have upgraded with ERR start well.  You need speed control for smooth starts.

 

I had one Odyssey equipped engine that ran poorly when first starting using my CAB1; it runs much better with the CAB2.

 

The only problem with older TMCC steam engines (and some early Legacy steamers) is they only have 2 chuffs per revolution.  I had all my older TMCC steamers upgraded to 4 chuff by Alex M.

I believe you are correct, I thought when building an MU with legacy, the speed profile of the lead engine is assigned to all engines behind it, so you don't have to worry about matching them up (if all engines are legacy engines).

Try changing the momentum setting to M of H. Made a big difference with my Atlas TMCC engines.

Momentum, did not even check that. I will now!