I'm considering a purchase of a MTH ABA diesel set which was modified to TMCC by Train America Studios with their technology (not ERR). Is the company still in business and providing follow-on service? I don't want to buy a loco set that is a "stepchild."
I called the Train America Studios phone number, but the call didn't go through.
With thanks in advance,
Mike M. LCCA 12394
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@Mike H Mottler posted:I'm considering a purchase of a MTH ABA diesel set which was modified to TMCC by Train America Studios with their technology (not ERR). Is the company still in business and providing follow-on service?
No, and hasn't been in business for many, MANY years.
I don't want to buy a loco set that is a "stepchild."
@Mike H Mottler posted:I called the Train America Studios phone number, but the call didn't go through.
I'll bet it didn't! 
It's an orphan.
Depends on the price. It may still be a good deal. Most use three Lionel boards still available. They made their own motor driver. Value this as you would a PS1 or PS2 5v engine that might need repair in the future. Then again it may run forever.
Pete
The only thing negative about TAS is their motor driver board and smoke unit control boards. I still get a lot of 3rd Rail locos for repairs that has their system installed and has died. Their designer is a great guy.
Yep, just finished up two 3rd Rail 2-10-2 upgrades and a 4-10-2, all of them had TAS, now they have ERR. 
This is kind of a timely question since I wonder if I might be looking at having to upgrade a 3rd Rail engine from the TAS EOB electronics. Apologies in advance this is highjacking the thread too badly, but I ended up snagging a still new and sealed in the box CB&Q 4-8-4 recently and initially it ran beautifully with no issues. But on a couple of instances it has done something strange... It'll be running along nicely then suddenly will speed up, slow down, speed up, then maybe stop, or some variation of this. The last time it did this I noticed a clicking sound coming through the engine sounds on the speaker. If I power the track down and back up again it's fine again as if nothing happened. Is this a behavior that would indicate a board that's bad or in the process of going bad? Or maybe just an issue with the wiring that needs to be looked for and fixed? I haven't had any experience with these failing before so was wondering what I should be watching for...
Thanks for all who offered timely responses. In this case, "buyer beware" is good counsel. I'll pass on this offer; which is unfortunate for me (a Rock Island collector/operator) because RI diesels are hard to find.
However, if the conversion was an ERR make-over, I'd buy it.
Mike M. LCCA 12394
@Mike H Mottler posted:Thanks for all who offered timely responses. In this case, "buyer beware" is good counsel. I'll pass on this offer; which is unfortunate for me (a Rock Island collector/operator) because RI diesels are hard to find.
However, if the conversion was an ERR make-over, I'd buy it.
Mike M. LCCA 12394
Adjust that cost into your $$$ offer?
There will always be some form of electronics available to run our trains. Most engines that are older either had EOB, K-Line cruise or Proto 2. All can be considered time bombs. If the Roadname you desire is hard to find. I’d probably go for it at a good price. It’s still a running engine and EOB although dated still has it’s following. Your other option would be buy an expensive new one and pay to have it repainted into what you want.
@CCTSteam posted:This is kind of a timely question since I wonder if I might be looking at having to upgrade a 3rd Rail engine from the TAS EOB electronics. Apologies in advance this is highjacking the thread too badly, but I ended up snagging a still new and sealed in the box CB&Q 4-8-4 recently and initially it ran beautifully with no issues. But on a couple of instances it has done something strange... It'll be running along nicely then suddenly will speed up, slow down, speed up, then maybe stop, or some variation of this. The last time it did this I noticed a clicking sound coming through the engine sounds on the speaker. If I power the track down and back up again it's fine again as if nothing happened. Is this a behavior that would indicate a board that's bad or in the process of going bad? Or maybe just an issue with the wiring that needs to be looked for and fixed? I haven't had any experience with these failing before so was wondering what I should be watching for...
A loose connection in the tether between tender and engine or the spacing of the tach reader and flywheel is off. If you have a eight pin tether, it’s highly recommended you add a ground wire from the tach reader, to the EOB motherboard. A one pin tether, as if the tach reader looses ground connection to the motherboard it will blow up.
I actually prefer EOB over ERR. Slow speed operation is much better with EOB, IMO. You don’t need extra boards (Sorry John) for chuffing smoke. I have several engines with EOB and I have spare boards for any future issues. Spare working boards are out there anyway. Besides if my EOB engines electronics die and can’t be replaced, no ERR for me. Full legacy conversion is my way to go
If it is something you want and is hard to find I would get it and then have it converted to ERR. You never know if or when a new run will ever come back around. I have been waiting and hoping to find MTH Katy SD40-'s for 12 years now.
Bobby
Dave
Superwarp
Texas Eagle 77
Thanks for adding to the dialog. The MTH Rock Island ABA diesel set in this case is the Railking version (not Premiere) and is offered by the widow of a hobbyist/collector. Its original cost was $699, and she's asking $450. Given the situation, that's too much for me, and I believe it would be disrespectful (and exploitive) to offer $250 [$100 for the two powered units and $50 for the non-powered unit).
The diesels would be "nice to have," but in my case, the set is not a "gotta have." So I'll pass. Perhaps another hobbyist/collector would come forward, accept its TAS technology, be willing to replace it with ERR if necessary, and be happy with the deal.
Mike M. LCCA 12394
@superwarp1 posted:I actually prefer EOB over ERR. Slow speed operation is much better with EOB, IMO. You don’t need extra boards (Sorry John) for chuffing smoke.
Blasphemy! How do I sell Super-Chuffers if you all go to EOB! 
I know of some new TAS boards still available.
@scott.smith posted:I know of some new TAS boards still available.
That would be useful information if you added some details.
@gunrunnerjohn posted:That would be useful information if you added some details.
Might be? I sent you a private message.
Scott Smith
@gunrunnerjohn posted:Blasphemy! How do I sell Super-Chuffers if you all go to EOB!
I should buy one or two of your Super-Chuffers, I haven't played with those yet. Will it fit in something like the Lionel Blue streak engine?
They should fit in most locomotives. Obviously, you need fan driven smoke to use the Super-Chuffer, but that's pretty much the only requirement. The actual Super-Chuffer module is 0.9" x 1.0" x 0.5".
@gunrunnerjohn posted:They should fit in most locomotives. Obviously, you need fan driven smoke to use the Super-Chuffer, but that's pretty much the only requirement. The actual Super-Chuffer module is 0.9" x 1.0" x 0.5".
- Smoke Unit fan motor control for synchronized chuffing with RailSounds output.
- Dynamic braking of smoke unit motor and chuff duration control enhances the appearance of the smoke chuff output at all speeds.
- Smoke fan motor runs continuously at slow speed when locomotive is stopped.
- Rule 17 LED light control for headlight, dimming when locomotive is stopped.
- TMCC headlight voltage input to control headlight on/off state from remote.
- Automatic control to turn cab light on when stopped, off when moving.
- Smoke motor inactive if smoke is turned off.
What fan driven smoke unit would you recommend?
@TB440 posted:What fan driven smoke unit would you recommend?
It depends on the room available. I've used MTH standard and small smoke units, Lionel rectangular smoke units, and the LionChief fan driven smoke units. I use whatever fits.
I have been working on my Z-6 3rd rail challenger for a while now. I have a CB&Q 4-8-4 that I have never ran yet, nervous about running it!! I am gonna take it apart and check the .30 thousandths flywheel tach reader gap first. I do like the EOB, but I will never buy another locomotive with that set-up. Too much trouble with my Z-6 challenger. When you get the gap right, they really do run very smooth and they crawl very slowly.
It's too bad that it's so hard to find parts for them!!!
I need a tach reader board, and can't find one anywhere.
I think that happened to my Z-6 challenger a couple weeks ago. My tach reader board went up in smoke. I am thinking now I lost ground to the board.
Where would you plug a ground into the EOB board from the tach reader board???
There is an alternative to the EOB tach reader. I programmed my Chuff-Generator to be a replacement tach reader for the EOB tach reader. If you need one, let me know.
Thank you very much gun runnerjohn. My tach reader mounts to a bracket and there is a hole in the board which a screw goes through to mount it to the bracket. I am trying to fix my board, if I can find the piece that burned up.
I will let you know!!
Thanks again!!!
Well, you'd have to come up with a new mount as mine doesn't have any holes! Most of the TAS engines I've worked on didn't have a mounting hole in the tach reader.
Yeah, just one hole.
If I can't repair my, board I will definitely let you know!!
I'm getting frustrated with this engine, had it running real good till I unplugged the tender from the engine with track power on and the tach reader fried!!
Thank you for your help!!!
I never knew that the TAS board went up in smoke without a ground, that's distressing! FWIW, that used to damage my Chuff-Generator, but a while back I added a component to isolate the output pulse and insure that a missing ground would not cook the board.
Well, my board probably wouldn't be worth doing that to it, if it can be done. I may need your chuff generator, can I use my existing flywheel stripe tape that it came with??
Now I kinda of wish I hadn't bought these 3rd rail engine with TAS, EOB. Although they run real good and are quiet and smooth when everything is good. I am just not sure about EOB, if they will run for a long time or if I will keep having trouble.
Thanks gun runnerjohn. I will let you know if I need one of your chuff generators!!
The flywheel tape would be fine with the C-G.
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