Upgrade Conv Speeder to TMCC

Eric EOGR Forum Member

Has anyone upgraded a Lionel conventional speeder to TMCC? I was looking at the parts list on Lionel's website. Besides changing the control board to the TMCC board and changing the speeder interior to hide the electronics are there any other parts that would need to be changed? I already have the Lionel Lines Conv speeder and like the outer shell better than some of the newer TMCC speeders. Worst case could I just swap the outer shell of the Lionel Lines speeder with a BNSF (TMCC) speeder? (similar color shell & interior) The sale prices of some of the TMCC speeders may make this cheaper than swapping parts. Any feedback would be appreciated.

10/14/149:27 AM

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gunrunnerjohnOGR Forum Member SUPPORTING MEMBERDIGITAL SUBSCRIBER

I upgraded the speeder to TMCC, and then I tossed directional lights and markers.

Here's a few pictures of two that I converted to TMCC. The last picture is the stock RMT speeder that became the one above it with some body work, painting, and a TMCC upgrade. The silver PRR one is the conventional one converted to TMCC.

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10/14/149:51 AM

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texgeekboyOGR Forum Member SUPPORTING MEMBER

@gunrunnerjohn,

This old, old thread is exactly my question. I just got a NIB Lionel 18981 which looks like the one at the top of your pictures. I got it at an auction and the price was too good to pass up. Are the boards and material necessary to upgrade this guy to TMCC still available?

10/29/2310:33 PM

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gunrunnerjohnOGR Forum Member SUPPORTING MEMBERDIGITAL SUBSCRIBER

Yep, all you really need is a Lionel RCM2, Lionel still has one that is in the speeder. I also have a few if they run out.

Add some LED's, wire, and elbow grease, and you have a TMCC speeder.

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10/30/239:16 AM

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texgeekboyOGR Forum Member SUPPORTING MEMBER

@gunrunnerjohn,

Thanks. Based on your helpful posts in the past, I’m pretty proficient at LED conversions, have plenty of wire, and my elbows are overflowing with grease!

My purchase hasn’t even been shipped yet. I’ll post the outcome of my efforts here, or a plea for more help.

10/30/239:23 AM

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gunrunnerjohnOGR Forum Member SUPPORTING MEMBERDIGITAL SUBSCRIBER

I'd get the order in to Lionel for the board, they take a while to ship at times. If you prefer, I can provide that board and a set of connector cables so you don't have to scrounge those, drop me an email.

10/30/239:26 AM

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texgeekboyOGR Forum Member SUPPORTING MEMBER

OK, GRJ and I arranged for a board and connector cables. However, I got my NIB speeder today, put it on the track, and no motion. The lights did light, but the engine did nothing. The switch on the bottom is on. Perhaps converting it to TMCC will be the solution, but I'm a pessimist. Does anyone have the wiring/parts diagram for these conventional speeders? The Lionel support site does have the parts list, but I kinda need how that all gets put together.

Thanks in advance for any help.

11/5/238:30 PM

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gunrunnerjohnOGR Forum Member SUPPORTING MEMBERDIGITAL SUBSCRIBER

They're pretty simple beasts, they're all the same internally, only the paint is different. If it's a conventional, here's the parts breakdown for one.

https://www.lionelsupport.com/...as-Speeder-1-6-18493

Turn the switch off on the bottom and see if that changes the behavior.

11/5/238:38 PM

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texgeekboyOGR Forum Member SUPPORTING MEMBER

@gunrunnerjohn,

I finally started this project. The info you posted in this thread is also very useful. One question, how did you fit the board into your speeder? Would you mind taking a close up of it? No rush, I know many people are busy right now.

12/21/232:36 PM

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gunrunnerjohnOGR Forum Member SUPPORTING MEMBERDIGITAL SUBSCRIBER

Well, to take a picture I have to take it apart. I can tell you that it's behind the crew. I folded some cardboard to make a little doghouse to cover it. Lionel did the same thing years later for their TMCC version, but it's probably plastic and not cardboard.