What transformer is best with these engines?

You have the best transformer right there. It's a modern version of a postwar pure sine wave transformer. It will run anything conventionally.

If you want to run in command mode, get a command base and a hand held remote. Use the MRC to provide track power.

Thanks for the reply RadioRoy,
Excuse my ignorance... what is command mode? 

You have a set up that is termed nowadays conventional or sometimes traditional (meaning simply before the command era).  You attach the power and ground to the track and regulate the speed by increasing or decresing voltage.

In command mode, a Legacy-equipped engine beomes a smart engine. You have to have a Legacy command set which includes a base and a remote. When you attach the base between the transformer and the track, the base sets out a signal that tells the engine that it will respond to your commands through the remote. In addition, at all times you have applied fixed voltage (recommended 18 volts) to the track.......but the engine only uses the voltage based on the speed you desire through the remote.

To make it a little more confusing......Lionel started this command system around 1995 and called it TMCC......TrainMaster Command Control...........Legacy is the updated version from around 2004-05.

Hope this helps.......I am not an electrical person.....if someone can say it better, please do....

Check out the Lionel 2021 Big Book Catalog, page 209, for a description of the components.

Peter

@Putnam Division posted:

You have a set up that is termed nowadays conventional or sometimes traditional (meaning simply before the command era).  You attach the power and ground to the track and regulate the speed by increasing or decreasing voltage.

Meaning : you the operator MOVE the red handle back and forth to increase or decrease the voltage to the locomotive. your functions of the locomotive will be limited to horn and bell activation. The smoke feature can only be turned on and off via switches in the radiator section of the locomotive. you the operator have basic functions of the locomotive.

In command mode, a Legacy-equipped engine becomes a smart engine. You have to have a Legacy command set which includes a base and a remote. When you attach the base between the transformer and the track, the base sets out a signal that tells the engine that it will respond to your commands through the remote. In addition, at all times you have applied fixed voltage (recommended 18 volts) to the track.......but the engine only uses the voltage based on the speed you desire through the remote.

Meaning : to access the legacy functions, you need the legacy command base and controller. The Pure sine transformer in your pictures would be a power source for the command base.  In command mode, you have CONSTANT 18V on the tracks and the electronics in the locomotive prevent it from moving until a signal from the command base tells it what to do. In command mode , With your remote, you can remotely turn lights on and off, activate various "crew talk sounds", activate bell and whistle, increase or decrease the locomotive sound volume remotely, vary the smoke unit output remotely etc.

To make it a little more confusing......Lionel started this command system around 1995 and called it TMCC......TrainMaster Command Control...........Legacy is the updated version from around 2004-05.

Hope this helps.......I am not an electrical person.....if someone can say it better, please do....

Check out the Lionel 2021 Big Book Catalog, page 209, for a description of the components.

Peter

Thanks Peter!

So it seems to access the full functionality of the engine, I'd need the TMCC. 

The Legacy unit seems expensive for this guy who mainly sets up the trains for Christmas. 

The TrainMaster Command Control seems to be about $250-300 on ebay but is listed for $170 on Lionel's site.  I now have one on my wish list.  (and hey, it's only money right?)

-Josh

@jjwithers posted:

Thanks Peter!

So it seems to access the full functionality of the engine, I'd need the TMCC. - yes. There is a Cab-1 (TMCC); Cab-1L (TMCC); Cab-2 (Legacy); and the yet-to-be-released Cab-3; systems which will all work with your engine.

The Legacy unit seems expensive for this guy who mainly sets up the trains for Christmas. - understood, but it's never too early to build even a modest and relatively inexpensive permanent layout which eliminates the hassle of the annual set-up and tear-down of a holiday set and lets you have year-round train access. Once you have a command system, you will be all set to add future Lionel command engines with no further equipment needed.

The TrainMaster Command Control seems to be about $250-300 on ebay but is listed for $170 on Lionel's site.  I now have one on my wish list.  (and hey, it's only money right?) - due to the relative lack of command system product on the market right now, it's not unusual to see systems with prices in excess of the original MSRP. You also have the option to run your engine in conventional mode for the time being and wait to see if and when the market shakes out. 

-Josh

My $.02

Thanks Richie!  That's clear and easy to understand.  -J

All these replies mention the Lionel Legacy and TMCC system. There's also the MTH DCS.

There are differences between these two systems as to how the signal gets from the control/command base to the track/locomotive.

Because of these differences, you should know that with the Lionel Legacy system you can not use the command mode for MTH locos. If you have only the legacy system, you have to run the MTH in conventional mode.

However, you CAN run BOTH MTH and Lionel command control locos with the MTH system. It requires hardware from both systems, but does work.

You can get all the info about the MTH DCS here: https://mthtrains.com/DCS/

Thanks Paul... this is getting MORE expensive!  I have Williams engines but no MTH (yet).

@jjwithers posted:

Thanks Paul... this is getting MORE expensive!  I have Williams engines but no MTH (yet).

Welcome to the addiction!

You should always plan for the most and hope you'll never need more. For example, when planning a layout try to use at least O-72 curves. While you may not have anything requiring O-72 just yet, some day you will and be glad you don't have to rip up part of your layout to go bigger.

I can't justify the expense of going to a Legacy system, or all the MTH stuff... yet.   
I'm thinking a basic TMCC will be a good upgrade.

I got the Legacy engine and many other items in a package deal.
I'm assuming that since it is a Legacy engine that it needs the legacy controller to access all the functions?

We've wanted a BNSF engine so I might sell the Legacy engine and downgrade to an older BNSF engine (if anybody wants to trade, LMK,  I'll post something over on the for-sale forum in a few weeks).

These are all good problems to have!

-J

@jjwithers posted:

I can't justify the expense of going to a Legacy system, or all the MTH stuff... yet.   
I'm thinking a basic TMCC will be a good upgrade.

I got the Legacy engine and many other items in a package deal.
I'm assuming that since it is a Legacy engine that it needs the legacy controller to access all the functions?

We've wanted a BNSF engine so I might sell the Legacy engine and downgrade to an older BNSF engine (if anybody wants to trade, LMK,  I'll post something over on the for-sale forum in a few weeks).

These are all good problems to have!

-J

To use most of the functions in either a TMCC/Legacy or MTH PS loco you will need their command control system.

Of course you could always run either in conventional mode with some very basic functions. The owner's manual typically tells you the button sequence for very basic functions. MTH button sequence below:

Let me rephrase my question,

Since Legacy came out after the initial TMCC units, will a Legacy engine’s features work with an older TMCC controller? Are they backwards compatible?
Or would I need a Legacy controller to control a Legacy engine and access all the features?

@jjwithers posted:

Let me rephrase my question,

Since Legacy came out after the initial TMCC units, will a Legacy engine’s features work with an older TMCC controller? Are they backwards compatible?
Or would I need a Legacy controller to control a Legacy engine and access all the features?

Updates are not forward compatible.So yes, you would need a legacy base/controller to access all the legacy features.

I think you can run a Legacy in TMCC mode but not all legacy features will be available.

If I were investing money, I would wait on the new Base 3 which has Legacy, TMCC, LC2 ,and LC until it is in stores later this year or the first of next year. Suggest reading the latest catalog from Lionel online and watching the Lionel demos from Dave and Ryan of Lionel.

The old ZW's work with everything, just add fast blow fuses and have fun.

I have an old KW. Not ZW.
And the Pure Power AC came with the engine deal. I’ve yet to try it out though. It will be a few weeks before I can set something up and test.