When Programming Lionel TMCC or Legacy Engine I.D. Numbers

I would think the first question you should answer for yourself is; which method is easiest for YOU to remember? Personally, I have all of my TMCC equipped models programed for the last two road number on the cab, i.e. CB&Q #5614 is programmed to #14.

What if you have two engines with the same two digits, such as 5614 and 614?

If two locos have numbers that are close one gets only a single digit.  I use first 2 digits.  Loco 1516 became loco 5, loco 1527 remained loco 15.  I may just reprogram everything to the last 2 digits but I think there are additional conflicts there as well.  

I use the last 2 digits of the road name for TMCC programming.  But, I actually do have 2 locomotives with the same road number.  I have 2 of the Williams PRR K4s #3750 steamers.  My original intention (we know about good intentions, don't we? ) was to change the number on one of them, but I haven't gotten around to that.  Fortunately, I can tell them apart (piece of tape on the tether).  So one engine gets #50, the other gets #37.

George

 This is pretty simple.... We have a list of our engines with their  DCS  ID numbers and TMCC IDs.  We use it quite frequently. Go figure!

Oh, interesting. I just have mine as 1,2, etc.

Now THERE you have the most logical answer! Out of the 30 or so TMCC equipped models I have, I can not think of two that have the same last two digits. However, if that did occur, I would then program THAT model to the FIRST two digits, and place a note to myself in that models carrying case for future reference.

I've always ID'd my roster by the 1, 2, 3 system in order of purchase.  If an engine is sold I don't use that number again.  Not yet anyway.  My 2380 SP GP9 is #1, my Mohawk pilot is #28.  This method works well for me.  RICH

remembering not to use 99.

99 is hard programed into all lionel engines since about 2011 or 2012.

Well one of the members in New Mexico who snowbirds to San Diego, has all his diesels he run in lash ups the same numbers so all the horns and bells work in unison, and doesn't like going through the process of lashing them up together. I try to number my stuff after the first digits or the last digits.

Tom jr,

   In reality this is a personal preference type identification, as was advised use the method easiest to remember for yourself, some times I stand in front of my layout each Christmas and think, now how did I do this?  Had Guns upgrade my 249 engine and tender with ERR, will need to add this to my Cab 2 along with a new Legacy GP9 this coming Christmas, don't know just what to enter as the ident myself for these 2.

PCRR/Dave

Yep and if you like to play music through the engine you can get "stereo" with 2 engines..... trying to use 3 engines is pushing it.  It's also a good indicator of how good your track signal is.

I use the last 2 of the road number.  And I do have some with duplicates.  When that happens, the locomotive I got first keeps the last 2, and then I go to the 1st 2.  And if that is taken (Which I do have in my small roster.) Then I go with the middle 2 numbers.  I haven't had to go past that, yet, but if I do, then I'll use the 1st and last number together.  Of course, if I end up with a locomotive that only has a 1 or 2 digit road number, it'll get the TMCC ID even if a locomotive I have has it already.  Big Boys are the other exception, they always get the last 2 of the road number.

For me, it's always the last two digits, unless there's a conflict. If that's the case, the ultimate plan is to renumber the engine. For the time being, I will typically take a piece of white electrical tape and write the new number on it with a Sharpie. White tape comes off cleanly and doesn't leave residue.

The goal is to renumber as few engines as possible, but half my fleet is still in boxes, so I won't know the full extent of the problem for a while.

Duplicates are not allowed.

I do have one question for those that have used the system longer than I, is there a difference between ID #02 and #2?  If not, is one method preferred over the other?

does not matter.  just how many buttons you want to push.

I assign  last 2 digits of road number. I keep a note card cheat sheet handy as well. 

All good advice.  

One more point:  If you are using a Legacy remote, when you set up an engine, you can also enter the full road number and name the engine, and then search by road number or scroll by engine name.  It's a nice feature.  (A minor limitation is that you can't use letters.  My Milwaukee Road F7s are 109-A, 109-B and 109-C.)

SEARCH by Road number:

1. Press SELECT

2. Enter the Road Number Engine

3. Press ENG

SCROLL By Engine Name:

1. Press ENG

2. Press SCROLL

3. Address box will blink fast, use the Velocity Throttle to scroll to the desired name

4. Press ENG

Bob

Tom,

    I always use the last two digits of the engine cab number. If that number is used already I will use the first two digits as an alternate. You only want to use the first two digits in those rare cases where you do have conflicts with the last two numbers. The issue would be if you really liked UP Big Boys and you wanted to use the first two number all the time all you Big Boys would be #40. If your not running them as a multiple unit that could be a problem.

     In those rare cases where both the last two digits and the first two digits are already being used if the cab number is four digits use the second and third digits.

    By using the cab number all you have to do is look at the engine if you forget what ID you used and you have two or three guesses.

    By the way I hate engines that have the last two numbers 00 example 6100, 6000. Wish they would stay away from using those cab numbers but in some cases where there was only one engine you stuck using the first two numbers. Also when Lionel offers multiple engine numbers I will look up if the numbers are already in our Legacy system. I did this when I bought the Legacy B6 switcher and picked 5244 as neither last two or first two were in our system. Good thing I liked the yellow had rails on the tender (HaHa).

JohnB

You also can't enter in road numbers longer then 4 digits, so my UP aux tender is not in the remote with the full number, which was a pain.