Who is upgrading their TMCC trains?

No i'm not selling off my rs4 tmcc engines plus be hard to get back roadname in chessie if i did. Plus to be real expensive to upgrade. So I just leave things alone. Hope they will make chessie etc. in legacy.   

There are no Legacy upgrade kits for locomotives.

I should of used the term trading up.

I just got a Legacy system.  Legacy sounds are incredible, but at this point I have no plans to trade in my TMCC engines.  I am perfectly happy with them.

I treat engine that I own on an individual basis and keep what I like and move on what I do not like and/or use anymore. Legacy engines are nice to run...when they are working for me....which with my really bad luck has not been too often lately.

Generally speaking, no. I have a couple of Legacy locomotives and I like the improved sound and a couple of other features, but I dislike the Legacy remote, which is unintuitive and has the ergonomics of a brick. The cost of trading up can be very high if you are buying at normal dealer prices. And then there is the risk factor of replacing a  unit that is known to work with one that may or may not work. I may occasionally trade up if a Legacy engine that I like is on sale at a bargain price, like the $600 Mikado (MSRP 900) that I just ordered from Charles Ro. That unit will replace a K-Line Mike with the same body but outdated electronics and smoke. 

 

For me, the expense and trouble of trading up is only worthwhile in a very few cases, where I am getting an exceptional deal on the Legacy engine AND it is a unit that I plan to use a lot. No diesel would qualify, and very, very few steamers. 

I have a bunch of TMCC locos, only one Legacy loco. Will not be trading up or adding the Legacy system to the layout.

I still have about a half dozen TMCC/RS2 from the 90s. The Geeps with their magna traction, Pullmor's and killer sound system, still run flawlessly....and there are less detail parts to break off! I run them all!

 

 

 

Peter

 

we have very little runtime on our tmcc locos since acquiring some legacy motive power and the legacy remote. Speed control, sound, smoke and structural detail is tough to beat.

I am currently having a Lionel Reading T-1 4-8-4 upgraded. The upgrade is new smoke unit, TMCC sound, new motor, ect. I purchased it from the Bay as "new condition" opened it, checked it for cosmetic condition. Re-boxed it and sent it for upgrade.

My reason is I love the engine, I seen it double headed on the curve, chased and photographed it as "American Freedom Train" watched it in the yards in Phila. on the turntable as "Chessie Steam Special". Therefore the T-1 2100 series holds a place in my heart. I don't have any care or concern on the cost of the engine with the upgrade.

When I receive it, it will hold the premier spot on my layout.

I plan to keep both systems in operation. I now have three Legacy locomotives, photo of most recently one acquired attached.  However, TMCC, especially if combined with an Odessy motor, really works well. I'm working now on getting my favorite conventional locomotives upgraded to TMCC.

 

My only unhappiness so far with Legacy is with my first unit, the Union Pacific GP7 from a few years ago. Sound board failed and local Lionel-approved LHS can't seem to get a replacement. Unit has been in the shop for several months now.

 

I have some great TMCC engines, but find myself running Legacy almost all the time.

I run'em as I got'em with three exceptions.

 

I added TMCC and RS to my scale Lionel 0-6-0 switcher from 1990 (difficult) and upgraded my elephant eared junior K4 (that headed the PRR set with O gauge track) to TMCC and full RS (easy upgrade).  I added ERR Cruise Commander to my scale T1 (easy).

 

It's a tad more difficult to run the TMCC Camelback (w/o cruise) or any like it compared to engines with cruise but I've no more upgrades planned.

 

Would I buy a Legacy/Vision engine to replace an older version?  Only if it's an engine I really like (why I added cruise to the scale T1) and/or run regularly.

I will be keeping all my earlier TMCC engines released after 2000.
They have unique sounds and some are much louder and have plenty of character.
The only improvement I could see on these is the slow start up speed is lacking on some of the steam engines. Wish I could fix this.

Same here.  When I looked into upgrading I found the view wasn't worth the climb money wise either.  I have recently rediscovered a couple conventional locos and when I ran them, I realized that I've never run any TMCC locos conventionally.  Can you run a TMCC loco conventionally when the command base is being used with a TPC?  Do they run any better than postwar?

Sorry if I went a bit off topic.

Many of the post-2000 locomotives will have DC can motors, you could use the ERR Cruise Commander M to replace the DCDR in those for slower startup speed as well as cruise control.

 

A little bonus of the ERR CCM is you get provisions for marker lights and flashing ditch lights if you want to install them.

Thanks John for the heads up. Is this a plug and play operation? Will this get rid of my Odyssey lurch?

Since I have a small layout, I'm not in the market for big steam or diesel legacy engines.

 

I have one early Legacy engine which I run with my TMCC engines. My latest purchases were the command control Trackmobiles (Amtrak & NYC).

 

I might be a candidate for a legacy switcher and would certainly purchase an ALCO Century 415 if Lionel ever offered one.

 

I do have the Legacy basic operating controller (siting in it's original box) but have not set it up yet. Maybe a Spring project if my area ever gets Spring.

 

Tony

Up on "The D & H Bridge Line"

No, I am keeping my TMCC equipment. I have Legacy engines as well that were added to the inventory, but none of the Legacy engines were purchased to replace a TMCC engine. I plan on keeping it this way.

I plan on keeping ones that haven't been updated or scaled up with Legacy, such as the C&O Yellowbelly and Commodore Vanderbilts - these in particular are too much of modern classics to rid myself of. Others, such as the Daylight, Alton and Crescent, I've already traded in for Legacy versions or planning to.

Yep, the Cruise Commander M is the cure for the Odyssey lurch, it's pretty easy to install as well.  It's not "exactly" P-N-P with Odyssey as you have to do some reconfiguration of the six wire plug to the DCDR-S, the CCM uses the same 4 pin plug as the DCDR (without Odyssey) uses. 

 

You can download the instructions from ERR to see what the installation is like.

Have only recently acquired a few Legacy locomotives and for the most part are pleased with them. Two TMCC engines - a Santa Fe U28C (RS4.0) and the No 611 J w/RS5.0 are superior in sound to the Legacy engines in my experince. The quilling whistle/horn is very good but the earlier RS4 diesel blows away our three Legacy diesels in sheer presence and volume!

 

The 'random' whistle on the J is as good as the 4 Legacy steamers on the roster too.

Our two older Lionel steamers are the N&W Class A and the Legendary PRR T1, both from the 2000 catalog. I'll hang onto them and 'give them the respect they are due' until Lionel re issues them at some point down the line.

I've upgraded some older TMCC steamers with the TAS EOB board, mainly to get 4-chuffs/revolution. These upgrades worked out well.  I recently bought two TMCC engines with Odyssey at a good price with the intension of upgrading with EOB to get 4-chuffs (they both are 2-chuff engines).  I was going to use Weaver to do the upgrade, but they have switched to ERR which does not have the ability to change the chuff rate like EOB did.  Now there are no EOB installers left.  I may now sell these two engines and get their Legacy versions.

 

Ron

I pretty much got rid of all my TMCC and PS2 locomotives and moved over to legacy.  But not for just the sounds, but because I purchased locomotives I wanted to run.  

 

I got rid of all my purchases over the years that were impulse or what I thought I liked and have been really picky on what I purchase now.  I run my layout using just 2 0-8-0 switchers, 2 freight locomotives, a berk and a 2-8-0, and one passenger locomotive for my commuter train.  

 

 I have also designed my layout for operations, not just circle running.  Once I get my staging yard and my car ferry installed during phase 2 of my construction my operations will become apparent.  

It is possible to get 4 chuffs/rev from an ERR installation, you just have to go about it in a slightly different manner.  Two magnets on the tender wheel gets you close, and if you're really a stickler for accuracy, four on one of the drivers will do it.

I like my TMCC K-line 0-6-0 and 0-4-0 switchers better than anything else. Also my K-line tank engine. My Lionel NYC mogul was a disappointment compared to them but it is growing on me. My TMCC Berk freight set is perfect for what it is. They rest are PW switchers. Some with smoke. Some with Railsounds. And some with just reverse lights. I am modeling mostly small and poorer urban RR 's and yards during the transition era. No diesels and no money. Just getting by with old school mechanics and ingenuity. Lots of worn out equipment and grunge keeping them together. Now need to upgrade now. Will wait till Legacy is obsolete before I start acquiring. I do not see any large steamers on the horizon either. Unless I win the lottery. Then who knows. Maybe a used gymnasium and just about anything that strikes my fancy.

I am happy with everything as it is. I have some Legacy and TMCC and DCS. I've been thinking about upgrading all my conventional stuff, and have done a couple to TMCC.

But really, for the price of a TPC 400, or using the variable out of a TIU, I don't think it's worth the trouble.

Getting back into the hobby after only running transformer controlled engines, TMCC stuff is mind boggling for me. I'm thinking about upgrading my 1950 736 Berkshire with the ElectricRR kit but my wife believes it will ruin the value (it sits on my mantle) I have 3 TMCC locos running on my upstairs layout and cannot see any reason to want more features than they have.

 

Chet Klyn

I have a mix of TMCC and Legacy.  No plans to dump the the TMCC - some are really beautiful engines!

No, in general, I would never consider doing this. I have one Legacy loco, and it

is not demonstrably much superior to the TMCC version of the same loco, which I also have. I have only TMCC, and it does all that I will ever want done to/by a locomotive.

I do not even use all of the TMCC features - momentum, for example. The Legacy "features" talked about I find to be mostly non-starters for me.

 

Having said that, I intend to get the new Cab-1L and Base to go with it; the Cab-2 system I've seen and used - and I don't particularly care for it. Fussy.

 

When I want "fussy", I run my ProtoSound-2 locos. 

Yes I am seriously considering upgrading - from conventional operation to TMCC! 

 

Jim

Hi Bobrumer,

 

Who is doing your Reading T-1 upgrade.  I am looking for someone to work on mine.

 

Thanks,

Jim

This is pretty much where I'm at too. Even though I have a Legacy base, I have never gotten it to work properly and it doesn't bother me. I do have a few legacy locos, but they run just fine with TMCC. The most important reason for me sticking with TMCC is the command codes are public. I want to be able to control trains with my computer.

Hi Bobrumer,

 

Who is doing your Reading T-1 upgrade.  I am looking for someone to work on mine.

 

Thanks,

Jim

 

Jim, The upgrade is being done by Frank Timko - Timko's Repair Depot.

His e-mail address, ftimko@sbcglobal.net

Beavercreek Oh 45430

 

Getting the Legacy to run should be very easy, what is causing the issue?  You spent $300 for a doorstop and it doesn't bother you?  You are one laid-back individual!

No.  It took me 12 years to acquire my special collection of PRR and New Haven motive power as one would see on the Northeast Corridor/Main Line/Penn station.  I have engines from K-Line (MP54, EP-5, F7, K4 steam),  Weaver (V01000), Lionel (JLC GG1, B1 Rats), MTH (GG1, P5a Mod Boxcab and Streamlined, 2500HP Transfer Diesel, H10 Consolidation, E44).  There is no way I will ever see all of these made by Lionel in Legacy.  I would also lose a lot of money trying to sell used but perfectly operational engines to get today's super high priced engines. 

 

With all these different manufacturers, I can run all of them on one remote just like HO where they actually have a standard know as DCC.  The reason for this is that MTH actually thought of this when they developed their DCS system and had luck on their side that Lionel's TMCC system code was shared.  With a cable connected from the DCS box to the TMCC box, I can see all the TMCC engines and run all of the TMCC features.  I use the TMCC remote to initially set them up and set the speed steps.

 

Since the new Legacy system is closed and does not work with the DCS (as I can understand Lionel wanting to protect their technology) I would have to run the Legacy engines with a different remote and my other engines with the DCS remote.

This is ridiculous to me and not worth it for a few extra (but very nice) features.  If they would work with MTH and the other manufacturers like before, I would buy them.  Just like before, I would need a Lionel control system and the MTH control system, but one remote could still control all of the engines andthere would be a much greater selection of engines.

I had to laugh at this commentary! 

 

MTH only runs TMCC locomotives if you have a TMCC or Legacy base.  In addition, the MTH system is as closed as Legacy as far as communicating with it.  The only system that's somewhat of an open standard is the pre-Legacy TMCC system.  All the serial commands are actually documented and readily available.  Show me the same information for MTH stuff.

While I just got the Legacy Command set, I still only have one (well two if you count the matching dummy) Legacy locomotive.  Since I have 8 other TMCC equipped units, I don't really have a desire to get rid of them all and buy legacy.  They all run well enough for me, especially under the legacy command base, and several of them I can't get with Legacy if I wanted to.  I may expand my legacy equipped roster in the future but won't get rid of my TMCC stuff.

I am John.  I'm quite confident that I have it hooked up correctly, with the Y cable going to the TMCC base, and the ground wire moved over to the Legacy base. The problem is when I turn on the track power all the engines take off. I've tried powering the bases first, and it still does it. What I need to do is add some electrical switches so I can kill power to the hidden yard tracks. There are about 15 trains down there. Then I can work on the problem with a single engine.

 

I'll get to it eventually, and I know that I have you and others here to consult with when the time comes. My layout is a marathon not a sprint.