I just purchased my 5-yr-old son (well, Santa did!) a SW Diesel Freight set and the Christmas Trolley from Lionel. A grandparent (yay spoiling gp’s) added the SW Diesel Freight expansion set. I am curious as to what I need to run conventional diesels with a remote. I’d much prefer to keep 5-yr-old hands away from transformers and outlets and give him a battery-operated remote. Then I can put the transformer on a timer (like a one-hour deal) and let him run them himself. Currently we have a loop of track around the tree, but ultimately I plan to have a couple conventional diesels, the trolley, a few remote switches, and a double loop with a couple track yard with uncoupling track(s). So, what’s the least expensive way (I don’t have money for TMCC engines or I wouldn’t even ask this of you!) to get the initial loop set up for TMCC and then what will I need to run the eventual double-loop/switches/etc? I don’t want a debate of TMCC II or DCC here, I am not interested in spending the $$ on the higher-end stuff - I already figured from these forums that some have a preference for DCC! My thinking was with TMCC II coming out I might be able to eBay some TMCC stuff cheaper. Anyway, thanks for any help anyone can give…
Homer, if I may, I believe you might be better served by posting your question on: http://ogaugerr.infopop.cc/6/ubb.x?a=cfrm&s=63160042 or the TMCC group on yahoo.com Good luck, there is nothing much better than a grandchild with an interest in trains unless it is a great-grandchild. Don