Four years ago at Toy Fair, Lionel demonstrated a prototype of the ZW YardBoss, which was going to be the successor to the ZW. In addition to including all the existing Cab 1 functions, it was going to include (according to a product news item in the June 2000 OGR):
“…easy-to-read LCD panel that displays engine speed in scale miles per hour, switch positions, and routes and engines being addressed; simplified route planning; ability to control five switches and two engines at same time without re-addressing; images of lash-ups will indicate each engine’s identification number, position and orientation…”
Of course, for whatever reasons, the YardBoss was cancelled. Perhaps people who have TMCC weren’t that interested in a fixed-position controller. However, these are all features that I have been wanting to see in a new TMCC walk-around controller. How about you? And if these are desirable features, and Lionel was so far along on them four years ago, when can we see them in a Cab 2? Isn’t it time already?
Keith