I would like to add an upgrade board and sound to a postwar 2056 steam loco and 2046 tender. I have been looking at Electric Railroads AC Commander Deluxe Combo Kit with the Pennsy Whistle. Has anyone had any experience with this or recommend something else to look at?
j.t.,
I have used TAS studios upgrades. They have worked great!
Chief Eagles has used Digital Dynamics upgrades. He has no complaints and from my discussion with him, the DD upgrades may be simplier to install than the TAS.
Marty from Pittsburgh, just did a Polar Express upgrade with the Electric Railroads unit and his postings were very positive. He has a video posted, too.
I have a BEEP, and if and when I upgrade it, I believe I will be using an Electric RR unit.
BTW, if you are able to add the Cruise Control, it is a nice feature when running multiple trains.
Other makers of upgrade boards are TrainAmeria Studios, and Digital Dynamics.
I just completed a TMCC Dockside Switcher upgrade using the Electric RR kit. The installation took abut three hours. The Dockside runs great! The entire experience with Electric RR was good - from quick and easy ordering, to quality components and really good step by step installation instructions. I would not hesitate to purchase from them again.
I have used also Digital Dynamics EOBl and did not have that great of success. Granted, it was a Williams steamer upgrade with EOB and therefore a lot of moving pieces in the installation, but even after having Train America folks look at it, it still does not run right.
I used TAS and all is good with my Lionel Mohawk. If you go with these GIZ, there is a 7-8 week turn around, from when you send it but they are GREAT GIZ to deal with.
laz57
Glad to hear this. I just sent my Williams brass scale streamlined K4 to TAS for “command”/sound work. I can live with 8 weeks. Joe
All are good. Depends on what you want and how much you want to spend. I’ve had outstanding sucess with Digital Dynamics but am looking at Electric RR since Marty had such great sucess with his upgrade.
I have not used DD so I cannot comment on that. I have done one EOB on a Lionmaster T-1 after the Odyssey magnet exploded. The EOB went OK in it’s first install but I actually ended up sending it to TAS because of the tach install.
The ERR install was done on a engine without existing speed control. It went in very well and best of all no tach reader. I don’t know how this would go in with replacing an existing cruise system. My guess and from I gathered is it would replace all the electronics. Jon from ERR would be the best persion to ask.
Right now since completing my PE upgrade is I am very happy with ERR and looking at doing a Williams F3 set after I buy one or a Docksider.
I’ve used both TAS and DD for conversions. Both companies have been very helpful/supportive and I have no problems recommending either one. I will be trying an ERR board for an NW2 switcher in the upcoming months.
The upgrades are not “brain surgery” but these aren’t 10 minute board swaps either. Some of the issues are how old the loco is, how much space you need for the new boards, and how well you are at fabricating brackets/holders/speakers. Tethers for MU/Steam-tender and antenna placement issues are the other big hurdles.
Good points, Chuck. Note that Double sided tape is the upgraders friend.
I have done a two unit diesel and a GG-1 using TAS products. Also have done two Lionel Trainmasters and a Buddy using ERR equipment. All run great. Have another Buddy kit and a Docksider kit on the bench to do when time allows. No experience with DD so can’t comment.
Out of curriosity, what type of expense can one figure in doing an upgrade to say, a PW engine, a MPC engine, or a modern engine with sound, but no command control? It does seem that I will be doing at lease some conversions on a few of my engines.
Dennis
It depends[:)] The size and cost of the boards have more to do with the current requirements to perfrom the needed function. The more current, the large the board/heat sink arrangement. A dual open frame motored PW loco will pull more current and require a larger and more expensive board than a single truck mounted can motor switcher. A modern multiple vertical can motor set like an F-3 A-B-A with four to six motors will also need a heavy duty board. Newer Lionel loco’s will probably have a socketed chassis and all you have to do is swap out the electronic E-Unit board and install the appropriate R2LC receiver. The costs will be anywhere from $30 for a simple receiver board for a Lionel chassis to $150 for a higher current universal sound system support board with receiver to $200-$250 for board plus full RailSounds Support.
All three companies (Train America Studios, Digital Dynamics, and Electric Railway have extensive web sites with their product listings and prices.
Chuck, Ya need another w on that address:
Done MPC GP9’s with little can motors in trucks. Easy to do. Done U36B with old pullmor motor. Tight fit. Done MTH PS1 SD70 and had to replace the light bulbs [did full TMCC and Railsounds, not Equalizer]. Made it a little harder. On Geeps and U36B’s, sawed out hole in fuel tank with hole saw [after removing of course], glued plastic screen wire over the hole and put speaker in there.
Anybody done one on a bigger MTH PS1 steam engine? Ive got an NKP Berk
that will pull like an ox but would like to do the upgrade (haven’t run
it in a while). I would like to ditch the QSI digital stuff as well.
TAS offered an upgrade but the QSI was part of the deal when I talked
with them on the phone; do any of the others replace the whole thing?
I did a TAS tmcc board swap in my SGL pacific with QSI3000, that way I could keep the station sounds.
Reviving this old thread as I have some questions. I want to have at least one dockside switcher from Lionel with TMCC. From what I have read, the Electric RR system was the best to go with, but they no longer offer it. Two questions come to mind. First, does anyone know of a source for this system? Secondly, can I also convert the couplers to TMCC as this set up would be ideal for this engine and its intended use.
Personally, I think that Lionel would sell a lot of these Dockside units if they had TMCC. They are great looking locomotives and the ability to work around a yard with lots of switching duties seem like an ideal place.
Thanks,
Dennis
Dennischeck out this from weaver
Dennis…I might have one of the last Docksiders with a TAS TMCC installation. One of the things I remember reading was that the way the Docksider couplers were set up, the automatics could not be installed.