I have two conventional locomotives: a standard beginner Lionel 4-4-2 (the first locomotive I ever got), and a small single-truck switcher. They are both convetional, but it would be nice to run them in TMCC. Is there any way I can convert them, and if so, how do I go about this? Any help you could give would be most appreciated.
Thank you,
Daniel
Both http://www.tastudios.com/ and http://www.digitdynam.com/ have electronics to do this. I have some Digital Dynamics (latter link) boards which I haven’t installed yet but was told they would fit inside my NW2. Installation in the early stemers would have to be in the tender. These folks are extremely knowledgable and could tell you if their stuff would work in your particular engine.
Pete
Dear SPFan,
Thank you very much for the links. It is most appreciated.
Sincerely,
Daniel
I’ve done two using TAS systems. Both went without a hitch, their directions are clear and if you have a problem they are more than willing to answer your questions either over the phone or e-mail.
Instead of upgrading the loco’s what about utilizing a TPC ?
But I think it really depends on your current layout and your future plans.
Dear Roger Bielen and dougdagrump,
Thank you for your input, but what is a TPC?
Sincerely,
Daniel
Stands for Track Power Controller. Made by Lionel. There’s a TPC 300 and 400. Buy the 400. It can do a whole lot. With the CAB 1 you can switch your entire layout from command control to conventional and back again. You can turn off the power to the layout at a push of a button(s). See the lionel online catalog.
The 300 and 400 also are the watt ratings of the units, I use a TPC 400 with two 180 watt Power Houses. The breaker on the TPC400 is 20 amp while the breakers on the PH’s are 15 amp, whenever I have a derailment the breakers on the PH’s trip. I haven’t had any electronics problems due to derailments. [:)]
Dear Roger Bielen and Amtrak Jack,
Thank you for clearing up that matter. Once I have my layout running (which should take…oh, somewhere around a century) I will be sure to convert my locomotives.
Most sincerely,
Daniel