I got the Legacy for Christmas and I do not have any Legacy Locomotives and No TMCC locomotives and I was wondering if I need to have a Legacy/TMCC Locomotive to use the Legacy system or can I use the normal Locomotives off of the system as well without having to buy a Legacy locomotive? my next question is if I can run regular Locomotives would I have to buy anything extra to run the regular Locomotives off of the Legacy system?
The Legacy Command base and CAB-2 will allow you to control any TMCC or Legacy locomotive. If you want to control conventional locomotives you need either a modern era ZW or a TPC. The Lionel PowerMasters will not work with Legacy without use of a bridge box.
Ok thanks for the Help!!!,But what about using the Power Master Bridge Lionel just came out with and the power Adapter cable and the transformer that came with my train set which is the CW-80 80 watt Transformer
I think that you would still need a Powermaster to use the Powermaster Bridge/CW80 combination. The powermaster bridge appears to be a ‘translator’ to let the newer Legacy system talk to the older TMCC system that the Powermaster was developed for.
I’m running my conventional equipment through a 180 watt ‘brick’ power supply and a TPC400. Works well on postwar locos with e-units, modern locos with electronic reversing units, and a Williams BL2 that I just got.
I did have some strange things happening when I tried to use a CW80 as a power supply for the TPC400. All of those problems went away when I used the ‘brick’ powersupply. I ended up borrowing an oscillascope from work to do some troubleshooting. Turns out that the CW80 was making a ‘dirty’ AC power signal that confuset the TPC400.
I’ve heard that all CW80’s are not equal - some work better than others.
You will need a power supply, a TPC300 or TPC400, an adaptor (communication) cable to connect the Legacy base unit to the input of the TPC to use the Legacy on your conventional equipment. I don’t remember the Lionel number for the communication cable, but it has a 9 pin computer type connector on one end and a red and green wire on the other end. If you use your CW80 for a power supply, you will not need the power adaptor cable. You can use regular wire to connect between the TPC and the CW80. If you use a ‘brick’ type power supply, you will need the power adaptor cable to match the connector.
Sorry. I’ve rambled here. I ran into a little furstration making my system work and I hope I can help prevent somebody else from seeing the same problems. Hope I have not confused you. If so, ask questions. There is lots of good help available on this forum.
Almost forgot. For those Buckeye fans out ther
Ok thanks for the information!!!,Would it be the TMCC TPC cable set you are talking about?
The cable you will need to go from your Legacy base to a TPC300 or a TPC400 is the Command Base Cable, Lionel #6-14191.
Ok thanks for the information!!!