As per suggestion by another member am posting this here also — I am not familiar with MTH engines whatsoever . I have all K-Line/Lionel railsounds engines . I’ve setup my whole new system – digital controllers and all for them " railsounds " . I have seen some great buys on MTH protosound engines and would like to add at least 1 or more into my system. But – here’s the question = will I be able to get the sounds and speed controls from the engines/tenders and the functions with my current setup? Or will I have to buy a whole new complete remote system and carry 2 controllers to use them – which I do not want to do ? Will I get any and what functions ?
That depends, which control system are you using? MTH’s DCS system or Lionels TMCC or Train Master Comand and Control?
Or did you mean that you just have some digital sound systems?
You will probably get the engine sounds and the speed control will work.You will get random talking whle in neutral but you wont be able to get all the dialog that the engine is capable of.I rigged up a DPDT toggle switch to change from Lionel to MTH to access these on my layout.I then can switch to MTH power on one track to get these.
Ed
MTH PS1 and loco sound are conventional control engines. All MTH engines will run “conventional” mode on any layout. PS2.0 engines will run conventional or command. To get more sounds (like passenger/freight talk) you will need to hit a series of bell/whistle combinations. To do that it is best to have a button for bell and whistle.
The DCS controller makes operation of PS2.0 engines much easier in addition to making them operate in command control.
I am not sure about cruise control in the conventional mode. However, the engines are geared so they do not take off on down hill runs.
The good news is that DCS and TMCC can run fine on the same layout.
Jim H
I forgot to mention --it’s the lionel trainmaster system . PH-1 POWER HOUSE POWER SUPPLY,PM-1 POWERMASTER BASE ,CAB-1 REMOTE CONTROLLER with the 180 watt powerhouse power supply . Gave my son my Lionel ZW 275 watter 2 years ago when I thought I was’nt going to get into train setup anymore — was just collecting engines — for some reson he won’t give it back ! ---- LOL
I would suggest that if you do get some MTH locos you should also pick-up a MTH transformer regardless of whether you buy PS1 or PS2 locos. MTH locos generally do not respond well to Lionel power supplies, sine wave issues. On the newer Lionels maybe this has been resolved, possibly somebody more experienced can chime in on this.
You’re probably right dougdagrump ! Would’nt hurt and if for some reson I don’t get a MTH engine soon I could use her to power my accessories . Good idea I’d be ready ahead of time .
I run all my trains with the new ZW and have no problems with my MTH engines (all PS2.0). All the power to the tracks (including the TMCC signal) runs through the MTH DCS unit “fixed voltage” channels with no problems.
Jim H
After checking every Lionel transformer except the $600.00 version I saw they have NO accesseries jacks ! Good lord I think I’ll just stick with lionel and K-Line engines . Plus I have never seen so many problems — dead batteries = dumb antique power system … battery power went out years ago — sound failure ! Not worth the trouble — but thanks millions guys .
The TPC 3000 works well with the MTH ProtoSounds 2.0 Locomotives. When using a PS 2.0 locomotive with a Lionel Track Power Controller in Conventional mode, it responds like TMCC unit in Command Mode.
Andrew