I read that in Neil’s book, “Command Control for toy trains.” If this is true, the guy that sold me the entire set up four years ago made a buck because he sold me a command base AND a ZW.
Thanks for welcoming me back Elliot!
Amtrak Jack, your post piqued my interest. I pulled out a recent Lionel catalog and read the description for the ZW. It might duplicate certain TMCC command base functions, but I’m not sure it would completely eliminate the need for the command base.
I alway have wondered why Lionel couldn’t put the TMCC Command Base functions inside the ZW since the actual power blocks are seperate. It will be interesting to see the response from others on this subject.
The new ZW can be used in a command environment and does inlcude the equivalent of four “improved” PowerMasters internally but to use it in command mode you still need a CAB-1 and a Command Base. The only device that can respond directly to the CAB-1 besides the Caommand Base are the original Lionel Powemasters. These predate the release of the full command system and include a radio receiver that can “hear” the CAB-1.
I also think that you do need a command base.
On the other hand if ‘They’ were willing, I think it could easily be incorporated into the ‘New’ ZW.
If you ever opened up a command base you’d see that the board is 2 3/4" x 4" x 1" with a loop ant.
The only Q would be if it plays well with other elecs. inside the case.
No, thank you Elliot! It was mostly ME! Well, on page 30 of Neil’s book, “Command Control for Toy Trains” Neil writes and I quote:
“While the new ZW looks like its postwar counterparts on the outside, inside it has components that TAKE THE PLACE OF THE COMMAND BASE AND THE POWERMASTER.” End quote
Very wrong, huh?
That sounds oddly like the description for the ill-fated Yard Boss of a few years ago.
Not only did the Yard Boss have a built-in command base, it also had two built in CAB-1s with digital read-outs, all contained within a ZW-like case.
I was very enthusiastic about the Yard Boss. Too bad that it looks like it’s never going to make it to the market.
I think the statement is “half-wrong”, at least based on my modern ZW. Powermasters are included for all four outputs so you can vary voltage to the track and run in conventional mode with a CAB-1. That’s what I did this evening. I have a separate Command base, which is needed to send signals to TMCC locomotives. With a TMCC loco in Command mode on the track, the Command base senses it and allows full voltage to the track at whatever the handle is set for (in my case 14-15V).
Thanks guys! I am glad I did not over-buy! But mostly it restores my faith in my dealer that he did not sell me more than was needed.
I believe a big reason Lionel did not include the command base electronics into the New ZW is because it would hinder (actually disable some) conventional operation.
Of course, way back when they did the PWC New ZW 1, the design could have been different, but thats more than a couple years now.
If a command base was inside the thing, conventional operators would never get any output on 2 of the channels (2 behave as defined above, but the other 2 you have to “crank up” to where you want them with a CAB-1). Also, it would be something extra inside that conventional operators would not want to pay for, since they would never use it.
IMHO, Lionel did this right.
Hi Dave,
Yes Lionel did do it correctly. My only concern is that I had a $50+ command base and a new ZW ($250+) and thought I didn’t need the command base because of what Neil wrote in his book. He needs to change that statement for future editions.
Jack:
Where’d you find a new ZW for $250?? The last time I looked, they were about $335 at Trainworld.
I’ve considered gettign either a new ZW or a four TPC 300’s for my new layout. I know that the ZW is cheaper, but the TPCs have some features that I thought gave them an advantage.
But if a new ZW can be found for $250, well, the cost savings may just throw that argument out the window.
Tony