Hi…Can anyone tell me how to connect MTH engines to work with my Lionel Command Control? I see in the 5/1999 CTT there is an article on ‘how to’…but that was nine years ago. Is there any other way now?
JimMoose…Here is a good place to start. http://cs.trains.com/forums/1252760/ShowPost.aspx
You can use the search function on the forum to find many more discussions about TMCC and DCS. It gets a little crazy sometimes on what product runs which way using what system. I’m glad I only have one system to screw up.
First off [#welcome] aboard.
You do not specify if you have PS1 or 2 but either way if you wish to run MTH with TMCC, not Leagcy, is to acquire a Lionel TPC. It will work in conjunction with your command base to allow operation of Proto 1 or 2 in a conventional mode. The benefit of adding a TPC to your system would be the ability to operate any other non-TMCC engines you might currently have.
Go to the Lionel web site and click on the “custmer service” link then do a search of “owner’s manuals” for a TPC, preferrably the TPC 400. It is the newest version and performs better than the earlier models. There are instructions for operations of the MTH locos in both PS1 & 2, as well as using it for conventional operations. Give it a read, it should give you some insight as to whether you want to go this route or not.
We use the TPC’s on the club layout a bunch, especially when the kid’s club is running.
Thnaks so much for the quick reply. After reading through the link you sent, I am not sure what to do. Sounds complicated to have both systems. Will have to give this some thought.
This depends on what you want to do. You can run both systems seperately on the same track at the same time. This is often the best/easiest way to handle command loco’s in command mode.
You can access some of the features of MTH loco’s in conventional mode via TMCC or Legacy by way of the Lionel TPC’s. You can control TMCC locomotives in conventional mode under DCS via the conventional channels on the TIU. You can access most TMCC command mode through DCS with special cables and the command base (version 4.x does a much better job than 3). You probably will not be able to do this with Legacy (Lionel has not published the codes for Legacy the way they did for TMCC).
Thanks for the info…not sure what I will end up doing. Thought this would be easy…!
Jim, Can you give us a little bit more info on the layout, locos, current power, etc ? How do you prefer to operate, switching/mainline running/multiple trains. Depending on your preferences it can be as complex or as simple as you want to match your needs.