Trains.com

Adding TMCC to williams 2-8-0

5460 views
13 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    June 2003
  • From: US
  • 429 posts
Adding TMCC to williams 2-8-0
Posted by train18393 on Sunday, December 16, 2012 2:34 AM

I am not a big O scale train user, but I do have some 0-72 Atlas three rail, a couple of switches, a Lionel E-7 AA set (TMCC) and a GP-9(TMCC) for the train that goes around the perimiter of the living room during the Christmas Season. I also have a 3 Rail Williams 2-8-2 that I am considering running on the Hardwood floor Christmas Layout. I am quite familliar with HO DCC and from what I understand the Lionel TMCC is somewhat like that. So using HO terms is there a sound decoder or a decoder and sound board that can be added to this rather nice scale Mike so it will run in the TMCC environment?

Thank You for Constructive input.

Paul

Dayton and Mad River HO empire

  • Member since
    August 2010
  • From: Henrico, VA
  • 8,955 posts
Posted by Firelock76 on Sunday, December 16, 2012 11:58 AM

TMCC on a Williams locomotive?  Gee, I don't think so.  The basic philosophy behind Williams products is to keep them as simple as possible so there's less to go wrong.  I don't think there's any kind of upgrades but of course I could be very, very wrong.  I've got a Williams 2-8-4 and I like it just as it is, but then I run conventional.  My layout's small so I don't see the need to go "high-tech" with it.

  • Member since
    June 2007
  • 106 posts
Posted by Moozuki on Sunday, December 16, 2012 12:26 PM

check out electric railroad

  • Member since
    January 2005
  • From: Lake Worth FL
  • 4,014 posts
Posted by phillyreading on Sunday, December 16, 2012 2:20 PM
To up-grade a Williams engine to TMCC is going to cost over $250.00. Reasons being; first you will need the TMCC circuit boards and engine tachometer reader kit with wiring, second you must then wire that into the Williams motors. FYI, H.O. and O gauge are two completely different animals when doing command control, H.O. has NMRA standards to go by and O gauge has NO real standards. H.O. has DCC and O gauge has command control; either Lionel's brand or MTH's brand of command control, no standards!!
Interested in southest Pennsylvania railroads; Reading & Northern, Reading Company, Reading Lines, Philadelphia & Reading.
  • Member since
    January 2005
  • From: Lake Worth FL
  • 4,014 posts
Posted by phillyreading on Sunday, December 16, 2012 2:24 PM
train18393

I am not a big O scale train user, but I do have some 0-72 Atlas three rail, a couple of switches, a Lionel E-7 AA set (TMCC) and a GP-9(TMCC) for the train that goes around the perimiter of the living room during the Christmas Season. I also have a 3 Rail Williams 2-8-2 that I am considering running on the Hardwood floor Christmas Layout. I am quite familliar with HO DCC and from what I understand the Lionel TMCC is somewhat like that. So using HO terms is there a sound decoder or a decoder and sound board that can be added to this rather nice scale Mike so it will run in the TMCC environment?

Thank You for Constructive input.

Paul

Dayton and Mad River HO empire

For a better understanding of command control systems you may want to check out the H.O. user's forum on here or on the Bachmann website under DCC FAQ's. To be honest, I wish that up-grading something to command control in O gauge was as easy as you try to describe.
Interested in southest Pennsylvania railroads; Reading & Northern, Reading Company, Reading Lines, Philadelphia & Reading.
  • Member since
    June 2007
  • 106 posts
Posted by Moozuki on Sunday, December 16, 2012 6:09 PM

What?  Everybody needs to check the link to electric railroad I posted earlier. DC commander - $65, railsounds commander - $100. Very easy to install, total upgrade to TMCC and full railsounds less than $200.

  • Member since
    April 2005
  • From: South Carolina
  • 9,713 posts
Posted by rtraincollector on Sunday, December 16, 2012 6:33 PM

phillyreading
To up-grade a Williams engine to TMCC is going to cost over $250.00.

It is no problem to convert a williams to tmcc and the cost is about $190.00 To convert to TMCC to goto MTH stuff I don't know I have converted many Williams to TMCC

Wiring tmcc into an engine is easy no soldering anymore as they have tiny set screws to put your wires into.

Oh for good prices on TMCC and Rail sounds Sound boards goto Boxcar Bills site http://www.mttponline.com/ he will also help you over the phone do it as will ERR there web site is http://www.electricrr.com/ 

The hardist part here will be adding a switch on one axle to get your chuff sound.

honestly I would call Bill and talk with him and he will tell you all you have to do

Life's hard, even harder if your stupid  John Wayne

http://rtssite.shutterfly.com/

  • Member since
    April 2005
  • From: South Carolina
  • 9,713 posts
Posted by rtraincollector on Sunday, December 16, 2012 6:37 PM

Now one more question do you have a TMCC set up if not you may want to rethink this as you have 2 choice getting TMCC ( used as they don't make the original anymore) ( and sells on ebay about $150 - $200) or buying Legacy which you can find for just under $300 if you search around.

Life's hard, even harder if your stupid  John Wayne

http://rtssite.shutterfly.com/

  • Member since
    December 2004
  • From: St. Louis, MO
  • 4,913 posts
Posted by Brutus on Sunday, December 16, 2012 8:51 PM

That's right, RT - I put TMCC in Thomas with just the DC Commander and it cost about $70 total.  If he wants sound, that will be another $100.  Well worth the upgrade Thumbs Up

RIP Chewy - best dog I ever had.

  • Member since
    January 2005
  • From: Lake Worth FL
  • 4,014 posts
Posted by phillyreading on Monday, December 17, 2012 1:31 PM
RTR, the last time I tried to buy a TMCC system close to two years ago the prices were that high. Prices may have dropped because TMCC is replaced by Legacy. NO meds here buddy boy!! 100% sober!
Interested in southest Pennsylvania railroads; Reading & Northern, Reading Company, Reading Lines, Philadelphia & Reading.
  • Member since
    April 2005
  • From: South Carolina
  • 9,713 posts
Posted by rtraincollector on Monday, December 17, 2012 4:54 PM

actually it depends what your buying and from who but the cruise commander thru boxcar bill is $105 thats the one with cruise so if your going up a hill it will keep same speed then your sound card is $85 total $190 if you go with DC commander you can save $45 so it would only be $145 But he actually offers cruise andd sound for $185 as a total package. To me prices haven't gon up any but then again depends where you buy them from my big concern here is if this guy has equipment to run tmcc if not then hes looking anywhere from $125 to $300 to get it depending on what system he gets tmcc or legacy

Life's hard, even harder if your stupid  John Wayne

http://rtssite.shutterfly.com/

  • Member since
    June 2003
  • From: US
  • 429 posts
Posted by train18393 on Tuesday, December 18, 2012 5:42 AM

Yes I already have a TMCC ,with a CAB-1 and a SC-2 for the switches.I do understand the differences between HO DCC and TMCC. I even have a Storage Oscope that I am able to look at the waveforms on the rails of the HO DCC and analyze them. I was in on the ground floor of developing the DCC standards with the NMRA, what I do not have is any expertise in TMCC and O scale railroads. I know when to ask for help when I need it. I am sorry if I was not clear enough in my original post. Any constructive criticism is appreciated. I did send an E-Mail to asking one of the businesses(links) mentioned for more details. Thank you very much for those links.

Paul

  • Member since
    April 2005
  • From: South Carolina
  • 9,713 posts
Posted by rtraincollector on Tuesday, December 18, 2012 6:06 AM

glad we were able to get you help even with a little jabbing between us. The best move probably was send for info

Life's hard, even harder if your stupid  John Wayne

http://rtssite.shutterfly.com/

  • Member since
    November 2010
  • 993 posts
Posted by gunrunnerjohn on Wednesday, December 26, 2012 12:32 PM

I've upgraded many locomotives and small operating vehicles to TMCC, most of the time I've used the ERR stuff.  I've also used the now out of business TAS and Digital Dynamics kits.

For a complete TMCC upgrade with RailSounds and cruise, you can obtain the kits from Modern Toy Train Parts (Boxcar BIll) for $185.  The installation is very easy, and there are no optical tapes or motor tach encoders for ERR cruise.

Join our Community!

Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account.

Search the Community

FREE EMAIL NEWSLETTER

Get the Classic Toy Trains newsletter delivered to your inbox twice a month