Premier MTH Engine on Lionel TMCC fastrack

[Train Memories]

  Can somebody here in the forum tell me if a MTH premier engine with proto 2.0 work on a Lionel fastrack layout with TMCC? I'm using 2 180 watt power bricks and a TPC 400 dist. piece for power. If not, what do I need to do and what do I need to buy? I'm a Lionel guy, but there is a MTH C&O 4-8-4 Greenbrier I really would like to buy.     Reuben

[Anonymous]

I have a MTH Railking EMD SD45 I run on my Lionel fastrack with a CW80 transformer, but the SD45 locomotive will not run without a lighted caboose on the track. The hobby shop guy told me the CW80 transformers trickle some voltage even when in the off position, and the lighted caboose compensates for this. With the lighted caboose on the track my SD45 runs with no problems, but will not without it.

Hope this helps.

Wayray

[laz 57]

Yes you can but only in conventional mode.  To get all the effects of PS2 you need the DCS system which is the controller and TIU.  I run them with both conventional and DCS with no problems.

laz57

 

[chuck]

TPC will allow you to access all of the features of a PS-2 loco that are accessible from conventional mode (which is a lot of them) by hitting "macro keys" on the CAB-1.  The specific key presses are outlined in the back of the TPC instruction manual.  What you can't do is run the engine in command (aka constant track voltage) mode without a DCS TIU and DCS remote.

[laz 57]

You can use your Cab1 in conventional mode, with your new ZW but only on tracks 1 and 4 the other two tracks 2 and 3 are at the fixed 18 volts of power.

laz57

[phillyreading]

Like Laz57 mentions you must have a DCS TIU and handheld remote from MTH to get all the features from an MTH engine!   Lionel's TMCC may get you a few features but will not operate everything that PS-2 sound system is capable of, you must have DCS to get all the features from PS-2, the electronics are differant in TMCC and DCS, in plain english the two systems are not compatable with each other.

You will need to add a DCS unit with handheld remote to the TMCC to get all the features of both systems. 

Another way to do this is to run a track with TMCC and one track with DCS if you are sure that you can mix both control systems.

Lee F.

[Train Memories]

Thank you all. I now know where I stand. This really helps. 

[chuck]

You can use your Cab1 in conventional mode, with your new ZW but only on tracks 1 and 4 the other two tracks 2 and 3 are at the fixed 18 volts of power.

You can reprogram the ZW to allow variable voltage on all four outputs.