well i was wondering what everyones favorite lionel set is...reason i ask is i want to start with something ( since my stuff is down ) but there are so many options....and i have a hard time making up my mind...and since i am new i thought id ask what sets you like and have had the best luck with?
just thought id see whats been tried and tested...and i do want something i can grow with...thanks
Zeke,
The first thing you have to do is decide what you ultimately want to end up with, a conventinal layout or TMCC (I'm familiar with Lionel). Lionel has conventional sets that start with basic transformer controlled 4-4-0 engine with bell and whistle only on up to full blown TMCC sets. Likewise steam vs. diesel and the costs to match. There have been sets that came with a ZW, I don't recall if there are any current ones in the catalogue though the Big Boy, if it ever shows up, will include the TMCC2 hardware.
Your best bet is to visit your local hobby shop and take a look.
It all started with the Polar Express for me. I love animated movies and this is one of my favorites! I told my wife to buy me the set for my birthday. It's a long story but, she new someones wife in Georgia and they sent her a set in early October of the year it came out!!!! I had to be one of the first to get this set!!!!!!! It was not released until late October.
Anyway, this set is impressive. Lot's of people talk about this set, and there are many add-on cars for it. (handcar too). I cant stop buying trains now.
I like the new UPS steam set. Looks like it has good 'play' value. Many, many UPS add-on cars are out there. If you have kids, the Lincoln Logs set looks like loads of fun with lots of add-ons! OR.....
For $2,699.00 You could get the C&O Empire Builder Set W/Legacy TMCC.
mt lhs doesnt sell o gauge just ho, but can order. but i like the touchy feel part of buying. I was actually thinking of the polar express set....my gf really likes the new harry potter set but its not the way i was leaning towards with my design...
i do get confused on differant things and havent seen a idiots guide to what they mean...like dcc
and tmmc or what ever it is...
and how id operate more then 1 train in my layout...would they both need seperate transfomers/controllers? items like this i tried to ask my lhs but they are reall into rc stuff and not trains to much...
Zeke : check this site out for TMCC ! ! http://www.coilcouplers.com/tmc/tmc.html
You can run 99 engines on one track !! Though not likely but it will let you use 1 handheld remote to operate a smany engines or trains as you like on 1 track or several tracks. This is a good start & I think MTH also has some sites like that for their DCS !!
Thanks, John
This may help with some ifo on DCS !! http://www.protosound2.com/
Also check out these sites for TMCC and DCS
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trainmaster_Command_Control
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_Command_System
As an alternative you can go with a conventional (voltage controlled) engine set. Then if you want multiple trains on one loop you have to add blocks. See the newbie FAQ for more on adding blocks and running multiple trains.
Jim H
As far as TMCC or DCS verses conventional control.... Conventional control is MUCH cheaper (about $100 or more less per engine) but is often combined with great sounds. A conventional control sound alternative is a trainsounds tender or box car (about $100 per car but you only need one car for all of your steam engines and one for your diesel engines).
Life's hard, even harder if your stupid John Wayne
http://rtssite.shutterfly.com/
rtraincollector wrote:Also remember for about what it cost you to go out and buy a engine and a transformer you usualy can just about buy a whole set so sets are the right way to start. You can buy some decent comand control ready sets for about $100.00 more than what a regular set would cost you and if you ever decieded to go command you would at least have the engine to do it and you can always run the engine in transformer control mode till your ready to move to that area. Thats what I'm looking at as my next train purchase is an B&O comand ready set.
well heres a stupid question, whats command control?
zeke wrote: rtraincollector wrote:Also remember for about what it cost you to go out and buy a engine and a transformer you usualy can just about buy a whole set so sets are the right way to start. You can buy some decent comand control ready sets for about $100.00 more than what a regular set would cost you and if you ever decieded to go command you would at least have the engine to do it and you can always run the engine in transformer control mode till your ready to move to that area. Thats what I'm looking at as my next train purchase is an B&O comand ready set. well heres a stupid question, whats command control?
Command control is very much like a network(track)and computers(locomtives) where each command equiped loco is assinged an"address" that allows for idependant controll of more than one loco even if they are on the same track. In HO the system is DCC(digital comand control) and is more of a standard with several manufactures offering compatible equipment. By the way 2 rail O gaugers and some S gaugers use DCC as well. In O gauge there are TMCC(Train Master command control by lionel) and DCS(Digital command system by MTH) DCS will run most TMCC functions but TMCC will not run DCS, Lionel and MTH will not work together to establish a common standard because they are to greedy to open up the code to thier controll systems.
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