lionel legacy

[bigdogjeff]

I am thinking of buying legacy but dont know much about it. Can i run my old trains on it and what about my mikes train house trains will they run on it. i am so confused.

[8ntruck]

You can run your conventional trains with Legacy, BUT you will need a TPC (Track Power Controller) and interconnect cables.  The TPC is addressed by the Legacy the same way as a Legacy locomotive or a TMCC locomotive and allows you to control the track voltage, like you do with a conventional transformer, using the Legacy remote.  Normal operation of a Legacy or TMCC locomotive has the track voltage running at 18 volts all of the time.  The speed control is taken care of by the electronics inside the locomotive and the TPC is not needed.

I have one MTH locomotive that is PS2 equipped.  As far as I know, I can only control it in the conventional mode through Legacy a TPC.

Just my opinion, but if I did not have any Legacy or TMCC equipped locomotives, I would not have gotten a Legacy set.  Unless you really want/need the hand held remote feature, the cost/benefit ratio is not that good unless you have, or plan to get, equipment that can use the features available in Legacy.

I'll agree.  Lionel's documentation of the TMCC and Legacy systems and what you need to run what could be improved.

Hope this helps.

[Seayakbill]

Unless you are planning on purchasing Legacy locomotives you may want to investigate both the first generation TMCC or MTH DCS before committing the dollars to an operating system. It is best to have a full understanding of what your needs are and what operating system will meet most of those needs.

[Bill54]

I have just gone through the same issue with not sure about getting A Legacy system or not.  I did some research and found the book "Command Control For Toy Trains" by Klambach and a DVD "Video Guide To DCS" from MTH.

The book goes through both Legacy/TMCC and MTH DCS systems.  Baiscally what I found is that both systems will run your conventional trains but only the DCS system will run the Legacy/TMCC trains in command mode.  Legacy/TMCC will not run MTH trains in command mode but will run them in conventional mode.

Also to control conventional engines with the Legacy system you have to buy a TPC as already spoken about.  The MTH DCS system will run conventional engines without any extra equipment needed.

Buying the book and video is a cheap investment when you think how much you will be spending in either system.  They will give you insite to both systems and help you decide if you want either or neither.

Bill

[Steamr]

Bill54 pretty much covered it other than MTH DCS can operate Lionel Legacy engines but DCS can not address any of the Legacy functions

[Dannyboy6]

Kalmbach publishes a nice book on the subject of Legacy vs DCS Features. Command Control for Toy Trains, 2nd Edition, by Carl Swanson ITEM#: 10-8395 $17.95 I asked my local library to stock it and they bought it and Classic Toy Trains Magazine, as well as some scenery books.