Lionel Legacy User's Group Report.

[MartyE]

Folks here are Lionel's in particular Jon Z's answers to the questions we submitted.  All of Jon's answers are in [color:RED]red[/color].  The Legacy User's Group would once again thank Mike and Phil from customer service for dropping by.  Jon Z for answering our questions and sharing some insight to Legacy.  Lionel and all the folks that work hard to bring us Legacy.  And most of all the Legacy User's.

The meeting was standing room only and we had a pretty good meeting.

See you in the spring!

    

The Lionel Legacy User’s Group is not associated with Lionel Trains in any way other than sharing the enjoyment and trading of information related to operating the Lionel Legacy System!

•    Welcome and introductions
•    Reminder that each individual is responsible to order and pay Paula and her hard working staff for breakfast (plus a generous tip if you were happy with the service!)

•    Asked last year but brought back up, will Lionel offer the Cab 2 remote only without a charger or base?

     [jz] A version of the Cab-2 without charger is not planned at this time.

•    Will Lionel offer a lower cost system Legacy compatible system now that TMCC1 has been retired for beginners or budget minded operators?

     [jz] We are reviewing this opportunity and may have more to share in the future for low cost remote control.

•    Will the charging circuit be improved or dropped?  And if dropped would this effect the price?
     
         [jz] we know how to improve the charging system and are planning to implement this improvement in newly minted Legacy systems; we are working on a retrofit for Consumer Services to implement.

         Mike Reagan who was on hand asks not to call CS.  When they have a retrofit and are ready they will let us know.  There is currently no retrofit available.  It is a work in progress. CS is starting to focus on the train season coming up and the additional work load that comes with that. In other words don't call they'll notify us when ready...  The previous statement is the LUG paraphrase of Mike's additional comments at the meeting.

•    When will V1.3 be available for “on the shelf” Legacy systems?
     
         [jz] on newly manufactured Legacy systems, 1.3 will be installed.  My guess is early next year.

•    Are there any plans for Lionel or 3rd party to produce a more in depth Legacy tutorial?
     
         [jz] I have not heard of any project to do a tutorial.

•    There have been reports on the OGR Forum of issues with the dog house lighting and reverse light on MU’s.  Has Lionel heard of these issues and if so any insight to a fix or how this can be corrected in the current 1.3 release?

     [jz] We listen, and log any reports of problems in our “Bugzilla” database; and when we decide to release V1.4 we will resolve the issues best we can.  Specific work arounds  for issues are best handled by CS.

          Mike added that some issues that are software related CS cannot be reproduced or fixed at their level.  Emailing a bug to CS is probably best as Mike forwards all Legacy issues to Jon Z and his team.

•    Black Module Update and internet upgrading?

     [jz] We will support black module updates and database backups sometime next year.

•    Any news on the ZW-L and it’s operation with Legacy.

     [jz] the ZW-L is legacy compatible; and will operate as a TR or ENG from the CAB-2.

•    What is the best way to setup Station Sound cars for use with Train Link?  Using the same as the engine ID, independent, or user’s choice.

     [jz] I like to set a different ENG ID and train link the car.  The correct setting is “passenger car” on the cab-2 selections.

•    There was some hinting about sensor system used with Legacy and Vision Line locos.  Any insight?  Wiring additions?

     [jz] no comments at this time; other than more locos will have the IR Track related transmission emitter.
 
•    Has the 99 (ALL) function trickled down into other Legacy engines other than the Vision Line?

     [jz] Per Jerry C’s directive, I have embarked on a mission to miniaturize the electronics in our locos.  The board will be a single board solution that is capable of running all features of a Legacy loco.  (sound board is separate).  This new electronics package will present with a new operating system that supports ENG 99.  Early 2011 these locos will enter the production cycle.

•    Will Train Link be available beyond the current 5 item limit?

     [jz] no, When I designed Train-Link operation, I envisioned just operating cars in the link, not any powered locos.  Using 5 operating cars in a train (Breakdown “B”, station sounds car, Vision cattle car, crew talk caboose, etc) is a realistic number of linked items per train.

•    Is there any down side to assigning the same ENG IDs on different engines to 2 different trains. For example 4 engines, 2 each sharing ENG ID 3 and the others sharing ID 4. Assign them to TR11 and TR12 one at a time removing them from the track while the other is programmed into a train. Now TR11 and TR12 will run independently as a train containing the same engines.

     [jz] I don’t know of any downside, but this is more user choice than anything else.

•    When will part 2 of the Lionelville series come out?  Come on Lionel don’t leave Chris and AlanH hanging!

     [jz] This is a question for Jerry.
 
•    Will Lionel offer Legacy to atlas or weaver models, and will we see in the future a upgrade for the Legacy electronics to replace our tmcc electronics?

     [jz] Legacy is not licensed, and only Jerry can decide otherwise.

•    They pulled the plug on tmcc, but is still selling tmcc to atlas and weaver models. Now that they went to Legacy, can they offer the FULL railsound chips for tmcc to atlas and weaver models?

     [jz] OEM business arrangements are confidential.  BTW, we did not pull any plug on TMCC.  We use TMCC in all of our products, especially Legacy which is a TMCC product.


If you have follow up questions, we can try to answer them based on what we know but ultimately Lionel has all the answers.  Anything we could add would only be assumption. The best source for accurate information would be Lionel.

Some other points mentioned at the meeting...
          Mike added that CS is starting to really get turn around times down.  The biggest hold up is only having 3 test loops where each repair is run for over 3 hours to verify operation and repair.  More test loops are being hopefully being added soon.

I hope others chime in.  I sometimes miss some points while being involved in the meeting.

[laz 57]

Thanks MARTY for the update.  Now I gotta get my layout set up again.

laz57

[rtraincollector]

Marty you all brought up the cab 2 without a charger I was talking to a hobby shop about a year ago and he said he had them I think for like $150 or $175 but the guy I was talking to wasn't owner so may have been wrong I'm off Tuesday and will try calling again and see if I get same answer if so will let you know.