Legacy and conventional simultaneously same track

[Boscoed]

Hello. Juset finished the article "Old toy trains meet NEW Technology" in the May issue of CTT.  Excellent piece. However, I'm puzzled by one aspect.  Using Legacy and a PowerMaster Bridge, Ken'ts dad was able to run both a Legacy engine and a conventional engine on the same track at the same time, no mention of blocks.  This puzzled me. A legacy or TMCC requires constant voltage, but a conventional engine uses variable voltage. To have both on the same track at the same time baffles me how that can be. I'd love to do the same but couldn't figure out how. Is this it, or was this a misprint?  Thanks,

Ed

[jwse30]

Assuming Legacy operates the same as TMCC regarding track voltage, you could use a regular transformer with variable voltage or a transformer with a powermaster to set the voltage of the loop of track or block. That voltage would set the speed of the conventional train. You could then use a TMCC (or presumably Legacy?) engine and use the command control (engine ID) to set the speed on it. Of course it will only go up to the maximum speed set by whatever the voltage going to the rails are as opposed to the speed at 18 volts. I would imagine there is a low voltage limit for this to work, but most of my engines are pullmor equipped, so I haven't experienced that yet.

I've done this with a powermaster and a TMCC engine and a conventional engine. It works, but my layout is really too small for this. It's pretty stressful  trying to keep two trains running the same speed through all these tight curves

Clear as mud right?

 

J White

 

[John MS]

I have done this several times. you need to run your conventional engine at about 11 or 12 volts for the legacy sounds to work properly, they tend to cut out at lower voltages. the real problem is to choose a conventional engine that will run slow enough at 12 volts. older P/W open frame motor engines tend to fly around the track at that voltage. MTH ps1 engines run at a good speed at that voltage.

[azflyer]

We just had the "Valley of the Sun S-Gaugers" club meeting on this very subject. This was written by our news letter editor Karl H. Wuepper in "Valley Tracks" 

We all had a learning experience at our meeting this month. Marty Wik taught us the difference between TMCC, Legacy, DCC and Conventional mode. Most of us know what DCC is. But our problem was knowing the difference with Legacy and TMCC. So he explained how the two systems worked. We all thought that you could only use one or the other system. So now we know if you have a Legacy system you can also use it to run TMCC engines at the same time and you can run a Legacy engine on TMCC. But using a TMCC on a Legacy engine, you will not have all the functions available to the engine. The nice thing about this system is you can still run your American Flyer engine. But you need to use an American Flyer or Lionel ac transformer to power the system. The only problem is that you are using track voltage to control the American Flyer engine and when you run a Legacy or TMCC engine with it, it will not be running on full power. The reason for this is the Legacy and TMCC systems use constant track power(18 volts). These engines are controlled by a computer chip that controls the voltage to the motor in the engine and its other functions.

As you can see in the photos, Marty Wik is giving us a demonstration on the Legacy system. (you can see some of Marty’s train collection displayed on the walls) He showed us all the functions of the Legacy locomotive. We were all impressed with how well it ran and it’s sound system. This system brings the model railroading for S gauge into the 21st Century. If A.C. Gilbert was still alive he would be proud of this and to see how far his trains have come. He would be glad to know they are still giving years of enjoyment and fun to us all. Young and not so young (LOL). That is the whole idea!



So now we all know the differences in these systems. We can make a better choice if we decide to purchase a TMCC, Legacy, DCC or Conventional engine. Also we now know what else is needed to make them operate to full potential. Thanks Marty.

I have to say that I believe that at every meeting we have had so far there has been a great experience for all of us involved in the club. We have all learned something new at one of or all of the meetings. We have made some new great friends too. That is the whole idea of having a club.

Marty served us food and refreshments. Charlotte remembered it was St. Patrick’s Day and brought green cookies and cup cakes. Thank you Charlotte. We all ate, drank, had fun and learned something new.



Our next meeting will be at my home (Karl Wuepper) on April 21st from 10am to 1pm. For those of you who were at our first club meeting held in my home last November you will see how much more I have accomplished on my layout. No trains are running yet. But I hope to have at least one loop running before the holidays if not sooner. I hope to see you all here.

Watch your diesels soar and listen to them roar.

Karl H. Wuepper