by Clyde Coil and D. RailerJuly 29, 2006
Folks, we've put this together for yer enjoyment and information. We hope it helps! D Railer answers most of yer questions but I had to put in my 2 cents worth every once in a while...Yer Dang Tootin!....Clyde
The cute screen display on the new TMCC II only displays names, at present, of two of Lionel's engines. So scrolling is going to be very fast on the TMCC II. The rest of the engines are out of luck. No display names for those, just numbers. Let hope my pre-Alzheimer's condition improves.
The display screen will show any name of any engine, train or accessory ever made by LIONEL or any other train company that allows control of their products with TMCC.
Engines can be named by pressing the name button and following the easy method provided. New engines come with a memory module to accomplish this automatically.
Any engine can be addressed using its road number, which is easily recognized on the side of the cab near the engineer.
Units can also be addressed by using a standard TMCC address.
Let's all hope your pre-Alzheimer's condition improves. It is not as funny as you may imagine.
Having my handheld "rumble" is just plain stupid.
The "FEEDBACK" feature is fun for kids and young at heart adults. It is a novelty feature that can be easily turned on or off at any time directly with its own dedicated easy to read button. Novelty features are an important part of the hobby.. Trains are not just for serious adults.
DCS has several novelty features that we would never use at CCA's layout, if we could get DCS to work without rewiring the whole layout, which we can't.....
Lionel takes it a step further in confusion with buttons that have changing display labels.
Touch-screens that change automatically to the controls that you need in real-time are a reflection of modern technology, possibly that is confusing to one unfamiliar with the technology, but once you experience it, which I think the person making these statement has never done, it is easy to see the advantages presented.
Nowhere does it say that TMCC II will control my Proto-2 engines. Okay!, so Lionel wants us to toss those Proto-2s out! My DCS handheld will control the Proto-2s and the Lionel CC engines.
DANG! What an attitude! Please keep yer proto 2 engines if you like them! According to our sources inside LIONEL, LIONEL TMCC2 LEGACY was able to control DCS trains as early as 2003. MTH does not allow any other system to control yerMTH trains. LIONEL was ready to open up yer hobby.
Due to the MTH position, LIONEL technology does not allow DCS to control LEGACY with 200 speed steps, just the same 32 that DCS already has. Perhaps MTH should rethink its attitude towards openness for the good of yer hobby in general, and to grow yer hobby in particular. Chew on that Hoss!
After 15 years I expected a little more compatibility from Lionel the leader.
I don't know how anything in the LIONEL LEGACY system could be more compatible. It is backwards compatible, and a solid footing for the future Openness and system compatibility are important in the Three Rail World.
What I am complaining about is the gall to call a handheld a next generation system. That is misleading, and if folks have no issue in being sold a bill of malarkey, then by all means, run to your hobby store and prepay your $300. Can you say, false advertising? I can.
DANGEROO! I'll let D. Railer answer that one Hoss. Yer over the top! That said, I kind of like you....Clyde.
LEGACY is a complete new system, built from the ground up with an expanded command set that is 5 times more powerful than TMCC1. Besides a myriad of new features in the controller, from Enhanced Speed Control, to Naming and many new features in between, the engines have LEGACY Onboard speed control (far superior with twice the resolution of any other system for smoother starts and stops), a better smoke unit, more speed steps, a train brake with new dynamic laboring sounds, a horn/whistle that can be played with a signature in real time by the operator, a new concept for superior independent engine braking and boosting, train-link capability for addressing each car in an equipped train, new sound commands, new dedicated speed commands that model real railroad standards, collision avoidance capability, to name a few. MTH will have to totally redesign its own controller to even approach the depth of these new features.
The really sad part of Lionel's new message, use Lionel or stick to conventional because your Proto-2 engines have no place in Lionel's brave new world.
DANG! Baloney. Here is a statement that ignores yer facts completely. LIONEL is avoiding a lawsuit from your hero. That is why Proto 2 will not be controlled with yer LEGACY controller. DCS can control LEGACY in the same way it did yer TMCC, with no improvements. That's the way MTH wants it. That's why you are so happy now. You are right where you want to be!....Clyde
Of course my assessment could be way off but I'm going by Lionel's own TMCC 2 description and I'm sure they didn't "forget" to mention any awesome features that we don't know about yet...
Your assessment is way off my friend. There are simply too many new features to explain in the opening description of TMCC LEGACY. Advanced speed control with dedicated speeds based on railroad standards is just one example that is not in the catalog. This feature is the foundation for collision avoidance and accessories that control trains automatically. The catalog is just a basic introduction, not a manual. We hope you take the time to learn more and keep your mind open.
Can cruise control be added to a TMCCI engine when it is upgraded to TMCCII?
Yes. That would require a full upgrade of everything except sounds. That upgrade would include a new motor controller.
I'd like to know how odometer readings are taken?
Speed can be monitored by the speed graph, in speed steps (100 or 200 increments) or with dedicated railroad standard commands which truly model railroad standard speeds. The resolution is 2 times that of DCS scale mph for smoother running at any speed.
If Lionel scores an ace with its new system, I can imagine that the system will simulate operating a real train as close as possible; potentially by allowing the operator to control velocity and acceleration/deceleration all the while the speed control system acts as a backup, AND NOT the regulator. Coupled with the Railsounds awesome sound effects, this could be very neat.
Yer RIGHT!....DANG!.....Very Perceptive Hoss!....Clyde
It was rumored that TMCC2 would improve signal strength to the layout. Was there any mention of this at the presentation?
There was no mention of it, although it has been done, both in the engine and in the signal, as well as the types of commands. (absolute)
I'd like to know how TMCC II will control conventional locos. Will PowerMasters/TPC's still be needed as with TMCC, or will the base/charger suffice? Will some of the enhancements like variable whistle, brake/boost, velocity throttle work in conventional mode, or are they for TMCC II equipped only?
PowerMasters and or TPCs will still be in use. The TPC is far superior to MTH DCS conventional control because of the high resolution designed into it (TPC). Velocity throttle, and Boost- brake enhancements will be available in conventional control. No horn enhancements in conventional.
For the multitude of us that already have DCS, TMCCII is very little value added.
I think all of us who are PRO DCS are saying is that why should we spend the money for Legacy, when our proto 2.0 hand held will practically do the same thing (edited), Why should I spend $300 when I already spent $250 and it already does what I need?
If you've got what you need I think you should stay with it.I would rather have TMCC2 for this reason. True to Life!. It is more prototypical in operation!
Only TMCC2 offers a "real time" horn that allows you to create your own signature just like the engineers that ran a steamer at the LCCA! You can play your own signature with LEGACY Locomotives! Just pull down on the returning slider that models a real train's whistle control!
Only TMCC2 offers a realistic Train Brake. The Train Brake trims your overall speed capability and introduces gradual laboring at the same time! The graph shows how much train brake you have applied. The Train Brake is a unique winner. The Train Brake and "Real-Time" Horn require unique hardware interfaces that the operator uses on the CAB2. These are not just buttons. They feel more like a real train's controls. Nothing else comes close.
Only TMCC2 offers RPMS that don't change at any given speed, it depends on the Train Braking load!
Only TMCC2 offers dedicated railroad standard speeds. All 5 of the official speeds that American Railroads use are included as commands. These official speeds, necessary for all kinds of new control features, are built into the Legacy System and can be utilized on any TMCC loc made by LIONEL since the beginning of TMCC.
LIONEL LEGACY trains, starting with the BIG BOY, will provide the most " True to Life" and prototypically accurate operating experience in The Three Rail World.
Does anybody know if the new TMCC II has been developed to be 50Hz compatible? DCS has its 50Hz mode so have Lionel taken this onboard for TMCC II for users in Europe and the other areas of the world that have 50Hz mains power? Inquiring minds would like to know.
Good question. We'll answer that one later.
I think everybody is missing the best part that is mentioned at the bottom (of the catalog page). The future expansion includes a layout monitoring screen. Now that is cool.
There are many things to monitor and control or view on a railroad. LEGACY is a foundation for the future.
I told Lou K. that I'd like to turn the red marker light on my engines off like DCC. Can it do that??? Otherwise I might just go DCC.
New engines will introduce features. The system is capable of delivering them. .Check out the engines!
I still prefer TMCC, to DCS, because it is easily used in any loco. I look forward to having four digit access. I have quite a few locos. This alone is worth the investment. I think it will require a replacement receiver board for each loco, to work with the new four digit access. :-)
GOOD NEWS FOR YOU! You will NOT need a new receiver board for any of yer locos to have this feature. 4 digit addressing is available with yer remote and base and works with any of yer TMCC locs from any manufacturer. DANG! That felt good!...Clyde
We hope this helps you to understand this incredible step forward in operating trains being offered by LIONEL, giving you a chance to make an educated decision. Nothing can compare to actually operating the LIONEL LEGACY System with CAB2 for yourself. After all, it was designed with you, the operator, in mind. D. Railer
The No. 1 question has to be is TMCC II 50Hz compatiable? So us folks with 50Hz mains
power can use it.
Regards
Nick
The remote looks really nice! Over 200 speed control variations.
www.lionel.com
Lionel 2006 Train Catalog Volume 2 2006 pages 164-167
Thanks Marty for posting that !! I can't wait to find out more !! I may be able to get it at the next income tax return time !! Looks like a lot of info at that site, & I did read a little & plan to go back & read the rest of it !
Thanks, John
Trying to update my avatar since 2020
MartyE and Kodi the Husky Dog! ( 3/31/90-9/28/04 ) www.MartyE.com My O Gauge Web Page and Home of Kodiak Junction!
Marty : wonder if I missed something. Is it out already or are we getting real close to seeing it? Thanks, I haven't been keeping up with any info on it lately . I do have the old TMCC & 2 powermasters.
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