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Lionel controller and locomotive compatibility

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CBT
  • Member since
    February 2015
  • 191 posts
Lionel controller and locomotive compatibility
Posted by CBT on Thursday, March 31, 2016 8:51 PM

I have the cw-80 80 watt transformer and wondered what lik el and mth locomotives are compatible with it? I know Lionel has different catagories of locos, but what are compatible with my controller?

       Thank,

          Chris

(also I've never posted Lionel question before so I hope I'm in the right place!)

  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, March 31, 2016 8:59 PM

The Classic Toy Trains forum would be a better place to ask, but the MTH DCS manual does not list the transformer you describe (the copy I have is 4 years old or so).

CBT
  • Member since
    February 2015
  • 191 posts
Posted by CBT on Thursday, March 31, 2016 9:03 PM

BMMECNYC

The Classic Toy Trains forum would be a better place to ask, but the MTH DCS manual does not list the transformer you describe (the copy I have is 4 years old or so).

 

sorry, I guess I wasn't specific enough. I have a Lionel controller and want to know what type of Lionel trains I can run in it   (their different categories). And also if I can run mth trains with that Lionel controller. 

     Hope it helps,

             Chris

  • Member since
    June 2003
  • From: Culpeper, Va
  • 8,204 posts
Posted by IRONROOSTER on Friday, April 1, 2016 2:26 AM

The CW80 transformer puts out straight AC power.  Any locomotive that runs on straight AC power will work with it.  Some Lionel and MTH locomotives have a command control decoder.  At least some of these do work with straight AC in a non command mode.  The Classic Toy Train forum will be able to help you more.

Good luck

Paul

If you're having fun, you're doing it the right way.
CBT
  • Member since
    February 2015
  • 191 posts
Posted by CBT on Friday, April 1, 2016 7:20 AM

IRONROOSTER

The CW80 transformer puts out straight AC power.  Any locomotive that runs on straight AC power will work with it.  Some Lionel and MTH locomotives have a command control decoder.  At least some of these do work with straight AC in a non command mode.  The Classic Toy Train forum will be able to help you more.

Good luck

Paul

 

thank you very much and I think that is all the info I need. I am going to check my local hobby shop this weekend in Plymouth, MI and check for  bit lower prices than online. 

       Thanks,

            Chris

  • Member since
    February 2002
  • From: Mpls/St.Paul
  • 13,892 posts
Posted by wjstix on Friday, April 1, 2016 8:52 AM

Hi Chris, generally folks on the MR databases are running two-rail trains, which either use DC power or DCC command control. Three-rail trains normally run on AC power, or on some systems similar to command control like those offered by MTH and Lionel. The two-rail and three-rail systems aren't really interchangeable, so as has been noted, folks over at the Toy Train Forum would have a lot more experience for questions like yours.


http://cs.trains.com/ctt/f/95.aspx

 

 

Stix

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