Help please, I'm at the end of my rope

John,

Relax, its only toy trains. 

First a North Cost Engineering DCC system, I believe, cannot operate a legacy engine as a lash up. The Legacy system is a totally different command system.

You may be able to lock them in foward conventionally or lock the speeds out in conventional mode then run them back to back. But I would at least purchase a TMCC command system to run these properly. Plus I believe you would have to run these in AC as well. Not sure if the NCE system runs in a AC environment.

You cannot use a dcc system to run Lionel legacy engines. You need a Lionel legacy system. Not compatible. 

I might add that either a Lionel Legacy System or a Lionel TMCC will control Legacy engines.  The older TMCC system does not give you all the Legacy features, however.  Both the TMCC system and the Legacy system will allow you to consist Legacy engines.  

Unfortunately, the older TMCC system has been out of production for over a year and is only available on the secondary market.  Sometimes you can buy one from a forum member or find a store that has one.

The new Legacy System is generally unavailable also.  Lionel had trouble with the parts supplier and the new system has not arrived from China.  I am waiting to purchase a Legacy system.  The Legacy systems that are available on eBay, etc., are over priced in my opinion.

The NMRA standard DCC systems will not run Lionel locomotives.  DCC will run MTH PS-3 locomotives.  It will not run earlier MTH PS-2 and PS-1 locomotives. Most DCC systems are run on 2-rail layouts.  

The command control systems in O gauge 3-rail are confusing because Lionel and MTH have their own systems.  Lionel's most recent system is called Legacy and MTH's new system is called PS-3.  (PS stands for Proto-Sound 3)   You can run both system together on the same layout but you will need both systems to do this.  There are many posts on this forum about the systems.

I hope this helps.   Joe

American Flyer SD70's and ES44's are DCC compatible.

The SD70's can be DCC consisted back to back.  I haven't played with consisting for a while, but here's what I got from Jon Z a while back:

"To work around the problem,  you have to build the consist, then set CV19 value + 128 (sets REV bit).  Then program CV50.   CV50 writes modify the system behavior, so setting CV50 *after* setting the consist up is needed."

As I recall, set CV19 on the reversed unit only.  Not needed for "elephant style" running.

CV 50 does some magic with the lights and horn.  Set to 1 for the lead unit, (front headlights on in forward, rear always off) 2 for a middle unit (shuts off all lights and horn) 3 for trailing unit (rear headlights on only during reverse, front headlights always off, horn always off.

Rusty

My bad, I thought he was talking about the O gauge models. The S gauge models are compatible with dcc. 

Take up Jon's offer and send a email, he will get it right for you. 

John,

I received your email, however note Rusty has the correct sequence.  Give his directions a try and I will also setup one of the SD70's here with an NCE Pro Cab and confirm the steps.

As I recall, CV19 is the Consist Address +128.

I haven't done it in a while so I'm a bit *ahem* rusty on it.  I do know it took me a couple of tries fumbling around (due to my fingers trying to outsmart my brain) to get it right the first few times.

Rusty

Hi John,

Now that you've got them running, how about a picture of those two "beauties?"

Mike

That is a nice looking unit!  Hmmm, it sure would look good at the front end of all those Canadian cylindrical hoppers I got!

Mike

The manual that came with my AF SD70 has pages 24-27 devoted to DCC operations.  This material includes setting the consist reverse (CV#29, Bit 0) that Jon so thoughtfully designed in.  Here is a link to the manual:

http://www.lionel.com/media/se...748171250SD70ACe.pdf 

Perhaps another sentence or two in the next generation of diesel manuals would help clarify these details.

Go for it with confidence, John Albee.  My NYC/NS lashup works fine!  It can be done.

Cheers....Ed L.

Ok, here's the pic as requested.  IPhone 5 doesn't take the best pic.

Now the only thing I've screwed up is the horn on 8348, it will operate in "program" mode but not "run" mode.  I'll figure it out.

Thanks for the photo John!  They make a great looking pair.

Mike