thomas will run in conventional mode i seen a video on youtube about it, the engine can be put on "dads" layout as they stated, and ran.
NO!!!! Mine does not do this! I tried just now with a CW-80. When I power it up and track voltage exceeds about 5 volts, Thomas starts chuffing "at idle." He continues to do that no matter what - if I raise voltage to 18, or if I hit the direction button, or back the throttle to zero and back up, etc. It does not matter. Also, he does not respond to the CW-80's bell, whistle buttons - they don't work.
But when I set the conventional transformer near open throttle, to about 16 volts, and turn on and use his remote, he's happy as ever and runs fine.
I looked through the manual, too (finally opened it) - no mention of conventional. No "Run - Prog" switch or anything I can find.
Maybe a prototype in the video worked in conventional, maybe some other model does, too, but this one definitely does not. I wonder if maybe the Thomas in the video was running with a Legacy controller in that video on dad's layout, rather than on conventional? It would not surprise me if that would do it (if you know what # they give Thomas - I bet it's 1.)
