My understanding was that you can run it on any layout, using available track power. But.... you will still need the supplied remote control to operate it. I believe that the power supply with the new Thomas set simply supplies a fixed voltage to the track, with no control signals of any kind being passed through the rails. Lee's observations would seem to confirm this thinking. Perhaps Lee might confirm my thoughts on the power supply though?
Yes, you are absolutely correct, N.Q.D.Y! The power suppy that comes with remote Thomas is a small (smaller than a pack of ciagarettes) box that plugs into the wall. No buttons or knobs, just a cord with plug that attaches to the special fasttrack straight section. It puts out a steady 18 volts.
Thomas works fine on power from a conventional transformer as long as the voltage is set to something like the 18 he's used to.
As to the sound, it is pretty poor by standards of Legacy locos, etc. - even in comparison with Railsounds or the sound in low end Railking locos of five yeara ago. I wonder how much of that is the speaker, though. The thing must have a minute speaker in it (its under the cool load and there is not much room there) and the sound exits through slots cut into the sides of the coal trunk.
