Hi SantaFeFan,
First I’ll address the single motor drive as it applies to me. Since there are a plethora of engines left out there to make in plastic in the 4 axle vein, single motors would be acceptable if they don’t run like slot cars. But of course if they are offered as non powered units I’d sure like that. Then I would repower them to my liking without all the electronics associated with Lionel. Don’t get me wrong, I like TMCC the first time I saw it but that was 15 yrs ago. I also was predominantly a 3 rail O scale modeler. Also I ran plenty of trains with Lionel single motor GP’s and FA’s and when I wanted to pull more, I added additional units. IMO the single motor GP’s offered by MPC in the late 70’s and early 80’s pulled realistic numbers of cars as the prototype. So single power trucks not geared to go fast would actually be fine for me. My layout isn’t intended to pull huge trains and never will be. Smoke and sound don’t do it for me either. I’ve worked on the WP then UP since 1979 and the sound can’t be replicated on board to what I’ve experienced my working career on the railroad. Actually after spending 8 – 12 hours on the real thing, coming home to quiet models is what I want. I would be interested in the DCC / TMCC board swap, for ease of conversion if nothing else.
Lionel’s entrance to S scale is a good thing. There are plenty of choices of equipment to be made that can go scale or AF compatible merely by the choice of wheels. SHS and AM have done it.
Question, will Lionel be putting TMCC in the AF Baldwin switcher?
Greg Elems
