NOT SO FAST..... Went downstairs. Did everything I was supposed to do based on what I watched in the video. The engine did exactly what Eric said it would do. When I chose ID number 2, the engine started. I returned the RUN/PGM switch to RUN. I pressed 6 on the remote to shut down the engine...…….nothing. Engine just kept running. So, I returned the ID back to 1. Engine responded to commands.
Thinking it wouldn't work, but, out of options, I got my second Lionel engine out, set it on the track and proceeded to perform what I figured was a useless attempt at installing the engine into the remote. I got to the step where you select the ID, chose 1, found the engine in the inactive list, activated it, hit the start (3) button, and to my amazement and pleasure, it started, ran, moved, responded to all commands. So my question now is what will happen when I put the prior TMCC engine on the track and try to use it?
Anyone want to field this one?
I also discovered something else. It's annoying, but it can be solved. I pulled out one of my MTH engines and decided to test the multiple engines on one layout. At first it wasn't going well. Lionel engine started and ran, but the remote couldn't find the MTH engine, kept saying it wasn't on the track. Truthfully I have no idea exactly what I did to get that problem solved, but I did. So now I have two engines on two different tracks, thank god, going in opposite directions. I thankfully found out that my curves are far enough apart that collision doesn't happen. So, I decided to park the Lionel train and see how well the MTH train pulled a large consist. While I was setting up this test, I heard the Lionel engine begin to "growl", "hum", kind of sounded like it had hunger pains. Then it just spontaneously started. Didn't move, or talk or anything like that, but it started. So I have discovered, at least in my world, Lionel engines will after about 5 minutes of silent dormancy, reignite without assistance from the engineer. I guess the constant flow of electricity into the trains innards, via the track surface, stirs up something internal and the computer or motherboard or whatever thinks it should be running not sitting.
So if you have Legacy engines on your DCS layout, beware this only because you will have to constantly shut them down after 5 minutes of silent sitting. If you can turn off your power to the track, like I can, or if you can easily unplug the transformer or TIU or whatever, do it because if you leave that layout over night 5 minutes after you walk away any lionel engine still sitting on an actively electrified track will spontaneously fire. It will time out and shutdown on its own, but chances are it will fire up again.
At least on my layout that's the case.
Advice, suggestions, anyone else suffer this?
