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Is it possible to run a TMCC engine via remote and run a TMCC engine conventionally on adjacent tracks?

I have several loops of track down for Christmas, 3 young boys, a few Legacy/TMCC engines and 1 Legacy remote.  I do not particularly care to have the Legacy remote in the hands of the boys.

I hooked the Legacy base to one track put an engine on this track and control it with the remote.  This does work as expected.

I also assumed I could let the boys run other TMCC engines on the other tracks via conventional control.  This is where I am having problems.    The base is not attached to these other tracks, however it appears the engines are getting a signal as they will not respond to changing the voltage via conventional transformer or the conventional horn/whistle buttons.  So long as the base is hooked up to the other track, they just sit there looking dead.  The Program/Run switches are in the run position.

If I unhook the base from the one track it is attached to, then any engine works via conventional control as it should.  I could just run everything conventionally but I wanted to use the remote as we have some fun accessories that have been modified and are TMCC only (err upgraded). 

Is it possible to run a TMCC engine via remote and run a TMCC engine conventionally on adjacent tracks?

Thank you for your advice.

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I did run my Post War 681 simultaneously with a TMCC Allegheny thinking it was very nice to have two engines running on the same track with more than 50 years separating their build dates.  To do this I loaded the 681 with a bunch of cars so that at full power it ran normally and did not bolt down the track.  Keeping the voltage between 15 and 18 volts, you can run the TMCC train and modify its speed to sync its speed with the conventional engine.  I ran my post war this way until I had enough command engines that my post war engines got relegated to my son at his house.

You may run TMCC and Command locos on the same track at the same time. The process is called "transitional command control"  Basically, you will need a command base (Legacy, TMCC or Legacy 1L) and a Powermaster ( Legacy or TMCC).  I refer you to The Complete Guide to Command Control, Page 30, Lionel Part # 71-2811-250.  It was published and available in the early days of TMCC and was included in the Base, CAB1, Powermaster package sold some years ago.  Although it applies to TMCC, the procedures outlined are just as apropos to Legacy.  It takes some skill, but is sure is fun to run a Command controlled  train and a conventional one on the same track simultaneously.  You won't need to retire your conventional fleet or run them separately, if you so choose.   Check out the manual.  It is extensive and makes for some very interesting reading.

Tried this myself years ago until I learned that connecting the Command Base to one track's outer rail simply turns the track into an antenna and any TMCC engine will pick up the signal regardless of which mainline it's on.

I think STPAUL has the best idea....just get a conventional engine or two for use with the transformer. Heck, with the price of postwar engines cratering and modern conventional not fairing well either, it should be easy to pick up gently used conventional for $100.  I just sold a Like New conventional WBB Hudson for $150 and was elated to get that price.

If you're not wedded to scale, LionChief or LionChief Plus engines will give the boys remote control. That's a pricier alternative, I admit.

For my Christmas layout this year I decided to run it conventionally. To keep my Legacy system from interfering with that I disconnected the antenna inside the engine, thus making it conventional only. I'm did this with a steam engine, doing this with a diesel may not work it's it got a plastic shell.

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