Title is pretty self explanatory...anyone put cruise in a Lionel 4-4-2 ready to run engine? If so, does it work well? 
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SJC: The late Boxcar Bill put TMCC and ERR sounds in my 1978 Blue Comet 4-6-4, but all of the electronics had to go in the tender. So, I suppose that could be done with the 4-4-2 as well. Maybe Gunrunner John or someone else with min-commander experience could help. You do need a DC motor for cruise control.
Bill,
Good to know. There isn't much in the way of electronics in this engine and of course the tender has the air whistle. My thought/hope was that there was an easy "plug and play" option, such as the cruise commander for this engine.
It should work fine, I've put them into the Atlantic. As stated, the stuff will mostly be in the tender. I did one for a guy with the full cruise, sound, MTH smoke unit, and a Super-Chuffer. It all fit into the set.
The question you have to ask yourself is whether it's worth it to do that level upgrade to a starter set locomotive. If you answer in the affirmative, it's not a problem to make it happen. A small unit can also probably use the Cruise Commander Lite, which saves a bunch of space.
The 4-4-2 does have a DC motor. The constant speed or cruise control motors have a flywheel sensor on them along with some kind of electronic eye. I'm guessing with the existing design and motor mounting of the 4-4-2 as above, would NOT allow the space for that. Nevermind that I do not believe Lionel makes that size motor with the speed sensor features. The LC+ steam engines utilize a totally different motor mounting design.
Could it still be done? Maybe, but I would imagine that it would be way easier to buy one of the LionChief Plus steam locos.
The ERR back-EMF cruise control does NOT require a flywheel, and I have it running in stuff like the RMT BEEP which has no flywheels, it runs just fine. In truth, the LC+ steam motors are very similar in design to earlier steamers, however they have a flywheel sensor that is similar (or maybe even identical) to the Legacy flywheel sensor.
John,
Thanks for the detailed responses! Just out of curiosity, is this something you'd be willing to do? What is the general price range for something like this? I had this engine rebuilt about a year ago - all new everything except the motor and E-unit. Would the cruise in the tender eliminate the air whistle or is there enough room for them to live happily in the tender?
Brian - If I wanted an LC+ product, I would've bought one already. My then LHS (now closed) told me he'd sell me a new one of these for less than I was putting into the restoration on this one a year ago. I told him the same thing. This is a very special engine for me.
Send me an email to my profile address, and we'll talk. As far as the air whistle, we'd have to evaluate what will fit where. It might be possible to fit the electronics in with the whistle or perhaps even in the locomotive, have to really see it to be sure. Also, since you don't need sound with the air whistle, that would eliminate the sound card and bulky speaker. 
