Brand new to the hobby-need some guidance

David Shapiro posted:

Rusty Traque posted:

Just remember: As of now, ONLY the SD70's and ES44's were sold with DCC compatibility built into the Lionel electronics code.  The steam locomotives and U33C's require conventional AC or TMCC/Legacy to run.  (And they run much better on TMCC or Legacy.)

Rusty

Well, I started to research that as well. It seems that Legacy and DCC can't co-exist, unlike DCS and Legacy in O-scale. Another pity. If I had to choose between the two, given the equipment that's available, I'd go Lionel/AF.

David

DCC compatibility was developed specifically for the Flyer SD70's and should be in all future Legacy Flyer locomotives.  Someone at Lionel realized the scale folk didn't particularly want to buy the U33C's and to pay for electronics they were going to have to remove.

The reason DCS and TMCC/Legacy co-exist is more by accident than design.  Lionel had released some information back in the early TMCC days for the computer-savvy hobbyists and MTH took full advantage it.

Rusty

Lionel's Y3 steam locomotive can run on AC, DC, or Legacy. On DC, there are engine sounds and the rear light on the tender stays lit. Lionel had not intended the locomotive to run on DC, but their chief technical officer confirmed it--and it works that way on my layout. I also use American Models track, high-rail wheels, and scale couplers. Whenever I regret not moving to scale wheels, I place an articulated Lionel locomotive on the track and try to put all the high-rail wheels properly on the track.  Trying to do that with scale wheels would take me soooo much longer.

David, if you are going to buy Lionel Flyer engines then Legacy is your best choice. TMCC and Railsounds can easily be added to the American Models engines so all can be run with the Legacy system. I recommend the LCS as well so the entire layout can be controlled from an iPad, no control panel required. 

My turnouts are made from .138 MTH rail. They operate both Scale and high rail wheels. Tried to post some pictures but the hotel internet I am connected to seems to be blocking the file upload. If you want to see pictures I can post them on Sunday at home. The layout looks scale but it allows Gilbert equipment to run unmodified. 

If you look further down this forum (multiple pages) there is a thread started 6/3 called Solid track v.s. Flex track. In it are pictures of my turnouts if you want to see how they look. Sorry I cannot get them to post here. 

TOKELLY posted:

Lionel's Y3 steam locomotive can run on AC, DC, or Legacy. On DC, there are engine sounds and the rear light on the tender stays lit. Lionel had not intended the locomotive to run on DC, but their chief technical officer confirmed it--and it works that way on my layout.

There is a caveat on DC operation. 

It depends on the pack. 

My Y3 will work with my 40 year old MRC Controlmaster X and the DC unit (GML I think, I can never remember)  on my layout, but doesn't like my MRC 6200, 6000 or the Bachmann pack that came with an On30 set.

Lionel has fiddled with the code since then, but anything on the shelf won't have the updated code.

Rusty

David Shapiro posted:

Aflyer posted:

I think the Brooks Stover layout is awesome, best of all worlds.  

I started collecting AF tubular track and rubber roadbed many years ago, so when it came to the new/current layout, I couldn't justify switching to a newer more "scale" looking track.

Good luck with your decisions

Aflyer

Is this your layout. Looks awesome!

David

It is still a WIP, the lower loop is completed, the upper loop is completed except for the two bridges over the water.  It's getting colder outside, I need to get back to work on it.

Thank you,

Aflyer

David Shapiro posted:

Rusty Traque posted:

Just remember: As of now, ONLY the SD70's and ES44's were sold with DCC compatibility built into the Lionel electronics code.  The steam locomotives and U33C's require conventional AC or TMCC/Legacy to run.  (And they run much better on TMCC or Legacy.)

Rusty

Well, I started to research that as well. It seems that Legacy and DCC can't co-exist, unlike DCS and Legacy in O-scale. Another pity. If I had to choose between the two, given the equipment that's available, I'd go Lionel/AF.

David

Actually Legacy and DCC can co-exist.

One of the guys in our club built a harness to isolate dcc from ac with a switch. We ran it on our modular layout at a train show.

Aflyer

So st the end of the day, I decided to take someone's advice early in this thread and go simple to start. Lionel Fastrak oval, to run the fantastic Lionel Mikado in Southern Pacific livery that I couldn't stop myself from buying.  I also bought a Legacy control and some very nice rolling stock on EBay. Eventually I'll do a proper layout, probably when the new Fox Valley track becomes available.

Thanks for everybody's input. It was most appreciated and very valuable.

David

Hi,  This is for AFLYER - any updates or photos of your layout?  I'm getting ready to start on mine and have a very similar space.

Thanks

Tim