Controlling Remote/Command Switches

Adding a Legacy Command Control set (base and remote) would certainly be a simple way of remotely controlling the switches w/o much additional wiring or extra modules, although at around $300, I'm not sure if that falls w/in your definition of affordable for a temporary X-mas layout.

The remote has a button for switches ("SW") and it's pretty easy to program each command switch into the remote. After that, all you do is press SW and the switch number you have assigned to that particular switch and then hit either Aux 1 or Aux 2 to open or close the switch. In addition, you can disconnect the controllers from each switch which will eliminate all that messy wiring.

However, the Legacy remote will not run your LC trains, so you'd be using/juggling two remotes.

One added benefit is that, although you say you have no plans to add more expensive trains, it would certainly give you the option of adding either Legacy or the new LC+ 2.0 engines to your roster.

You could also attach all your controllers to a wooden base which would consolidate them and eliminate some of the wiring mess.

i looked into a similar issue on a layout i am planning. The one other item you might consider is the lcs wireless modem which would allow you to throw the switches from an app. It doesn't eliminate the need for the legacy base but does give you the option of controlling command controlled switches, legacy and lc+2 engines (which are more reasonable in cost than legacy) from an app.

Thanks guys.  I was unclear that the Legacy Command Control would throw switches without buying additional modules.  $300-ish, all in, "might" be worth it.  Going to chew on it for a while.  THANK YOU!!

$339 plus $10 off coupon plus free shipping from one of our Forum sponsors - hard to beat.

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If you are not wanting to go all the way into Legacy, look for an older TMCC base and controller.  It's a lot less money,

Jan