Looking around it seems most prefer legacy, DCS, TMCC, etc. While those have their appeal, for my layout I'm going old school. Who still runs conventional?
-rog
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Looking around it seems most prefer legacy, DCS, TMCC, etc. While those have their appeal, for my layout I'm going old school. Who still runs conventional?
-rog
Replies sorted oldest to newest
I do, but only when I have to!
I have lots of PS2 and PS3, but I only run conventional.
I had that MTH remote control, but it never worked right and I chucked it in the garbage.
Conventional is enough for me.
I do to when I want to run my PS-1 , early Weaver and Williams engines,,,,,,,,,Paul
I currently run scale engines on a conventional layout. Current layout is 11'x17' gargraves track with ross switches.
As 7 of my 12 engines have TMCC (Atlas, 3rd Rail, and Weaver) I am considering adding TMCC (or Legacy) to the rebuild of my layout. I'm thinking there is a 50-50 chance I might add command, but have not yet decided if it's worthwhile for me to do so.
Jim
I have one loop conventional about 43 feet around, A WBB engine pulling 23 cars.
Brent
Strictly conventional, none of my engines have any of the modern electronics except the solid state e-units and whistles and bells. Its simple, it works, dirty track doesn't seem to be a problem and I'm happy with it.
Scotie
I still run conventional.
i do also though have some of the above mentioned super upped engines with r/c.
Have a room totally dedicated to my smaller layout from which I can run those babies should the passion hit me.
Conventional seems never to break and like my dog...Always ready to GO !
Absolutely conventional operation, hands- on, manual switching! Cruise control and smoke are great features, sounds drive me nuts after a while. Virtually no breakdowns or gremlins. If you follow the forums, everyone complains about command this or dcs that. I just run'em and enjoy'em!
I don't run conventional, but I think you will be surprised at the number of folks here that do. I would say there are a lot of them and many are conventional only.
We run all conventional and most of our engines are MTH PS-2 with a few 3s, One Lionel that is newer and had to add a battery in it to keep sounds constant. I found it was easy for my son and I to run and it keeps you at the helm when running them. All our sidings are on block sections so you park one engine, turn that block off then turn another block section on and you are ready to roll with a new engine. Nick
I still do,but only at Conventions!
Mike Maurice
I've had TMCC (I think I have a practically brand new command base and CAB-1 sitting in the box) and also some PS2/3 locos. However, as my interest has turned towards building a postwar-style layout I run just about all conventional these days.
Love my PW ZW!
Conventional only! I can't afford the fancy items, so I buy used PW and MPC era stuff. I've learned how to service them, and have 60+ year old engines running like a dream. Tube track too.
For my meager 9'x11' layout, two Type V transformers is enough.
I run conventional only current with two loops running independently on
MTH z1000 transformers. I love to upgrade to a MTHz4000 but at 500.00
Canadian not going to happen. THerefore this winter I will be cleaning
out under the layout and adding bus bars for accessory power and running
them off a z500 and running the trains on the z1000's only
I have a small dog bone layout that I run my Polar Express passenger train conventionally and another small oval that I run my "Peanuts" passenger set in convention also. Everything else is command control.
I run conventional and TMCC/Legacy.
When I run conventional, I use a TPC and run the locos with a CAB-1 or a CAB-1L. No transformer handles on either my home layout or most of the ones at the mall.
I run both. I have three main loop which can be electrically isolated or electrically common. I can run TMCC or conventional on one or two or all three or any combination.
They'll take my ZW when they pry it from my cold dead fingers!
Jerry
I run conventional, traditional, electro-mechanical, old school trains and only such trains.
No chips, no boards, no errors. LOL
I run conventional. While I own Legacy and DCS systems, I mainly run my locomotives conventionally.
I run conventional only. When I put my layout together out in the garage, I figured it was a temporary setup...someday in the near future we'd move to a bigger house with a large basement or train room. So why should I invest in an elaborate track plan and and expensive remote control system? Well, here it is eight years later....and still running conventional out in the garage!
- Mike
I run nine trains, all conventional, and three trains as Lionel-Plus, radio controlled.
Only run conventional, as others have said after a while the sounds run together an to me become annoying to me. For those that like it (the bells and whistles) this has got to be the best time to be in our wonderful hobby.
Yep when I'm alone. More relaxing. Lionel remotes are the thing when there is company, I can keep an eye on the trains and chat. Although Legacy does run better with remotes.
Sure. You just don't hear as much about it on the forum because we don't have the troubles and questions about it.
I go both ways but you'll catch me running DCS most of the time.
I run 100% conventional. I really like it that way, and so does my wallet.
Roger,
IMHO Keep it conventional, you'll be much happier. The trains are cheaper plus you don't have to worry about electronics.
Yes I run only conventional.
Why? I like it that way. My RR - my rules.
BaltimoreTrainWorks, I totally agree! ZW's forever. conventional here in Temecula wine country.
Jerry, my Mom's childhood areas were Chestertown and Betterton, do these little towns still exist? She was a graduate of Washington College 39'!
Sure. You just don't hear as much about it on the forum because we don't have the troubles and questions about it.
Conventional layouts can also be made to be quite complex, as I'm sure you probably know. Some pretty neat things can be done with just relays and timers and things, such as forum member Dale H has posted here many times. I don't run conventional, but along with my command control I do find that sort of thing being done conventionally very fascinating. Maybe I will attempt something like that someday, it does sound like fun.
I only run conventional for both my Postwar and modern engines on three separate loops of track. On one loop I run my postwar engines with an old ZW and my modern engines with a MTH Z1000 on another loop. For my MTH subways, I run with another MTH Z1000 and a third separate subways only loop of track. All my MTH subways are either PS2 or PS3 which I also run conventionally. The subways are almost always run in conventional "auto mode" which lets me run them automatically.
I have TMCC but more and more I find myself running conventional either with the Cab 1 or trusty PW ZW. fewer commands and buttons for the old brain to remember. In conventional I can still get cruise control with my PS2 and Odyssey engines. I don't care about the lost functions that come with running conventional
Conventional....electronics works for TV's. cell phones, autos, washers and dryers,
etc. Wonder why it doesn't for model trains? Autos, such as off-road SUV's, seem
able to handle a few bumps, knocks, and rough handling.
I do currently. I'll be building a shelf layout in the bedroom, that'll be conventional. When I get around to building the main layout int he back room, that'll be made to run Legacy and/or conventional
On my 25x25 "dream layout" on which I am slowly working, the upper level will be conventional only. The lower level which is longer and 0-72 minimum radius, will be TMCC only. I have 4 TMCC engines and over twice as many pre-war and PS-1 and PS-2 engines that I will run conventional. I plan to gradually convert some of those to TMCC so they can run on the lower level as well. I'd love to run the near mint 1951 2343 ABA warbonnet "growler" on the long wide radius in TMCC. Debating whether to convert with ERR or just look for a TMCC ATSF A or B unit with more quiet can motors. That way I could also likely run a longer consist.
I wanted to keep my wiring simple and the cost down so I chose to stay away from using TPC's to run both conv. and TMCC on the same routes. I did that on my "carpet central" when TMCC first came out. I have plenty of room now and can run to my satisfaction and keep them separate.
Conventional only. As Lee said, my railroad...my rules.
I do occasionally run conventional on the club layout as the secondary mainline is set up to support conventional operation. Haven't run conventional at the club for over a year, but have run some of my Proto-1 engines at home.
When the club members aren't around, I secretly break out some 2-rail track and run my little Sunset 44-tonner. I also run my scale-wheeled engines on DC from time to time just for laughs and giggles. Don't tell anyone -- they're threatening an intervention.
I have DCS on my layout but in the last year have found some great deals on PS1 equipment so I run both.
I really enjoy running a PS1 loco and a PS2 loco on the same track one in conventional and the other in command...you have to constantly monitor the track voltage and the speed of the DCS loco.
I have both command (TMCC and DCS)- and conventional-equipped engines (Postwar, MPC and up). So I run in both modes, using either the DCS or CAB1 remote for command, and the DCS remote for conventional (use the Z-4000 remote base that the DCS remote talks to ramp up the transformer voltage and the variable channels on the TIU to vary the track voltage. Works like a charm.
I run conventional only. I have a number of command locos but that's because I wanted them and had to accept the added cost of them (from having command capability) to get them.
One can have a great time running conventional (starter sets included) at a fraction of the cost of command. I am an old postwar guy, so I suppose that fact colors how I feel about it, but I enjoy running my cheap trains every bit as much as my expensive ones. In fact, all the bells and whistles (and other sounds) prove to be annoying after awhile.
I have a small (4x8') table layout because that's all I have room for in a small extra bedroom, and with that size layout, command is really unnecessary anyway.
I have TMCC and some TMCC equipped locos, but I operate almost exclusively conventional.
Jeff Davis
I run my Standard Gauge tinplate conventionally, except for the Lionel Hiawatha which has TMCC. I collect ETS 0 gauge tinplate, which is all conventional. I have a few postwar and PWC engines, also conventional. The rest is all DCS, TMCC, and Legacy. The vast majority of my train running is with the modern remote systems, to the point where I don't even bother to test a new engine in conventional mode unless it's conventional-only.
Just under the Christmas tree
Legacy in the basement
My layout like my others here is set-up not only with Legacy/TMCC and DCS but I can run any like conventionally also. My elevated rail was built so I can run early tinplate. My portable layouts are set to run conventionally also. Just depends on what I want and my mood.
Conventional only. I have owned DCS & TMCC systems but still prefer handles.
My club is conventional only. It has to be rewired to run DCS. Starting to wire it for DCS a bit at a time. Over the last 30 years it has had a lot of changes and additions. The wiring is a mass of different gauges and busses done over years by different people.
If the Mighty Sound of Steam could be considered conventional, that's the majority on my displays. Sometimes I think my cheesy symphony of trains are offensive to both the conventional and command operators. But it's music to my ears. Bring your ear plugs when you stop by.
I maintain a roster of conventional WbB engines to run specifically on our club modular layout. Great pullers, cheap, and tough as nails. All of the brass and hi-end engines stay at home, except for just a couple of venues.
Honestly, at the Fair when people can't tell the difference between a WbB and a Lionel VL or MTH Premier, why bother? I did run my MTH Premier ES44AC N&W Heritage engine with the beer train briefly last week. Guy walks up and says " yeah, I had one of those cheap Lionel pieces of junk back in the 60s. Stopped running and my mother threw it away".
Sure you had a scale ES44AC in the 60s.... I just smiled.
Gilly
Yes • Still Run Conventional
The problem is that all four main lines are set to full power. I have a yard for conventional, with a toggle switch to turn the power on & off. If an error takes place, I have big time chaos, with run away engines.
A little of spending $350 to $1900 only to have it quit a few months later would go a long way with me.
Conventional only. My layout is 118 sq. feet, 174 ft. of Gargraves, 13 Ross switches.
Absolutely conventional operation, hands- on, manual switching! Cruise control and smoke are great features, sounds drive me nuts after a while. Virtually no breakdowns or gremlins. If you follow the forums, everyone complains about command this or dcs that. I just run'em and enjoy'em!
Me to I have gargraves manual and some atlas switchs.Never wanted remote control stuff.To many wires and before you know it.You will have a hardtime trying to remember which wire goes what and were.Me and my z4000 do just fine.And besides it like the real thing to go and flip that switch youself.
I run conventional only on 3 fastrack loops on 2 levels with Williams and modern Lionel engines. Trouble-free and always ready.
Most of my conventional equipment is Lionel Trains Inc. motive power, as well as some MPC, postwar and current Lionel. Oh yes, and some Williams.
I run them the conventional way now, but I do like the way MTH's DCS can control them...
Jerry, my Mom's childhood areas were Chestertown and Betterton, do these little towns still exist?
Sure do, haven't been to Chestertown in ages tho but if it's like the rest of Maryland it's probably being developed all to H**l. The Eastern Shore has really changed alot especially in the last 10 years, it's kinda sad.
Jerry
Conventional via ZW 75%, TMCC Trainmaster (remote control for conventional engines) 25%, regular TMCC rarely.
It just isn't as much fun if I don't have my hand on the throttle!
Legacy/TMCC is like an automatic transmission. I'll only buy it when I cannot get the engine/car I want without it.
Nathan
lower and middle loop is tmcc and dcs upper loop is conventional via the dcs remote. I have found my tmcc engines seem to respond better via the cab1 than they do with the dcs remote so I am still using both remotes.
Conventional and LionChief Plus. Mostly running LionChief Plus now, but I will continue to run some conventional, though I may unload some of my low-end train-set quality locos.
I run both. My trains and I run them how I feel like at the time. Both ways are fun.
MIKE
Only conventional on my railroad
I have many conventional engines in my Pennsy by Lionel collection. They all get run, occassionally. But the method of control is a Cab 1 or Cab 2.
All conventional here on 027 track and am quite happy and content. As others have said, on a small layout, command control is not necessary - but to each his own. I certainly could be tempted by one of the Lionel LionChief sets, but that's as far as I would ever go as far as "command" technology.
I can alternate between AC or DC current to the track, allowing me to run some of the smaller, less expensive Lionel engines. Not having circuit boards or reverse units in the locos, allows the room for extra weights to be added, so even these smaller cheaper locos can easily pull a train of 10-12 cars.
I have a couple of MRC sound stations with added amplification, so I have sounds for anything and everything. In the last year, I rebuilt my layout from a previous high rail approach, to a more simplified retro approach, with the intent of allowing me to move things around to have some continual variety on the layout - even in a small space.
Despite what can be read here, MPC engines pull more than just their shadow and the basic K-Line locos like the Alco FA, S-2 and MP-15 can and DO run SLOWLY with no modifications to the engines.
And I've been kitbashing and repainting ever since I re-entered the hobby, so I have a pretty unique collection you won't see elsewhere. Repainting 027 types of cars and engines allows me to use HO decals (for larger cars) with S or O scale data decals.
It sometimes seems like some are never happy with what they have and are always wanting something else. I'm quite content with what I have and if I needed more variety and prototypical realism, I would have gone to HO years ago, where the much larger market allows the manufactuers to justify far more variety in production.
I'm 100% conventional w/ ZWs, KWs & RWs All postwar too. For what I do, I feel like conventional is just fine. When I had a larger layout & ran all scale stuff, I did have TMCC/DCS, but I always found the conventional fun too.
Conventional ONLY here!!!!!
My real job was a Senior System Analyst. When I retired I wanted no more tech!
I have a 2005 Razor phone....too much tech for me but what do you do?!?!?!
My trains I want simple. No address issues, signal strength, none of that.
Turn on the power....trains run, turn off...they stop.
Back in my HO days I bought a DCC command system.....HATED getting locos addressed and then not remembering what it was! Worked OK....but I wanted to Relax.....
As these fancy electronics fail.....they may get replaced with a fifty cent bridge rectifier and a mini DPDT switch. SIMPLE!
While I have the ability to run conventional on the PRR Panhandle mainline (yards are command control only), I have only done it once or twice. On that layout, I run TMCC almost exclusively. Switching using TMCC is terrific; can't imagine doing complicated switching under conventional control.
Under the Christmas tree, we only run conventional.
George
Conventional on a 22X24 layout.
Paul Edgar
Gilly@N&W,
Boy, do you have a point about public displays. It really doesn't matter what you run, because a lot of folks can't tell the difference. So you might as well run something that is sturdy, conventional and hard to break.
The only exception for me at two recent displays has been the LionChief sets and the Lionchief steamers.
They are easy to run and the public really likes what they see.
Ed Boyle
I only run conventional on my (mostly) prewar layout. I am building a second hi-rail layout and I might go TMCC on one loop.
Al
Currently I have a basement awaiting a deal on ceiling tiles. Once that is done and the remainder is carpeted then I can truly begin on my 21 x 47 dream! I have a Legacy I bought used and a few TMCC locomotives. I bought a Legacy CSX but it is scale so I will need to sell that. I prefer traditional sized stuff. At the last Open House I picked up a ZW-L to go with ZW I already have. Apparently there is a way to use it and the Legacy system to control loops. I love a bunch of trains running at once so if I can do that with Legacy I shall. Otherwise I will stay with conventional.
Polar Express's around the tree will remain conventional as will be the S gauge Polar Express that I pre-ordered from my LHS.
Currently I have a basement awaiting a deal on ceiling tiles. Once that is done and the remainder is carpeted then I can truly begin on my 21 x 47 dream! I have a Legacy I bought used and a few TMCC locomotives. I bought a Legacy CSX but it is scale so I will need to sell that. I prefer traditional sized stuff. At the last Open House I picked up a ZW-L to go with ZW I already have. Apparently there is a way to use it and the Legacy system to control loops. I love a bunch of trains running at once so if I can do that with Legacy I shall. Otherwise I will stay with conventional.
Polar Express's around the tree will remain conventional as will be the S gauge Polar Express that I pre-ordered from my LHS.
WOW Ed! 21 x 47, do you have to get a permit to operate one this BIG?
Currently I have a basement awaiting a deal on ceiling tiles. Once that is done and the remainder is carpeted then I can truly begin on my 21 x 47 dream! I have a Legacy I bought used and a few TMCC locomotives. I bought a Legacy CSX but it is scale so I will need to sell that. I prefer traditional sized stuff. At the last Open House I picked up a ZW-L to go with ZW I already have. Apparently there is a way to use it and the Legacy system to control loops. I love a bunch of trains running at once so if I can do that with Legacy I shall. Otherwise I will stay with conventional.
Polar Express's around the tree will remain conventional as will be the S gauge Polar Express that I pre-ordered from my LHS.
WOW Ed! 21 x 47, do you have to get a permit to operate one this BIG?
I run conventional
1. Less cost
2. Simpler to diagnose and repair
3. No upgrading required.
4. I like throttles rather than push buttons.
Conventional only, for me.
I'm 100% conventional w/ ZWs, KWs & RWs All postwar too. For what I do, I feel like conventional is just fine. When I had a larger layout & ran all scale stuff, I did have TMCC/DCS, but I always found the conventional fun too.
That's what I'm taking about...that is a nice layout.
Refreshing that there are so many conventional runners out there.
-rog
In my earlier post in this thread, I said I thought you would be surprised at the number of conventional operators out there. Well, now I'm surprised, there are even more than I thought there would be.
I had a friend tell me I was lucky to have that much space. I replied that the owner of my LHS was the lucky one. HA! As long as it can always someway shape or form be conventionally controlled I am fine with it. I think it goes a long way to lure people back into the hobby to allow them to effortlessly make the trains run. Now the new Lionchief plus locomotives are pretty alluring!
100% conventional. I looked into getting DCS for my PS2/3 engines, but was talked out of it. However, I still love to buy scale engines with all the bells and whistles, but conventional operation with them works just fine.
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