Is it Possible To Upgrade a 6-28675 - Southern Pacific 0-6-0 Dockside Switcher to TMCC?

Per the TMCC (from Lionel's Electric Railroad - ERR - subsidiary), yes. Per the PS3 - I'm sure, but I have no experience with MTH upgrades.

The 0-6-0 is tight; the antenna (must be insulated from frame; usually the tender is used, but, no tender...); the couplers do not have the standard/typical Electrocoupler mounts and must be engineered. Probably not the best candidate, especially for a first-timer, as I assume you are.

I like the Dockside 0-6-0; I have one. Very good model.

Upgrade-possible? Yes, but Lionel really missed the boat with this one as to making it upgrade-friendly.

If you don't mind the MTH DCS system, I'd go with one of their PS2/PS3 USRA 0-6-0's. Very nice. Comes in both a Premier and RK version; the RK is OK, but the Premier just has "the look". 

D500

Thank you for the response. I knew the size and lack of tender would be a issue. I keep hoping that lionel/MTH will make one in Legacy/PS3

Thanks

nick 

SP did have a home built 0-6-0 for the Houston Shops.  It has  SPMW number.

I don't know if they still offer it but I bought a TMCC upgrade from ERR for my ATSF Docksider a few years ago. It was a specific board they made for those locos. With this board you use the handrail as the antenna. It wasn't too bad to install and runs very nice.

I have not tried to upgrade a Docksider yet but am sure an ERR MiniCommander 2 will fit easily and should be capable of powering the tiny Docksider motor. It will also drive electro couplers. Not sure Railsounds will fit as well though. A better choice would be the Cruise Commander Lite but you would have check the measurements to be sure it would fit.

Its true ERR made a board specific for the Docksider but that is NLA and has been for a few years.

Pete

I installed a TAS TMCC unit in one several years ago. The one problem that I found after doing so is that because the engine is so short, it did not have wide enough rollers to make it through switches. I coupled with a work caboose whose rollers I could connect to the engine to make contact throughout the track.

Rick

You can install the Cruise Commander Lite into one of those, it's a tight fit but it will make it.

The bigger issue is the electrocouplers, the oddball mounts of the dockside switcher don't lend themselves to an easy installation.  I put an electrocoupler on the rear of one of these, but after that hack-job, I decided against trying to do the front as well.

For a switcher, you are very likely to REALLY want cruise control, so installing the MiniCommander 2 won't be the best solution.

Forget the sound as Pete says, with the CC-Lite in there, there's no room!

Truthfully, I'd look for a different model that will be easier to modify, or simply buy a TMCC equipped switcher.

MTH has done a true B&O 0-4-0 Docksider and I think Right of Way has done a brass one. Since they didn't put DCS in these I assume there is not enough room. Maybe a Cruise Lite will fit?? They do come with standard coupler mounts so if a cruise lite did fit you could add electro couplers. It does come with fan smoke.

http://mthtrains.com/sites/def...loded/30st10479e.pdf

Pete

I upgraded the MTH model with TMCC and electrocouplers.  I used the MiniCommander 2 as the Cruise Lite didn't exist at the time.  It would be a tight fit, but it might fit.  I didn't do chuffing smoke, but I added a little motor sensor to turn off the smoke when I wasn't moving as I didn't have a separate smoke control with the coupler version of the MC2.  They don't have traction tires, they used corrugated wheels for traction.  It makes this little unit very noisy going down the tracks, but they provide decent traciton.

How about putting the electronics in a boxcar.  They have to stay together however!  One could say it is used to reach cars in sidings with very poor rail!

Obviously, you could distribute the electronics, but that really limits the utility, at least IMO.