Lionel Legacy System sent to Lionel for repairs and I need a back up.

There was a thread a couple weeks ago regarding availability of Legacy systems so check that out.  You can post a "Want To Buy" ad on the forum or otherwise try to find one on the used market.  Also, you can overpay for a new one.  Side Track hobbies has them new but as of this week, they marked them up to $50 over MSRP.

AFAIK, there is no way to use the sensor tracks without the Legacy Command base, or at least the BASE1L.  However, most of the features of the sensor track are really only available using the full Legacy system.

I don't see why you can't run without LCS, the sensor tracks aren't going to affect actual locomotive operation.

I have a 'down' Legacy set and was considering sending back to Lionel but will be dead in the water without it. Am not familiar with all the options - can I buy the wifi unit and run from my phone w/out the Legacy set?

You cant use LCS WIFI without the legacy base. The wifi box is just a mobile device interface that gives the inputs to the 990 base to send to the trains.  

To the OP, if you have a TMCC base then you are still in business for running trains. Maybe not full function, but TMCC remotes will run legacy in TMCC mode.  Seems silly to spend a couple hundred bucks to solve a 2 month problem and then end up with surplus.

For you folks looking for a Legacy 990, I just called Side Track, mentioned above, and they are out.  I called Charles Ro and they are out and don't expect a shipment until March of next year!  I'm looking for a new 990 set.  Is there anything in stock?  In the meantime I'm getting out my Tmcc Cab-1 system and am dusting it off.  Let's see what it can do.

Joe,

    You can use your TMCC system as a back up until your Legacy system is repaired. Lionel does take special care repairing Legacy systems, they did my train clubs system and were very quick about it. Things may of changed as that was several years ago. The TMCC system will run all you Legacy engines, you should not have to pre-program the engines just enter the engine # on the Cab1 and run. You can’t do a lot of the Legacy options, no quilling horn or whistle but they will run until Lionel returns your Legacy system. I am currently running a Legacy 2 engine train on our clubs traveling layout that only has TMCC. The hardest thing was programming the Train using TMCC but I googled the TMCC operating manual as I forgot some of the TMCC steps in setting up a lash up.

JohnB

Joe,

   As GRJ said you will not be able to use your wireless Legacy or track sensors using TMCC. You are basically going back 15 to 20 years of technology, but you can run your trains using a remote.

JohnB

I have a couple 990 sets. One is at Lionel right now. I feel that it takes two of these sets to reliably run Legacy 😀

I have a spare Legacy #990 and I have the CAB1L/BASE1L set as well.  I also have a #993 set, gives me an extra Legacy Remote.  I typically keep two CAB2's, two CAB1L's, and two DCS Remotes on the layout.  I also have the LionChief Universal Remote for anything that requires something else to run.

Folks:  Here's what's going on and these are preliminary results as I got some HVAC service people scheduled to arrive.  So I could not wait and snuck a session in.  I installed the tmcc system and just attached the common to the base and power to the base.  I could not get my 2 ZW-Ls to respond to the red dial to raise voltage but I was able to get my ZW-C to respond.  I did not have to program a new arrival which had been ID'd in Legacy and it responded beautifully.  NO loss of signal whatsoever! I ran it very slowly and there was solid signal with no flickering. So far so good.  My problems seemed to have diminished.  But I'm a believer in Murphy's law.  It looks like with some fiddling I may be able to run trains.  We'll see what happens.

By the way, does anyone know if ZW-L's should respond to TMCC.  I had programmed my ZW-Ls at TR91-TR-94(No response) and TR95-TR98 (No response).

My ZW-C is TR1-TR-4(Responds to signal).

As usual.  You guys are great and all knowledgeable.

@Smokin' Joe posted:

By the way, does anyone know if ZW-L's should respond to TMCC.  I had programmed my ZW-Ls at TR91-TR-94(No response) and TR95-TR98 (No response).

My ZW-C is TR1-TR-4(Responds to signal).

As usual.  You guys are great and all knowledgeable.

The ZW-Ls will need to be between TR 1-6.  TMCC can not address above, for a 4 channel transformer, TR6 A (7 B, 8 C, 9 D). You could give them an ENG address which will go up to 95 A (96 B ,97 C, 98 D).

Folks:  I finally got a chance to put the old tmcc system through its paces.  I had four trains going  slowly, including an elevated one,  with no signal loss.  Marty was right. I reprogrammed the ZW-L's with eng ID's and everything worked.  I am glad that I also sent the Legacy base to Lionel.  I have a feeling that it needs tuning.  I ran everything for about two hours without a hitch.  There were no flickering lights. 

I think that I will order a second 990 to have as a backup when they are back in stock. Its great for troubleshooting and it would also give me 3 Cab-2's so each of my grand kids can run trains.

Again, thank you for your input and it looks like I'm back in the train business.\

Regards,

Depending on the age of the grandkids, maybe you should consider the CAB1L for them.  No fragile display or fancy controls to break, and they'll run TMCC & Legacy just fine.

To the OP......I sent my legacy 990 system back to Lionel for repair a few weeks ago on 11/13 via FedEx standard.  I received the repaired unit back on 11/30.  Lionel has certainly stepped up their game lately on repair work.

Folks:  I continue to run trains with no problems using the old TMCC system.  My next question is this.  Years ago I seem to remember a clear plastic overlay which indicated the functions of the number buttons on the Cab-1.  Is this still available and who sells it.  Thanks again.

Hi,

Sent mine in on 11/19/21 and received it back on 11/26/21, repaired and updated to 1.7

Great service

Sonny

@Smokin' Joe posted:

Folks:  I continue to run trains with no problems using the old TMCC system.  My next question is this.  Years ago I seem to remember a clear plastic overlay which indicated the functions of the number buttons on the Cab-1.  Is this still available and who sells it.  Thanks again.

Lionel has a bunch of them listed:  CAB1/CAB1L Function Overlay

Funny how TMCC keeps working and 990s keep failing.....when available. 

I've fixed a lot of old TMCC CAB1/BASE1 sets, and I've also tossed a few that were hopeless.

Other than the initial trip for the charging circuit, my two command bases are working 100% as are the three CAB2's.  One of my command bases hearkens back to the original Legacy release, not bad for a product that keeps failing...