Lionel Legacy vs MTH DCS: which one?

Lionel Polar,

    The systems are engineered differently but both are very high quality, the Legacy is a similar system, however the DCS can operate 99% of the Legacy system.  My recommendation is to Purchase the DCS 1st and then add Legacy to it shortly after.

Purchase Barry's DCS O Gauge Companion book and the ORG Video guide to DCS, both are great educational material for setting up your layout.  IMO owning both system is the best way to go.  Come back to the OGR and ask as may questions as you need to as you build you command control layout.  If you are running FasTrack the new wireless low voltage Command Control Switches are fully controlled from the Cab2 Legacy hand held remote control.  

PCRR/Dave

First decide what locomotive or locomotives with command control you would like to own, then buy the loco(s) and the corresponding manufacturer's command control system.  It's that simple for most people.

 

You cannot control MTH locos (PS2 and PS3) with Lionel's Legacy system in command mode, and you cannot control Lionel's locos (TMCC and Legacy) with MTH's DCS system without also purchasing some version of the Lionel Legacy system, so it's pretty straightforward.  You only need a Lionel command base if you are planning on using the MTH DCS handheld to control Legacy, but since Lionel does not sell the command base separately, you're going to be buying the whole system in any case.

  Just came from a 3 rail 0 and HO show today. One club layout had 2 loop layout. they were using a Z4000 connected to legacy and DCS..like Dave from Pine Creek. All was running quite well. The 2 systems run conventional as well. The HO guys all dc or dcc

If you stumble,plenty of help here on the forum.

I agree with Marty regarding the 99 percent comment being incorrect.

Normally, you would base the decision on your current loco roster. If you have none of either mfg then it can be a bit of a coin toss.
I went with lionel as that's the name i grew up with. Either system will operate their locos nicely. Having both systems seems very inelegant to me and i won't do it.

There are other command systems, such as DCC and Lionel's LionChief, used in O gauge.  Be advised there are advocates and detractors for every system.  For O gauge, DCS and Legacy are the two biggies.  My recommendation is not to limit yourself to one system: plan to buy both at some point.  I have both and I like them both.  I run Legacy engines with my Legacy remote, not through the DCS system, which works well for me.  I do this mainly because I like the Legacy remote better than the DCS one, plus I really like Legacy's quilling whistle.  If you already have a layout I'd go with Legacy first because of its easy setup.  If you want to try command control with the least investment, you can buy an older TMCC Cab1 and base pretty cheap to run TMCC engines (which can be found fairly cheap too) and Legacy engines in TMCC mode. No matter what you do, you will really like command control.

I agree with Capp. I have both systems and enjoy each with there respective equipment. 

You'll have a much wider array of locomotives with DCS as MTH makes a greater variety of locomotives then Lionel does.  But DCS requires specific way for the layout to be wired (Star pattern with blocks of a set length or number of joints.).  TMCC/Legacy on the other hand is just one wire attached to the outside rail, and the power can be in blocks or just one power drop for the whole layout.  Both offer upgrade kits to wire the locomotives for each command system, but Lionel is a few set sound sets, while MTH has a whole library of unique sounds.

 

Being Legacy is one wire setup, I chose it for myself because I run carpet centrals that get setup, reconfigured, and taken down on a regular basis.

I would suggest go for the kind of locomotives that you like and want to run then buy the command set for what you buy. I ended up with both but started out with TMCC, then a used DCS, then added Legacy. I did it this way because that is how I found the engines that I wanted and then got the command set to match them.

 

Also visit some shows, your local train store, and your local club to see what they run since you might want to run something there. You can also sometimes try out the different systems to see what fits you better. 

 

Most of all.....have fun!

I might suggest you look at some videos on the systems first. OGR has a nice video on the DCS system, and I understand that TM Books and Videos just released a really Great DVD on the Legacy System that tells you everything you need to know to get started and then some.

I would prepare yourself to aquire both systems. At some point one of the manufactures will produce a locomotive that you have always wanted or is so nice you have to have it.

The "Killer App" in computer speak that makes you buy the control system.

 

Nick

I have both.  my layout is Lionel LCS controlled and I have DCS to run some MTH trains. I find DCS to be touchy with wiring and conflicts with various older tmcc engines and switches eating the signal.  so you have to wire the layout in a way to be sucessful with DCS. 

 

While we have both installed and use both, I mostly use DCS and run MTH trains when we have the public in our place. The speed control in MTH is very good, and as I usually run about 20 trains for 5 hours straight every Saturday across 6 loops of track,  I need them to stay put in terms of their relative positions with one and other.....

 

I also am particularly looking forward to using MTH's new mobile ap with their WiFi WIU. The new mobile ap will actually be easier to use than the current remote as they have re-engineered the menu structure, speed control and have also added a key board so naming stuff will be very easy...... Lots of people have pre-ordered the WIU's through us - this is going to be terriffic!

I really don't think you will find an answer to which system is best here. Both systems have their plus and minuse. Both system do what they were designed to do very well and that's to operate their respective trains. 

 

The best advice anyone can give is find some place that has both. Use it. Consider your roster and possibly your preference in manufacturers. Consider both as well as they do play well together. 

 

Both systems are making improvements and adding features and functionality fairly regular. 

 

Again I don't think you can make a judgement until you've had some experience on both and IMO if you choose 1 over the other will miss out on some cool stuff the other is doing.  

LP,

   Save your money and purchase both DCS & Legacy you will not be disappointed that you have invested in both, it took me quite a while to add Legacy to my DCS layouts, now I am really glad I did, both have way cool running options and very nice engines, and as I indicated before the Legacy Cab2 wireless remote control of FasTrack Command Control switches is one fantastic engineering upgrade, which DCS can not equal.  Purchase both and have a ball.

PCRR/Dave