Lionel legacy-whats the next step?

I don't think Lionel's Legacy system is in trouble at all, it's simply made the full transition to being the standard current control system for their products. And the same goes for the locomotives - all the revolutionary new features that were initially debuted with the Vision Line of products have just sort of become expected and standardized now.

 

In my opinion, the next logical step is mainstream gadget integration like we're already seeing with the smartphone and tablet control apps.

Is the Legacy system more of a sound and light thing or does it also include more prototypical, scale trains?  I have only one Legacy engine (a Wabash GP9) and it looks and sounds great.  I'm hoping they'll concentrate more on fidelity to scale, without a bunch of moving parts (like opening doors, just another thing to break).

 

I enjoy listening to the various diesel engine sounds as well as the prototypical lighting, but I'm not in favor of all the other sounds that much or incorrect class and marker lighting, or cab lighting that would blind a real crew.

Re the cab lighting - Bob I think you'll notice that the cab lights go off as soon as your diesel starts moving in either direction avoiding what you expressed concern for. Am not sure who first offred this features (Rule 17 lighting) but it is pretty neat!

 

Yeah, I dont really think Lionel legacy is in REAL trouble or anything, but take a look back at the early Lionel legacy engines, and compare them to what we have now. Once again, I really love Lionels legacy system, and trains, theyre very realistic, and great to run, but in a way, I think we can all at least somewhat agree that recently, Lionel has been kind of slacking off just a bit with the newer legacy engines. I have the Lionel legacy railsounds Polar Express tender from around 2009, and it had sounds from the real PM 1225, it just sounds so realistic. Which brings me to this-why is it that the newer legacy engines arent as loud as the older ones?

if anyone has been reading what santafa fan has been saying on this forum and the videos from Lionel and LCCA the electronics went through a re-vamp so they could fit into the American flyer trains.  and there would be some new features in the future.  I'm sure Lionel will be coming up with new things the Legacy system can do.

I believe this is only the beginning for legacy. Not sure what may come but i am excited of what may be ahead in the future. I have one of the earliest legacy steam engines and one of the most recent. Both are incredible. The latter has more features like more background sounds, better lighting, etc. so you see legacy is improving in small steps and most likely will keep improving. 

One small upgrade would be to have Legacy reprogrammed so two or more engines in a MU can have separate start up and shutdown sounds.

Joe

 

Yes, Lionel has added some really nice features to legacy like the refueling sounds for instance, but honestly, I believe Lionel is trying to cut back on audio quality, such as the most obvious, the crewtalk, to save more money. To me, the legacy engines have went from an extremely great product, to just a very great product.

Hopefully, there isn't a next step....for a long time.

 

It's not realistic to expect everyone to:  A) leave conventional control and adopt TMCC.....while uprading your engine roster accordingly, B) Leave TMCC after 10-12 years or so to switch to Legacy, and then C) expect everyone to upgrage from Legacy to Improved Operating System X....and possibly upgrade your engine roster again.

 

Personally, I think Legacy is very, very impressive.  Keeping the status quo on the Operating System front while improving scale fidelity AND lowering most price points is all that we need, IMHO.

PolarExpress 1225 - I have to say that from my experience,  I must respectfully disagree with you on the issues of sound quality and loudness being worse in recent Legacy engines vs older ones

 

I just purchased a 2012 Lionel 6-38584 Norfolk Southern SD80MAC (Legacy) and frankly, the sounds (especially the start up and shut down sounds) and volume are far better that were on my Legacy NS Conrail Heritage (6-28318) that I purchased in 2010!

 

One thing I DID notice was that even though the new Legacy Norfolk Southern SD80MAC is one inch longer than the similar NS SD80MAC TMCC model that was issued in 2004, it is LIGHTER!  Not sure why, but the newer, longer model is noticeably lighter than the one-inch shorter TMCC version - it just doesn't have the "feel" of a substantial engine that the TMCC version does.  Not sure why

 

Thank you Lyle for the reply. I know it sounds like Im really disappointed with the legacy, but I didnt mean all legacy engines arent as loud. I have a new legacy mikado, it has good volume, but compared to my legacy Polar Express tender, its quiet. Not to mention the fact that recently Lionel has been reusing the same sounds on legacy engines. Just look at the new legacy mikados, and youll realise that they have the same, identical sounds as the legacy PRR 1361, I think the bell was the only difference. Yes, all the legacy engines sound great, but I think that Lionel is just reusing the same sounds too much.

No way is Lionel in trouble because of Legacy

 

I think they can add more features and will.  I could care less about crew talk, tower com, etc.  As I never use them ever.  I dont care about start up or shut down sounds on steam locomotives, as in real life they take many many hours to start up and shut down. 

 

What I would love to see in the future is things like when going up a grade that the locomotive would automatically labor chuffing.  Maybe have coupler slack sounds when starting like MTH has.  I also would like the cruise to be more adjustable so they are easier to double head with TMCC locomotives.  

 

No, of course theyre not in trouble. I probably shouldn't have said it that way, but what I meant by it was if Lionel keeps reusing the same sounds on the legacy engines, doesnt improve the crewtalk, bring back individual sound sets for each individual engine, then they need to improve, revolutionise, try something new or different. Thats what I mean when I say whats the next step for Lionel legacy.

For any who may wish to see how the Legacy system can be developed, have a read of the article in the latest Inside track. The new Legacy control devices look very exciting indeed, and will make it very simple to add all sorts of new control features and devices. With much simpler wiring too.  

Legacy is the future, but happened to Vision??? It seems to have gone by the wayside. David56