Lionel/MTH engine with Proto 2 or 3 control

Yes you can run then with a ZW in conventional, yes you will lose some features, and yes, buttons can activate some features.  But fair warning, some find the button sequences inconsistent or inconvenient or both.

Don't have specific experience with your last question.  I know MTH transformers (Z-1000, Z-4000) make accessing these sequences easier in most people's experience, and the Lionel conventional remote products (Powermaster; TPC) also can automate some of these conventional sequences for PS2 and PS3 features.

Thanks for the info, maybe Ill take a chance at one if I find a good price.  Do these Lionel (built by MTH) have the same battery start up issues I read about?  I have no MTH locos.

@TrainCzar posted:

Thanks for the info, maybe Ill take a chance at one if I find a good price.  Do these Lionel (built by MTH) have the same battery start up issues I read about?  I have no MTH locos.

MTH engines with Proto 2 & 3 do not have the "lockout mode" mode problems that Proto 1 engines are prone to with dead or weak batteries. A Proto 2 engine may not leave neutral with a weak or dead battery as the electronics will completely power down when pressing the direction button and the engine will restart in neutral after the direction button is released. You can replace the battery with another one or install a BCR and never worry about the battery again.

Proto 3 engines do not have batteries and do not require any battery maintenance.

@TrainCzar posted:

Anybody been successful with a ZW whistle control and a Lionel activation button 6-5906 as the bell button to activate features?

Very successful - just wire the two buttons in series to have both the "whistle/horn" and "bell" functions. The built-in ZW whistle control should not be used to trigger the sounds; it was designed for postwar era horns and whistles and will not work reliably with the modern electronics.

-John

@Landsteiner posted:

Yes you can run then with a ZW in conventional, yes you will lose some features, and yes, buttons can activate some features.  But fair warning, some find the button sequences inconsistent or inconvenient or both.

Don't have specific experience with your last question.  I know MTH transformers (Z-1000, Z-4000) make accessing these sequences easier in most people's experience, and the Lionel conventional remote products (Powermaster; TPC) also can automate some of these conventional sequences for PS2 and PS3 features.

The Z-1000 has both whistle and bell buttons, so accessing PS2/3 features in conventional is all a matter of getting the half-second timing of the requisite button presses right (practice). The Z-4000 allows you to just select the function ID and the transformer fires off the correct sequence of bell/whistle signals.

---PCJ

@RailRide posted:

The Z-4000 allows you to just select the function ID and the transformer fires off the correct sequence of bell/whistle signals.

Those functions of the Z4000 only apply to programming protosound 1 engines, the OP was inquiring about operating protosound 2 & 3.