My first step into Command and Control

The PowerMaster is not needed to run command locomotives, either TMCC or Legacy.  It's only there to allow you to use the remote to control track power and thus conventional locomotives.

I'd personally start with a Legacy PowerMaster and the Legacy system.  While you'll spend more upfront, you will not have to discard stuff that you no longer need when you go to Legacy.  The Legacy system will run any Legacy or TMCC locomotive, and with the Legacy PowerMaster, it'll run conventional stuff as well.  The Legacy PowerMaster also has better control than the old PowerMaster, finer throttle steps, etc.  Another bonus is it has the full suite of macro controls to control PS2/PS3 locomotives in conventional mode and access a lot of their features that you can't do with just a TMCC PowerMaster or standard transformer.

Thank you Gunrunnerjohn.  When you say the Legacy PowerMaster "and the Legacy System" do you mean the #990 set of the Legacy Command Base with CAB 2?  I was trying to avoid that $300 cost but I do understand how it avoids obsolescence.  Could I control a Legacy PowerMaster initially with just a CAB 1 for a conventional locomotive?

You'd need the TMCC command base for the Legacy PowerMaster.  The reason I keep steering you away from the old PowerMaster is they will be useless with the Legacy unless you add the Legacy PowerMaster bridge.  The Legacy PowerMaster is a vastly improved product, and communicates totally different than the old TMCC PowerMaster.  The old CAB1 is also no longer supported and you can't get parts for many of the delicate items.

You pay's your money and take your choice, but my recommendation is to choose something that you can grow with and not be discarding when you see the neat Legacy system at someone's layout and have to have one.

I agree with John, go Legacy.  This is coming from someone that runs with a PowerrMaster and Cab-1.  The other thing John hasn't mentioned is that unless you have a PowerMaster and Cab-1, good luck finding them.  Anymore you'll be paying near Legacy prices to get your hands on good ones.

Thank you for the suggestions.  Will likely go the Legacy route, even with the steeper entry price in order to allow for state of the art expansion.

I truly believe you'll be happier you did in the long run.

look into the cab-1L and the legacy powermaster. 

http://www.lionel.com/products...-command-set-6-37147

$209 at Nicholas Smith.

The Cab-1L remote works with the 990 base if you ever do upgrade. 

I'd still recommend you bite the bullet and spend the extra for the full Legacy.  If you want a CAB1L later, it's a lot less to buy it by itself.

I would also recommend going with the Legacy 990 system. That's what I did and have not regretted it.

when I went command everyone here recommend Legacy.

I am glad I went with the legacy system it has given me the education I needed to help with the clubs legacy system.

I have Legacy that I run on my layout, I have gone with the Cab 1L. When you do take the plunge either Cab 1L or the 990 system you will find so much more enjoyment in operating your trains, you will be able to run trains from anywhere on your layout and you will see perspectives that you never saw before. You may well have trouble pulling yourself away from the layout.

Ray