Tmcc controls

Both control track voltage.  However, the powermaster is controlled directly from the CAB 1 remote while the TPC is controlled from the serial output of the command base. Also, the powermaster and TPC have different current specs.

If you are using a Legacy base with a powermaster you need the powermaster bridge which is driven by the serial signal and emulates the CAB 1 over the air signal.

penn station posted:

 

If you are using a Legacy base with a powermaster you need the powermaster bridge which is driven by the serial signal and emulates the CAB 1 over the air signal.

 

 

Unless it's a Legacy Powermaster.  Then it will work fine.

Marty, you caught me in my TMCC centric ways!

I hope this thread is still alive, I have a question about TMCC --

I recently purchased a TMCC System, a TMCC Steam Locomotive and a TMCC Diesel Locomotive.   Everything is working fine and I am very pleased.   However, I found out that the  CAB-1 has overlays (sort of like 'cheat sheets) that fit over the CAB-1 buttons and tell you what functions when you push the 'AUX' button.

My Steam TMCC Locomotive: Lionel 2-8-4 Berhshire Jr  #6-11101

My Diesel TMCC Locomotive: Lionel FT Diesel A-A #6-18160

My question:  How can I determine which CAB-1 overlays I need to purchase??  

When I went to the Lionel Replacement website, they list a lot of different overlays, here is the list --  

6102911030	CAB-1 OVERLAY / STEAM / RS-4		$2.00		<input class="qty" id="qty_19217" name="qty.19217" type="text" value="1" /> <input class="addItem" id="add_19217" name="add.19217" type="button" value="Add" />
6102911040	CAB-1 OVERLAY / DIESEL W/STROBE		$2.00		<input class="qty" id="qty_19218" name="qty.19218" type="text" value="1" /> <input class="addItem" id="add_19218" name="add.19218" type="button" value="Add" />
6102911050	CAB-1 OVERLAY / STEAM / RS-5		$2.00		Unavailable
6102911060	CAB-1 OVERLAY / DIESEL / RS-4		$2.00		<input class="qty" id="qty_19220" name="qty.19220" type="text" value="1" /> <input class="addItem" id="add_19220" name="add.19220" type="button" value="Add" />
6102911070	CAB-1 OVERLAY / F-3 DIESEL		$2.00		Unavailable
6102911080	CAB-1 OVERLAY / GENERIC DIESEL / ELECTRIC		$2.00		Unavailable
6102911090	CAB-1 OVERLAY / DIESEL W/STROBE		$2.00		<input class="qty" id="qty_19221" name="qty.19221" type="text" value="1" /> <input class="addItem" id="add_19221" name="add.19221" type="button" value="Add" />
6102911100	CAB-1 OVERLAY / DIESEL W/SMOKE		$2.00		<input class="qty" id="qty_19222" name="qty.19222" type="text" value="1" /> <input class="addItem" id="add_19222" name="add.19222" type="button" value="Add" />
6102911110	CAB-1 OVERLAY / STEAM / RS-5		$2.00		<input class="qty" id="qty_19659" name="qty.19659" type="text" value="1" /> <input class="addItem" id="add_19659" name="add.19659" type="button" value="Add" />
6102911120	CAB-1 OVERLAY / STEAM W/CREW TALK		$2.00		Unavailable
6108082060	CAB-1 OVERLAY / STEAM / RS-4		$2.00		<input class="qty" id="qty_19293" name="qty.19293" type="text" value="1" /> <input class="addItem" id="add_19293" name="add.19293" type="button" value="Add" />
6108354110	CAB-1 OVERLAY / ELECTRIC / RS-5		$2.00		<input class="qty" id="qty_19309" name="qty.19309" type="text" value="1" /> <input class="addItem" id="add_19309" name="add.19309" type="button" value="Add" />

Basically any steam will work with a any steam engine, and any diesel will work with any diesel. Do you know the actual number to your steam engine & diesel. You may be able to get a manual off of Lionel.com

Yes -   Diesel:   New York Central FT  A-A #1603 (Power) & #1602 (Dummy)

           Steam:   Lionel Lines Berkshire Jr #737

You'll be surprised how fast you learn what the buttons do, and then you don't need the overlays.

Thanks to all for your help, now I have another question --

I recently purchased the 10th Anniversary Edition conventional Lionel Union Pacific RS Diesel Locomotive, #6-18890.  Unfortunately, it has no sound - no horn or bell, just a light.  

Because of "no sound", I am now looking to purchase a Lionel # 6-17214 RailBox Boxcar w/ Diesel Railsounds.   I need to know if I run my TMCC in conventional mode, can the Diesel Railsounds be activated with my TMCC CAB-1 controller??

Any input would be greatly appreciated --- 

Since this is a conventional engine, you would need a PowerMaster to trigger the horn/bell of the sound boxcar.  The diesel prime mover is automatically operated based on speed.

GRJ - Thanks.    My current set-up is a PowerHouse 180, a PowerMaster, and the TMCC.    So, if I understand your reply, since I do have a PowerMaster, I will be able to activate the diesel horn of the sound boxcar - correct???

And, since we are on the subject, with  the PowerMaster, I can select CONV or CMD allowing me to run my old conventional trains or run my TMCC trains - correct???

Lastly, I read your response in a different thread that the Legacy PowerMaster is great, something about better speed control, or '200 speed steps", would you please explain?? 

Correct, if you are controlling the track voltage with the PowerMaster, it will allow you to use the horn/bell buttons on the CAB1 to control the horn and bell of the sound boxcar.

Yes, you can run TMCC stuff with the PowerMaster in place, that's the purpose of the switch.

The original TMCC PowerMaster has 32 speed steps, so the voltage is stepped up to full voltage in 32 increments.  The Legacy PowerMaster has 200 speed steps, to you get much finer control of the track voltage.  The Legacy PowerMaster also reacts to the command base TMCC signal and not the CAB1.  Finally, the Legacy PowerMaster has a host of "macro" commands to allow you to access many of the features of MTH PS1/2/3 locomotives using the TMCC/Legacy remote.

GRJ - THANKS - I have always wanted to look at MTH systems with PS1/2/3, but was told I could not activate the features with my TMCC.  Would  you mind expanding on your comment --

" . . . Finally, the Legacy PowerMaster has a host of "macro" commands to allow you to access many of the features of MTH PS1/2/3 locomotives using the TMCC/Legacy remote. . . "

Read all about it

Lionel LEGACY PowerMaster Owner's Manual

GRJ - I read the information.   

 So if I go to a Train Swap Meet/Show and see a MTH w/PS 1/2/3 that I wanted to purchase, I would be able to run it and activate all the features and sounds??  (This is only if I have the Legacy TrainMaster, and the info does not mention PS3)

The reason for my persistence in this is because I have been to many Train Shows/Swap Meets and have been told that my TMCC will not operate the functions/sound of an MTH Train.

I have read a number of your responses on this Forum and I tend to believe your input over the folks at the train meets --

Thanks 

Well, there's knowledgeable folks at train meets, and then there are those that are not so knowledgeable.   The trick is to get your information from the knowledgeable ones!

If you looked into the chapter on PS/2 and see what you can do through the Legacy Powermaster, the same commands work for PS/3.

GRJ - Thanks again for all your advice.   Yes, I agree, the real trick is to find the ones who truly know what they are talking about.

This Forum seems to be more than just a "help desk", do they have listings of rolling stock or locomotives "For Sale"??      (I think I could trust it more than I do eBay)

I went to the Web Store, but it has is not what I am looking for --

Thanks again for all you help.

Stay Safe  ---  Stay Healthy

One more thing (I know this doesn't fit under the heading of TMCC Controls) but all the train videos I watch, the steam engines blow beautiful white smoke in big billows.    My Lionel TMCC steam locomotive puts out smoke, but no where near the realistic appearance of those in videos on this Forum.

Do you have any advice how I can achieve this??

Father Christmas posted:

This Forum seems to be more than just a "help desk", do they have listings of rolling stock or locomotives "For Sale"??      (I think I could trust it more than I do eBay)

For SALE or TRADE

Father Christmas posted:

One more thing (I know this doesn't fit under the heading of TMCC Controls) but all the train videos I watch, the steam engines blow beautiful white smoke in big billows.    My Lionel TMCC steam locomotive puts out smoke, but no where near the realistic appearance of those in videos on this Forum.

Do you have any advice how I can achieve this??

First stop is to check the condition of the smoke unit.  What specific model is it?

I would be happy to check my unit, how do I check the condition of the smoke unit??

Here is the model I have --

ASSUMING IT'S A FAN DRIVEN SMOKE UNIT:

ENLARGE GASKET SMOKE OUTPUT HOLE:

I have a Dash-9 diesel with a fan driven smoke unit. One thing that improved my smoke output was carefully increasing the size of the hole in the rectangular gasket(part 5 in the link below)

 https://www.lionelsupport.com/...4a-a2d3-705c23d6c233 

Unaltered, the smoke would rise through that small, circular hole. I used an X-acto knife to make a square that tripled the size of that hole and my smoke output increased. Carefully cut away the plastic around the circle but not so much as to cut into the rectangular area which fits above the batting.

CHECK THE BATTING:

Number 9 in the link above. The batting should be moist, white/not discolored, packed, and soft. If it's dry, putting a good 20 drops directly on to it helps and is more efficient than administering the smoke fluid via the normal method-specifically for when you may be having a minor problem. Make sure that the batting is packed nice and tight so it doesn't obstruct the "blow-hole" from which the smoke emits(another reason to enlarge the gasket hole). Tamper it down into the corners. If it's yellow, dried out, hardened or discolored- you need to change it. Doesn't matter if it's Lionel or MTH brand. After putting the new batting in, put 20-25 of drops of smoke fluid onto the new batting to get that fluid soaked in, tamper it down, and reassemble. Finally, make sure it's near the resistor so it gets that heat but, again, don't obstruct the blow-hole.

Some extra resources for you:

Good, easy to follow video showing how a smoke unit batting is changed in a fan-driven smoke unit:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SF5C0EWv-4M

Parts to a fan driven smoke unit:

https://www.lionelsupport.com/...4a-a2d3-705c23d6c233

And in general, one of the guides i keep in the front my folder by my layout along with the DCS companion and DCS manual. "The Complete Guide to Trainmaster Command Control"

https://www.lionelsupport.com/...ents/71-2911-250.pdf

That's a mechanical smoke unit.  It'll never smoke like you're expecting.

You can forget about getting the kind of smoke you see in the videos like this one.

That engine got this smoke unit.

Ok, so now what do I do; in the Lionel description for model # 6-11101 it clearly states ". . . Puffing smoke unit . . ."   I would have thought a "puffing smoke unit" would do more than what my old conventional steam locomotive does.

Anyway ---

1st    How do I know the difference between the smoke units when I read the description on-line??

2nd  Can I get the better smoke unit installed in my current steam locomotive??  I have a feeling it won't fit

3rd   How can I tell in the future what smoke unit is installed, especially since I purchase on-line??

Going forward, can you advise me as to which steam locomotives create the kind of smoke I desire???

Well, anything with smoke from MTH with PS/2 or PS/3 will have fan driven smoke.  Any Lionel Legacy locomotive with smoke will have fan driven smoke as well.  As for TMCC, the newer and more expensive it is, the more likely it is to have fan driven smoke.  Also, most of the small set engines have mechanical smoke units.

The way I check Lionel TMCC stuff is to plug the product number into Lionel Train Replacement Parts and see what kind of smoke unit it has.

GRJ - Thanks, 

Do you think I can install the fan-driven smoke unit into my Berkshire Jr,  will it fit ?? 

If it cannot be upgraded, what is the process of listing this Berkshire Jr for sale on this site??

Concerning MTH, my whole layout is Lionel, I know very little about their products, and per your previous response, with MTH, I would have to replace my PowerMaster with a Legacy PowerMaster to be able to activate all the functions/sounds  - correct??

To stay with Lionel, I should be looking at the line of LionChief steam locomotives, from what I read, they have fan driven smoke units and if I understand correctly, they can be controlled by my current TMCC system - correct??  

Truthfully, upgrading your Berk Jr is probably not cost effective.  In order to have chuffing smoke, you will also have to add control electronics to operate the fan.  Since the chuff switch is on the mechanical linkage, you'd also have to add a chuff switch.

Lionchief Plus locomotives have fan driven smoke, the LionChief (not plus) do not have fan driven smoke.  The new Lionchief Plus 2.0 locomotives will also have TMCC compatibility, those will be a pretty universal fit for you.

If you want to sell something here, to go For SALE or TRADE, check the rules, and post your ad.

GRJ  -  I have gone to the For Sale or Trade section, many Lionel items are listed, mostly by product #.    I have gone to the Lionel Product Page (www.lionel.com/products) entered the product # in the search section, but it is hit or miss if the product / description shows up.

Since I might start looking into both Lionel & MTH --

Do you know where I can go on-line to either look at past years catalogs or just get a picture of the unit for both Lionel & MTH??

Enter the 5 digit Lionel product number, omitting the 6- at the front into a Google search. Lionel xxxxx.  Same answer for MTH, but the entire product number, MTH xx-xxxx-x.

As a point of reference, since I know very little about MTH, I looked up an MTH Steam Locomotive, description attached below --

Does "Synchronized Puffing ProtoSmoker System" mean the same as "fan driven smoke unit"??

What is "Proto-Sound 2.0 With The Digital Command System Featuring: Freight Yard Proto-Effects"??

Would I be able to use my TMCC system to control / activate this train's features / sounds??

Basically, where can I go to get a better understanding of the terminology MTH uses to describe its product features??

 4-8-2 L-3 Mohawk Steam Engine w/Proto-Sound 2.0 - Southern Pacific

I opened the user manual and just looked for the smoke unit maintenance.  Here are pictures of the smoke unit.  I already knew what you'd find as I already told you these all have fan driven smoke.

Regarding accessing the features, we already had this conversation too!  The Legacy Powermaster allows you to access most of the features of a PS/1, PS/2, or PS/3 locomotive!

We're going over the same ground as we've already covered.

GRJ - My Bad    Sorry for what may appear to be repetition, I am just getting into trains.  With the 3 local train shops closed because of the Corona Virus, I just wanted to be sure I understood all of your answers.

Thought I was getting it figured out, but obviously, not knowing the difference between a "puffing smoke unit" and a "fan driven smoke unit"  I am still a 'green novice'.

I am obviously not as knowledgeable about trains as you (Lionel or MTH) so I was quite happy to have these past couple days to have so many of my basic questions answered by you. 

These trains are not inexpensive and I do not want to replicate the same naive mistake I made with my current Lionel Berkshire  Jr steam engine. 

I was hoping I could use your expertise to help me in my beginning stages ---

Let's be candid, you're going to stub your toe a few times, make some stupid purchases, etc.  That's how you learn.

Truthfully, while we've touched the surface of a few topics here, there's a huge gulf of information that is still waiting for you to discover.  You really can't expect to pick up in days or even weeks what it took most of us years or decades to learn!  Remember, everyone here started out at the same place, "in the beginning".

I don't mind answering questions, but I like to only answer them once in a session.

Agreed, to all  --

GRJ - I have a question about MTH operation - the attached MTH Christmas Caboose,  #20-91313, has -

an operating signal man who leans out the side of the rear caboose platform with a lighted lantern to signal the engineer. Activation occurs whenever the transformer whistle button is pressed. 

Will this activate if I push the whistle button on my TMCC CAB-1 controller??

If you're running a conventional locomotive through a PowerMaster, then the CAB1 button will trigger it.  However, if you're running a TMCC locomotive with the TMCC controls, the button won't be recognized.

Hey Father Christmas (??? REALLY your moniker???)   The best help you can get is to read your owners manuals, and the internet research your questions by going to the manufacturers' website.  And research the explanations for the descriptions such as "fan driven smoke unit"......."TMCC to DCS compatibility" ....and so on!  More you research, the more you will unravel any questions.....

    You have a learning curve "trail" that most of us Forumites have traveled.  Hang in there and do it! 

redjimmy -  (??? REALLY your moniker???) Thanks for the response, I found out I have a mechanical smoke unit, not a fan driven smoke unit; it will never puff smoke like I was hoping ---

GRJ - Is there a difference between LionChief Plus and LionChief Plus w/bluetooth??   Is the bluetooth version newer than the LionChief Plus version??  or, do all LC+ operate the same??

There is LC+, LC+ with BT, and then LC+ 2.0.

Each generation just added some capability as newer capabilities were added.

Obviously, the big difference with the LC+ BT, and with LC+ 2.0 (also has BT), is the ability to operate them using your smart device.  Plain LC+ without BT is not compatible with your smart devices.

While they attempted to add the ability to the LC Universal Remote to operate plain LC+ with smart devices by using the Universal Remote as a BT repeater.  Good idea, but it disables the smoke fan in at least some of the LC+ steamers, so not exactly a universal solution.

Thanks very much.    Another situation --

I have a tubular track layout with two O-22 remote switches making a self-reversing loop.   When my TMCC locomotive runs thru the switches, it short circuits (not everytime).  However, nothing is derailed, all I need to do is push the reset button on my PowerHouse 180 and everything works fine.

Why is the breaker being tripped - any thoughts on how to fix it ??