tmcc questions

It appears that you can just swap in the R2LC for that model. If you have Signal Sounds in the tender, you'll only have whistle & bell, so you'd have to obtain the RailSounds boards (audio and power supply) to upgrade to full RailSounds.

The wiring diagram and parts are in Lionel Supplement #44, I've attached the pages for your locomotive.

The kits are no longer available but you can buy the parts that were in the kits. You can view the manuals here,

http://www.lionel.com/media/se...ents/72-2960-250.pdf

http://www.lionel.com/media/se...ents/72-2963-250.pdf

  Also if you have other tmcc engines you might try to install a radio board from another engine before purchasing. Some of the upgrade able engines had bad mother boards and you will need to replace that also.

Hope this helps.

Bill 

I don't think I'd spend the retail price of these parts to upgrade, you're better off selling and buy something newer.  If you can find a bargain on used parts, it might make it attractive.

These are great engines and worth the upgrade in my opinion.  This was the Korean period.  I have several and they run great.

You can even upgrade to cruise with one of the Lionel boards.  In fact this was the series that I upgraded with Legacy and Cruise.  Had interface issues with smoke because of the R4LC, and the sounds would occasionally mute because they are RS 4.0 and harness connected.  Otherwise worked fine.   G

Like I said, I wouldn't spend the retail price for the parts to upgrade it.  You can find the boards for a fraction of the Lionel prices.

However, to get good performance, you'll also want to consider cruise, upgrading the smoke unit, and adding a chuff switch.  Suddenly, this upgrade starts to get expensive and labor intensive.  Not to say you shouldn't do it, but you should be aware of the total scope of the job.

As G stated these are great runners and as GRJ stated are expensive to upgrade with all the bell and whistles. What is great about upgrading is that you don't have to do the upgrade all at once, and you can learn a little bit while doing it. You can see a video here of a upgraded engine.

 https://ogrforum.ogaugerr.com/t...92#35076992671980792

Bill

Of course, I'd also have to add the Super-Chuffer with that fan driven smoke unit...

They already have the chuff switch.  G

Two chuffs/rev, at least on the K-Line I'm currently working on.  I've never seen one with a puffer smoker that has four chuffs/rev.

??  Why upgrade smoke if not willing to upgrade to command and sounds????

Actually, I enjoy the smoke from these PW style smoke units.  Great puller, larger than most O-27 engines (Like the PW 2046/56 engines). 

So I guess it really is personal preference.  Haven't you added TMCC to some small switcher and dockers?  Was that cost effective?     G

If I'm going to have smoke, I like real smoke!  I don't worry about it as much on diesels, but steamers are supposed to look like they're running, at least IMO. 

Yes, I added a Cruise Commander Lite and the new RailSounds Commander to an RMT BEEP, so I don't always follow my own fiscal advice on upgrades.  Of course, that was a demonstration of what can be done with a beta version of the ERR Cruise Commander Lite in a small powered unit, so I added all sorts of lighting as well.