Now we have the Lionel Chief with the new Lionel ready to run sets. When Lionel let MTH build their tin plate trains with the DCS system, why in the world didn't they just go ahead & put it in all their trains?
Instead they made it harder on everyone with the Legacy & now this Lionel Chief. It's never going to get better until Lionel goes with an operating system that can be upgraded with software from the internet.
thank you for letting me vent MONK
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Legacy can be upgraded via the internet. TMCC was the "standard" a number of years ago until MTH came out with DCS. Legacy will operate TMCC/legacy trains from Lionel, Atlas, Weaver, and 3rd Rail. The Lionchief remote is a simplified "no brainer" remote for young children.
DCS is only compatible with MTH trains, yes it will operate TMCC/Legacy locos in TMCC mode with a TMCC base but thats only due to the fact Lionel "allowed" this capability. The Lionel Corporation Tinplate are MTH trains with the Lionel name on them. Theoretically, it is MTH that has "gone against the grain", nothing wrong with that ,but the facts are the facts.
Hope you can sleep tonight.
MTH sound is so outdated,hopefully they will upgrade it soon. I like the features but not the sound quality compared to legacy and the signal issue sucks too. New system please mike.
The Lionel Corporation Tinplate are manufactured by MTH FOR MTH. Lionel has no control over what tinplate models MTH decides to make nor do they get any of the profit from the sales of them. It's just a deal struck between MTH and Lionel that came out of the lawsuits.
Ron
Thank you Ron, I thought I was the only person that had the lawsuit thing figured out.
RickO The DCS Remote Commander is also a no brainier, but it runs any of oi the DCS trains. It,s not a totally different system.
The Lionel Corporation Tinplate are manufactured by MTH FOR MTH. Lionel has no control over what tinplate models MTH decides to make nor do they get any of the profit from the sales of them. It's just a deal struck between MTH and Lionel that came out of the lawsuits.
Ron
Hello Guys!This is exactly why I love my OLD LIONELS!!!The only thing these new trains have on the old ones is the sounds!I want to get 2 sound modules,one for steamers,one for diesels.Can anyone tell me who and if someone makes these,instead of all these complicated,outdated tommorow systems?
kennyb, you can have the OLD LIONELS!!!, a 736 is one of the few trains that I have ever regret buying.
Obviously you have never operated with command control, if you think that sound is the only thing that the newer trains have over the old. I will take the ease of controlling multiple trains, without the complex and restrictive block wiring needed with the old trains. Oh I also prefer the smoother operation and better details of the newer trains.
If you prefer to spend the time wiring the layout rather than operating it, that's your choice. If you prefer inferior running, infrior detailing and "Lionel Lines" on all your tenders, then the older trains are an EXCELLENT option for YOU.
" Outdated tomorrow" systems, TMCC came out in what 1994, 1996? Legacy is fully backwards compatible, and will operate TMCC perfectly fine. Legacy offers more features, but TMCC is still a viable system. DCS has progressed to Proto 3, but again is fully backwards compatible with PS 2.
This Hobby offers all kinds of choices for everyone, it seems that we have simply made different choices in how we each choose to ENJOY it, niether are RIGHT or WRONG, BETTER or WORSE, just different in how we enjoy our mutual HOBBY.
Doug
You know this debate has been going on for over a 100 years.....just different operating systems now...
100 years ago it would be wind-up versus DC Battery versus AC-plug in the wall....
Now it is conventional versus DCS versus TMCC/Legacy......
oh and the scale guys back then ran live miniature steamers.
Sorry all I just found it humorous!
The Lionel Corporation Tinplate are manufactured by MTH FOR MTH. Lionel has no control over what tinplate models MTH decides to make nor do they get any of the profit from the sales of them. It's just a deal struck between MTH and Lionel that came out of the lawsuits.
Ron
I'll go even one step further than that, Marty: I'm VERY confident that is not accurate. 
The Lionel Corporation Tinplate are manufactured by MTH FOR MTH. Lionel has no control over what tinplate models MTH decides to make nor do they get any of the profit from the sales of them. It's just a deal struck between MTH and Lionel that came out of the lawsuits.
Ron
I'll go even one step further than that, Marty: I'm VERY confident that is not accurate.
Actually, I would probably suggest Lionel has some control over the MTH product, although we can only speculate. Why? Check the tinplate catalog and notice how on the last page, where the MTH control systems are identified, there is no reference to "MTH." Now any train enthusiast knows it is MTH stuff, so why not just say that in the print?
To me, it suggests that Lionel has some control over how the LCT line is marketed, else MTH would slap their name on the catalog in a few places.
Bear in mind, I don't think any of this is important, and it wouldn't impact me as a customer -- I think both Lionel and MTH make great products, and as a consumer I am happy to have the choices they offer. I just find it interesting, the way many of us find the history of the hobby interesting in general.
At our club we have a couple of 'die-hard' convenional operators. Our co-founder has an amazing collection (90+% Lionel) with a few Legacy engines yet he has no interest in command. I've tried to let him operate on our home layout a few years ago and put a Cab1 in his hand. He was polite but never asked to again.
Now the club layout is over 50' in length with the transformers at one end on the outside. Heck, I can hardly see the train past 40' away! We're still in construction mode but I'm hoping when we really start running trains his opinion will of necessity change...
RE: LCT
Put me in the camp above (is that ambiguous enough? 
). I have bought lots of tinplate from LCT (my main area of interest) over the last 3-4 years and my impression is that both companies have input. Agree that it’s MTH product with the Lionel name attached, but it’s a mutual effort.
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