Iron Horseman
Well-Known Member
The Lionel runs on AC or Train Master Command Control Mode, The Williams is AC. Neither will work on DCC without MAJOR modifications. I would not even consider it.
does it work
- Thread starter qomarguy
- Start date
Bruette
Well-Known Member
Yes with no problems at all!
That would be a wise choice because that Williams http://www.modeltrainstuff.com/Williams-By-Bachmann-O-S-2-Turbine-6-8-6-PRR-p/wil-40401.htm?CartID=2 is rated for O27 curves. Any track will work and it is a traditional Scale locomotive. Most rolling stock is traditional scale particularly older items. Most Accessories are traditional scale as well.
What transformer do you have? If it has horn and bell buttons you can control those on the Williams as well and you don't have to worry about the radius of the curves.
Lionel is the Leader in O-gauge and every brand that I know of for 3-rail O-gauge will work with a conventional Lionel Transformer and some are compatible with TMCC therefore they will work with Legacy too.
Lionel and others do make Standard O-Gauge, sometimes called full scale (a little bit bigger and more true to scale) but that Is where you begin to run into problems with curves. Generally speaking, bigger equipment needs bigger curves.
What are the curves you are using? Examples are O31, O36, O48, O60, O72, O84. You can look on the back of Lionel FasTrack and it will tell you what it is. O36 is what comes with new Ready to Run sets.
If you have not already ordered your trains I would look into Ready to Run sets. They are a good way to get started in the hobby. They come complete with everything you need to run a train. Transformer, track, locomotive, rolling stock and more in some. They even come with a DVD to help you get started.
Even if you already have some things Ready to Run set are still an economical way of expanding your railroad.
Expansion Packs are another economical way to expand your railroad. They usually have rolling stock, track and accessories.
When you buy equipment find out the rating for curves and don't buy anything that needs bigger curves then the smallest track curve you plan to run it on.
I will find some links for you with more information.
If you want to tell me what you already have I can make some suggestions on what you might like to get.
I see you already found the best place to buy your trains, MB Klein/Model Train Stuff, but don't limit yourself there are good deals everywhere.
Do you have an APO address? Check your supplier to be sure they ship to an APO address a few do not.
Louis
That would be a wise choice because that Williams http://www.modeltrainstuff.com/Williams-By-Bachmann-O-S-2-Turbine-6-8-6-PRR-p/wil-40401.htm?CartID=2 is rated for O27 curves. Any track will work and it is a traditional Scale locomotive. Most rolling stock is traditional scale particularly older items. Most Accessories are traditional scale as well.
What transformer do you have? If it has horn and bell buttons you can control those on the Williams as well and you don't have to worry about the radius of the curves.
Lionel is the Leader in O-gauge and every brand that I know of for 3-rail O-gauge will work with a conventional Lionel Transformer and some are compatible with TMCC therefore they will work with Legacy too.
Lionel and others do make Standard O-Gauge, sometimes called full scale (a little bit bigger and more true to scale) but that Is where you begin to run into problems with curves. Generally speaking, bigger equipment needs bigger curves.
What are the curves you are using? Examples are O31, O36, O48, O60, O72, O84. You can look on the back of Lionel FasTrack and it will tell you what it is. O36 is what comes with new Ready to Run sets.
If you have not already ordered your trains I would look into Ready to Run sets. They are a good way to get started in the hobby. They come complete with everything you need to run a train. Transformer, track, locomotive, rolling stock and more in some. They even come with a DVD to help you get started.
Even if you already have some things Ready to Run set are still an economical way of expanding your railroad.
Expansion Packs are another economical way to expand your railroad. They usually have rolling stock, track and accessories.
When you buy equipment find out the rating for curves and don't buy anything that needs bigger curves then the smallest track curve you plan to run it on.
I will find some links for you with more information.
If you want to tell me what you already have I can make some suggestions on what you might like to get.
I see you already found the best place to buy your trains, MB Klein/Model Train Stuff, but don't limit yourself there are good deals everywhere.
Do you have an APO address? Check your supplier to be sure they ship to an APO address a few do not.
Louis
Bruette
Well-Known Member
Here are some links for further reading.
Knowledge is valuable in this hobby as it is in life.
http://www.lionel.com/ForTheHobbyist/ a good place to start.
http://www.lionel.com/GettingStartedVideos/ a good next step.
http://www.modeltrainstuff.com/Lionel-O-6-24200-The-Lionel-Fastrack-Book-p/voy-lio24200.htm A good first book for your Lionel Hobby a lot of basic information. Check the internet and you can probably find it cheaper. Amazon is a great place for books and they have trains as well, but be careful of prices for trains on Amazon, some are great others are much to high.
http://www.lionel.com/LionelRailroaderClub/ a good club for Lionel fans and a great new web page is on it's way for members. I think it is well worth the price as is. If the web page is as good as it is supposed to be it will be great!
That is something to get you started and as I think of others I will send them to you.
Louis
Knowledge is valuable in this hobby as it is in life.
http://www.lionel.com/ForTheHobbyist/ a good place to start.
http://www.lionel.com/GettingStartedVideos/ a good next step.
http://www.modeltrainstuff.com/Lionel-O-6-24200-The-Lionel-Fastrack-Book-p/voy-lio24200.htm A good first book for your Lionel Hobby a lot of basic information. Check the internet and you can probably find it cheaper. Amazon is a great place for books and they have trains as well, but be careful of prices for trains on Amazon, some are great others are much to high.
http://www.lionel.com/LionelRailroaderClub/ a good club for Lionel fans and a great new web page is on it's way for members. I think it is well worth the price as is. If the web page is as good as it is supposed to be it will be great!
That is something to get you started and as I think of others I will send them to you.
Louis
Bruette
Well-Known Member
What set do you have? There are 2 different transformers in the starter sets depending on what set you have.
Bruette
Well-Known Member
The Polar Express is a fantastic set!
You have the CW-80 Transformer in that set and it can run any 3-rail O-gauge train you buy.
It come with O36 curves.
It was my first Lionel set, my daughter bought it for me and it started me into trains year round.
http://www.lionelstore.com/pennsylvania-flyer-remote-set.html Here is a brand new set that is not yet available, but will be soon. It comes with the new LionChief remote control system.
http://www.lionel.com/CustomerService/ProductInstructionalVideos/video.cfm?documentID=6568 Here is a video about the LionChief remote.
http://www.modeltrainstuff.com/Lionel-O-Eastern-Freight-Expansion-Set-p/lio-6-30112.htm While you wait for the new LionChief remote sets you could turn your Polar Express locomotive into a mixed passenger/freight train with this expansion pack. It has a Tanker, Ore Car, an operating log dump car, a tractor trailer, rail road signs, track and a maintenance kit. If you bought all this separately it would cost you over $200 and it is only $115.99. If it were me that is what I would do.
Take your time and examine each one closely and think about your choices before you buy. Take your time! I said that twice because it is important and you can make costly mistakes if you don't take your time!
This can be a very expensive hobby. You have to spend your money wisely. It is however the worlds greatest hobby and can be a lifetime of fun!
Here are some conventional set if you don't want to wait for the LionChief remote sets.
http://www.modeltrainstuff.com/Lionel-O-New-York-Central-Flyer-Freight-Train-Set-p/lio-6-30200.htm Here is one Santa brought last year for my grandsons and I and it is the same price as the Williams locomotive.
http://www.modeltrainstuff.com/Lionel-O-NJ-Transit-MOW-Train-Set-p/lio-6-30185.htm Here is another set that has lots of playability with trucks and trailers. and it is only $20 more then the Williams locomotive.
http://www.modeltrainstuff.com/O-Ga...=Y&sort=1&cat=333&brand=Lionel&show=30&page=1 That link is to other sets for you to consider. For the best value, stick with the ready to run sets.
I will check with you later
Louis
You have the CW-80 Transformer in that set and it can run any 3-rail O-gauge train you buy.
It come with O36 curves.
It was my first Lionel set, my daughter bought it for me and it started me into trains year round.
http://www.lionelstore.com/pennsylvania-flyer-remote-set.html Here is a brand new set that is not yet available, but will be soon. It comes with the new LionChief remote control system.
http://www.lionel.com/CustomerService/ProductInstructionalVideos/video.cfm?documentID=6568 Here is a video about the LionChief remote.
http://www.modeltrainstuff.com/Lionel-O-Eastern-Freight-Expansion-Set-p/lio-6-30112.htm While you wait for the new LionChief remote sets you could turn your Polar Express locomotive into a mixed passenger/freight train with this expansion pack. It has a Tanker, Ore Car, an operating log dump car, a tractor trailer, rail road signs, track and a maintenance kit. If you bought all this separately it would cost you over $200 and it is only $115.99. If it were me that is what I would do.
Take your time and examine each one closely and think about your choices before you buy. Take your time! I said that twice because it is important and you can make costly mistakes if you don't take your time!
This can be a very expensive hobby. You have to spend your money wisely. It is however the worlds greatest hobby and can be a lifetime of fun!
Here are some conventional set if you don't want to wait for the LionChief remote sets.
http://www.modeltrainstuff.com/Lionel-O-New-York-Central-Flyer-Freight-Train-Set-p/lio-6-30200.htm Here is one Santa brought last year for my grandsons and I and it is the same price as the Williams locomotive.
http://www.modeltrainstuff.com/Lionel-O-NJ-Transit-MOW-Train-Set-p/lio-6-30185.htm Here is another set that has lots of playability with trucks and trailers. and it is only $20 more then the Williams locomotive.
http://www.modeltrainstuff.com/O-Ga...=Y&sort=1&cat=333&brand=Lionel&show=30&page=1 That link is to other sets for you to consider. For the best value, stick with the ready to run sets.
I will check with you later
Louis
Bruette
Well-Known Member
I would be glad to help you, but I need more information.
What curves are you using in the track plan?
Length of straights?
How much track do you already have?
What did you use to make the track plan or is it an already made plan?
Are they 1 foot squares? My old eyes are not so good I can't see the rulers.
It looks like a plan designed for the old tubular 3 rail track not FasTrack. It can be converted to Fastrack, but you may need to make some modifications.
I will be back later today or in the morning
What curves are you using in the track plan?
Length of straights?
How much track do you already have?
What did you use to make the track plan or is it an already made plan?
Are they 1 foot squares? My old eyes are not so good I can't see the rulers.
It looks like a plan designed for the old tubular 3 rail track not FasTrack. It can be converted to Fastrack, but you may need to make some modifications.
I will be back later today or in the morning
Bruette
Well-Known Member
hi again,
we will need more information then "simple curves and straights" There are many different kinds of track some curves when assembled into a complete circle will make as small as a 27 inch circle or as large as an 84 inch circle.
http://www.lionel.com/ForTheHobbyist/AboutGauge/ Read the part about track and curves.
get back to me when you can and we can work it out
Louis
we will need more information then "simple curves and straights" There are many different kinds of track some curves when assembled into a complete circle will make as small as a 27 inch circle or as large as an 84 inch circle.
http://www.lionel.com/ForTheHobbyist/AboutGauge/ Read the part about track and curves.
I am not sure what you mean here, you do or do not want to use FasTrack?
get back to me when you can and we can work it out
Louis
Bruette
Well-Known Member
Great!
I hope you have as much fun and peace of mind as I get from my trains.
If you ever need help come back to the forum and post a new thread with your question and one of the many experts on here will be glad to help you.
Also keep us up to date with your progress we all love to see pictures of each other railroads. I should take my own advice and get some pictures of mine, I will work on that!
Louis
I hope you have as much fun and peace of mind as I get from my trains.
If you ever need help come back to the forum and post a new thread with your question and one of the many experts on here will be glad to help you.
Also keep us up to date with your progress we all love to see pictures of each other railroads. I should take my own advice and get some pictures of mine, I will work on that!
Louis
