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I'm just getting started with my model railroad and my local dealer suggested that I purchase a lionel set since it's a great value as opposed to purchasing it all seperately. The set he is recommending is TMCC ready. My question is, what were the major differences in the locomotives between TMCC and legacy? I understand the differences in the remotes but I can't find much info on the loco's. Am I limiting myself with a TMCC loco? I plan to purchase a legacy remote at some point and I want to be sure I'm not making a mistake.
Thanks,
Marc
If you are just starting out, I would go with the TMCC. You will have to purchase the Cab 1 Controller and base unit to really make use of any of the advanced features of a TMCC engine anyway. A starter set does not come with a Cab 1/Base unit. That reatils for $149 I think, maybe more these days.
I have TMCC, Legacy, and DCS from MTH. I prefer the DCS system as it will run all 3 types of locos, but it is a bit complicated and costly to have all 3. I hardly ever use the Legacy system. Also if you buy a Legacy remote, you will have to have the base unit for it as well.
You can do a search here on this forum or on the net and find tons of info that will break them down detail by detail. If you totally new to the hobby and not sure you're gonna stay in it or which scale, I would stick with the basics to begin. Lionel especially can be very expensive from the get go....don't throw hundreds or thousands of dollars at it if you're not sure. If you are for sure you know what you want, I wouldn't buy a starter set....get what you want piece by piece because you will have to upgrade all the starter equipment anyway..... like biger power supply, more track, more cars etc etc
Thanks for the reply. I'm sure I will stay in it as I model for a hobby and have always had the desire but I have never had the time to model a railroad plus in the past my work moved me all over the country so it was difficult to take up a hobby that I could not pack in a box and take with me. I typically didn't stay in one place for more than a year or two. Now I am married, not moving anytime soon, own my house and have a young son who's first words were "choo choo".
I am not too familiar with the MTH stuff. I will research it. The reason the starter kit looked good was because my local dealer has it on sale for $349. That includes the loco/tender, 5 cars, 80w transformer and an oval track which he will substitute out for Atlas O for me for the difference in price. The TMCC engine alone lists for 349 on lionel's website. I planned on upgrading the controller to a Legacy system anyway so my only concern was if I was limiting the functionality of the Legacy controller with a TMCC (non legacy) train. Surprisingly I can't find much info out there.
Well in that case, just buy the legacy system from the get go. You can control all the TMCC functions with the Legacy remote/base unit..... You can NOT control Legacy functions with the TMCC Cab1 remote/base unit. Buying a starter set with a TMCC engine will work with the Legacy system. Since you only need to buy 1 system, go with the one that will run both TMCC and Legacy engines. You CAN run Legacy engines with the TMCC, but not all of the functions will work (any options relating to the Legacy System).
