Using Lionel Legacy at the World's Greatest Hobby on Tour Show

["Ira Schneider" <ira_schneider@iname.com>]

We tested Bill's Lionel Legacy system yesterday and we will have it hooked up
and running at the World's Greatest Hobby on Tour Show this coming weekend.

We ran into one minor problem, and I thought of another one last night.  When
the Legacy controller is powered up, our Lionel TMCC Command Base doesn't
respond to any commands from the CAB-1 controllers.  However, Bill's
TMCC command base works just fine.  We agreed that at the show we would
use Bill's command base, if we need it.  We didn't test whether or not the
PowerMaster in the auxiliary power box (used for the switching yard) worked
when Legacy is active (since I hadn't thought of that possibility until now).

It would be great if we didn't need to use the TMCC command base at all (at this
show).  Bill is bringing two CAB-2 controllers.  If the other members attending the
show bring their CAB-2 controllers, and let us share them for the weekend,
we would not need the CAB-1 controllers, and the TMCC command base, at all.
We would then be assured that we are not interering with any other O-gauge
layout using TMCC on tracks 1 through 4.  Also, since Legacy uses a completely
different communication frequency, we would not have any conflicts with engine
numbers either.

This brings up the other problem I thought of last night.  If we are not using the
CAB-1 controllers, the Lionel PowerMasters, which receive their command signals
directly from the CAB-1 controllers (over the air), will not work.  This means we
won't be able to use the track 5 transformer on the switching yard, and Steve
won't be able to use his private track 6 transformer on the industrial sidings
modules.  I realize these are completely independant from the TMCC command
base, but, if our goal is to use only Legacy controllers to avoid interference with
other layouts, we have a small problem.

We can work this out at the show.  Perhaps we could still use tracks 5 and 6
(and our CAB-1 controllers), since we would not be using tracks 1 through 4
under TMCC.  We will have to see what interference this causes.

This should be a very interesting show.  We will be using Lionel Legacy controllers
for the first time, and I have designed (with Ricky's suggestions) an L-shaped layout
using the new 45 degree corner modules.  I hope all of you who can possibly attend
will do so.

I'll see you next weekend.


Ira