[Bull6791]

John. My father in law is also an electrical engineer.

 

[Bull6791]

If I ever get the money. I want the same bench work as you and help from the master builder as well.
John. I can’t tell you how much I like your bench work.

 

[Bull6791]

John, question: I am a beginner to trains. I have a 4x8 sheet of plywood on saw horses. I only have one train. It is a ready to run set polar express. It is lion chief. I have one oval on my 4x8 sheet of plywood and I am running that lion chief polar express train on that oval.
John my question is how do I expand my layout to run more trains. Thank.

 

[Lehigh74]

Well I learned something today. I've driven through Center Point many times, but never realized that it is the center of Montco.

 

[Bull6791]

Did not know that area was actually called center point.

 

[gunrunnerjohn]

First step in expanding the layout is to decide what you want to accomplish, and how much space you have for the expansion.

Next step in expanding your layout is get more trains. This is a good starting point.

 

[Tom_C]

What's that one!? What's that one!? What's that one!? What's that one!?

 

[Bull6791]

John. Since my only train is a lion chief like I said is it possible to run trains that are controlled by a transformer with this lion chief train. If so how. How are your trains controlled thanks.

 

[Bull6791]

I know it can be done I just don’t know how.

 

[gunrunnerjohn]

John. Since my only train is a lion chief like I said is it possible to run trains that are controlled by a transformer with this lion chief train. If so how. How are your trains controlled thanks.

I run TMCC/Legacy and MTH DCS. I still have a handful of conventional running stuff, but only a handful, most of it is command controlled. Of the stuff on that shelf, I think two are conventional, the K-Line Plymouth and the Peter Witt Trolley. I also have one LionChief Plus locomotive, the Camelback. When the LionChief Plus 2.0 stuff arrives this summer, I'll have a couple of the Dockside switchers, they look very cool for the price and features.

With the plain LC product, you can run something conventional on the same tracks, but it'll affect the LC operation as you'll be varying the voltage and interrupting the voltage for stopping and reversing.

 

[SantaFeJim]

What's that one!? What's that one!? What's that one!? What's that one!?

I like the one right next to it. No not that one, on the other side. Now go up 2 from there... no I mean 3 up. Yes that one is my favorite. Wait a minute I just spotted one that I like better. Go down 5 rows and 3 over to the left, no I mean 3 over to the right. THAT is my FAVORITE. Do you like too?

 

[Bull6791]

John. Ok so what other train or trains can you run with regular LC and not affect the operation. I am having a hard time trying to find a train that works with regular LC and will not affect operation. That is why I am asking. Would I be better not to use regular LC at all. John. I really appreciate the help.
Thanks.

 

[gunrunnerjohn]

Truthfully, unless price is really critical, I'd be looking at the new LC+ 2.0, it'll run in conventional transformer mode, with the LC Universal Remote, with the LC Bluetooth application, or with TMCC/Legacy. They were all in the most recent Lionel catalog. You can also see from the long list of features, they're far and away nicer than the plain LC product.

 

[Bull6791]

John, so if I am understanding you correctly. The only thing that will run with regular lion chief is regular lion chief trains.
Tell me if I am correct. Since my only train is a lion chief train. I have 2 options continue my whole layout in regular lion chief because it does not work in conventional or with TMCC/legacy or my second option would be do not use the lion chief train at all and switch to conventional legacy or both.
John. I did not know if my train or trains were regular lion chief I could not run any other trains on my layout but regular lion chief because of compatibility issues.
Do you think I have it now. I am a beginner. I have to learn some how.
Thanks for your help I really appreciate it. Thanks.

 

[gunrunnerjohn]

Not at all, I hope I didn't convey that impression.

Standard Lionchief needs constant track voltage to run. Yes, you can vary the track voltage some, but that affects the performance of the LC locomotive, so let's just say it needs constant track voltage.

With constant track voltage, I can run LC, LC+, LC+ 2.0, MTH DCS, and Lionel TMCC/Legacy locomotives. Obviously, for DCS and TMCC/Legacy, I also need their command system unless you have newer Legacy with Bluetooth.

 

[Bull6791]

John. Since I am new at trains you have to bare with me. What I am not understanding is I want to make a layout ok. I want to 3 or 4 trains running in my layout. One of the 3 or 4 trains for my layout I want to be the one regular lion chief train I already have.
John what I don’t understand and am asking you is how do I get 3 more trains to run on my layout with this lion chief I already have.
Now would it be better to leave the regular lion chief train out of layout and run 3 different trains.
I don’t know how to make other trains run in the layout with the lion chief train.
I really appreciate your help. I am not trying to make this difficult. I am a beginner that is why i am asking for your help if you don’t mind. Thanks

 

[Pingman]

Suggestion: Aggregate the dialog with Bull and move those posts to a new thread, and return this thread to its original topic which is progress on GRJ's new layout.

 

[Bull6791]

John, I appreciate all your time and help. Also I appreciate everything you explain to me from Post # 536 and all my other post. Thanks.

 

[cole226]

compatible systems

Bull, as John has stated;
You can run Lionchief (LC), LC+, and LC+ 2 all together on your layout as they all have there own designated remote and run on constant voltage. You may need to add a more powerful transformer to run multiple trains at the same time.

You could also run Lionel TMCC and MTH DCS controlled trains along with the various LC but you would need to add their additional control systems.

Hope this helps you understand.

 

[cole226]

Bull, here is a video from Lionel that might also help.