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I'm only repeating what I was told by a very reputable individual. As for the informational page, there was one up but there was an error on it which has now been fixed. |
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Sounds to me like this whole thing was the problem of a typo that no one caught. Change "of" to "or" (the 2 letters are right next to each other on the keyboard) and you have a major change in the message!
Overall, I'd take the intent to be to offload paying someone labor to do the installs. Chris LVHR |
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I have their remote Smoke Fluid Loader on my layout and it is one of the neatest accessories I own... RD Live the Dream! Own the Best! LIONEL!!! |
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It more fun this way!   TCA 99-50248 TTOS 18508 Westie TMCC Demonstrator |
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Actually, to prevent any confusion, the announcement should read:  Yes, I corrected the misspelling of "remaing". |
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HOPEFULLY they will be good enough to send back anything they are holding, without charge if they can't/won't complete the installations. Sounds like they would, being nice guys and all.
I heard most of the installations were being done out-of-house. Glad to hear we can still order their products. There are a number of folks around who can and do these installs. Thinking about taking a shot at one myself.
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The word remaining, does that mean when the current supply is gone they are no longer selling anything. Still seems very vague. On the positive side, is lionel going to sell legacy to us for our engines?
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What the heck?????? I have EOB in all my non MTH engines. What am I going to do for all those pre-cruise engines I purchase and want to upgrade??
 Regards, Gary Long live the Boston & Albany. |
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Did Lionel actually buy Electric RR?
If they bought TAS ... hummmmm ... what's afoot? So, is there now (aside from the TAS remaining stock,) any company making and selling a TMCC upgrade system for non-control system locomotives? |
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Looks like they are out to dominate/control the TMCC aftermarket.
Wonder who's next ... |
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Well if all these rumors are even somewhat true (how likely is that on this forum
 ), it sounds like a good time to invest in good old fashioned conventional transformers ......  Jonathan Peiffer Modeling the NY&LB in Arizona Still counting rivets ... always so many to count |
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Yes!!
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Glad I stayed Conventional.
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WOW! What an interesting thread! I sincerely hope TA Studios is not going out of business. I guess we'll know soon enough.
What about Digital Dynamics? Don't they install TMCC? 2 railer but respectful to 3 railers! Happy Railroading Everyone! Stilll waiting for 1:48 scaled autos.... Phil Gatto |
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No. You buy the parts, download the manual and do it yuorself or contract out the work to someone who will. Quando Omni Flunkus Moritatum |
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I speak to Brian on a weekly basis and can assure anyone that has engines/locomotives at TAS, that your upgrades will be completed in a timely manner with the same quality and performance that you expect from them. They are good hard working people like all of us. Brian returned a Weaver U25B and Pennsy C1 0-8-0 both with EOB upgrades last week. Both work great
Weaver Models also does TMCC and EOB upgrade installs. |
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From what I hear TAS is NOT going out of business. I can't give details because I didn't get it directly from TAS. I'm sure there will be an explanation forthcoming.
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This year I had my engine in for EOB it sat there for 5 months waiting for a EOB kit I was told they lost thier supplier and had to redesign it.it was second one a new guy had put in. It fought with it's other engine that was done a year ago to the point that it riped the tires off and the lights don't work.I've been sick and my track is down.I was just thiking of sending them both back to have them fixed I have lost my sales slip but i can pay.
I tried to e-mail the parts number but it doesn't work? Any ideas? Thanks Joe |
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I just emailed them with a question about the lack of products on the website. I'll let ya know what comes back to me.
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Didn't Calabreese say a long time ago that Lionel was unhappy with all the aftermarketing of their Railsounds/TMCC products and that he was considering
reducing the licensing program to these 'third party' companies? Robert E. |
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Or DCS... I just got back 3 lionel engines (RDG T-1 Chessie T-1 and NYC Mohawk these were actually contracted out to Mike Wolf to be built) from Frank Timko. He put new can motors and MTH Smoke units in so I could install DCS in them. Funny thing, wasn't Davis Trains the first fallen flag in the after market demise? That Train she's a special streamline ya know, and she's fast. That trains so fast, the hobo's don't mess with that train. They just stand by the track with their hat in their hand. -- Tom Rush, The Panama Limited |
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Instead of rumors of gloom, doom, and chaos, how about something positive for a change: Lionel is buying TAS and/or licensing Legacy technology to them and TAS will now be producing the long anticipated Legacy upgrade kits. Heck, as long as we're talking rumors... an EOB to Legacy conversion kit is in the works as well.
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Regarding the Change of Status of TAS:
It does not affect 3rd Rail at all. I repeat, we are not affected at all. We buy our EOB electronics directly from Sanda Kan. Nothing has changed for the OEMs. Period. Even if there was a change, we have the electronics for our projects planned for 2009 already. I hope this change helps Phil and the TAS Gang to continue in this challenging marketplace. Cheers. Scott Mann - Sunset Models Inc. |
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TAS Update - late this afternoon I DID get a email reply from someone at TAS stating that my locomotive (a 3rd Rail Niagara) was being serviced per my agreement with them and that I could expect to be contacted soon to finalize the payment and return shipping details.
So, anyone with locos with them currently can expect to get them back finsihed in the not-to-distant future. This, plus the reply from Scott @ 3rd Rail is REALLY good news! (for me, at least!) Rob |
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In a word, "WHEW!!!" A sigh of relief to hear.
Thanks Scott.
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There's that name again ...Sanda Kan. The same Sanda Kan that has ownership of the original K-Line scale molds. The same Sanda Kan that was acquired by the holding company that owns Bachmann Trains. The same company that recently purchased Williams Trains, who recently made comments to Charlie Nassau that big things are on the horizon. Hmmm, maybe Sanda Kan made an offer that TAS couldn't refuse. Can anyone tie this into one of those convoluted relationships that end with a connection to the actor/musician Kevin Bacon?  Oh wait, I got it. Bachmann Trains is headquartered in Philadelphia and Kevin Bacon performed (with his brother) a children's song on one of children's author Sandra Boynton's music CD's entitled "Philadelphia Chickens". You can have a steam train...If you'd just lay down your tracks. |
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I'm not sure if either everyone knows Mike's e-mail or didn't see it on another thread he just posted to, but you can tell alot from an e-mail address:
"you can email me directly at legacyupgrade@lionel.com. Thank You, Mike Reagan Lionel" Member: TCA & NF Div of TTOS A Classic - Buffalo's Central Terminal http://central.terminal.railfan.net/ |
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Come to the dark side Luke! |
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We have Cookies |
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Robert, That's what I was thinking yesterday as well. Also, around the time Jerry Calabrese was interviewed by OGR and spoke at the OGR Forum at York, he indicated that he probably would not have licensed TMCC to the other manufacturers. At least that is how I recall it. I thought licensing TMCC to the other players was an absolutely brilliant move at the time (and still do). That decision is paying off now that Legacy is available. And I'm fairly confident that Lionel has some sort of end-of-life strategy for TMCC. Maybe we are seeing that now with whatever is going on with TAS. George Modeling the Weirton, WV-Steubenville, OH area between 1948-1957. |
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I’m just wondering has it ever occurred to anyone around here to just relax and enjoy the Holiday and wait until something actually happens before you start moaning and groaning about it.
Papa Building the Ohio North Coast Railroad one paycheck at a time! The Ohio North Coast Railroad http://www.oncrail.com/ Lone Star Hi-Railers http://www.lonestarhirailers.com/ |
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I hope that TMCC parts don't march off into oblivion! I have several tenders that I wanted to install Railsounds kits into. I hope those kits don't become obsolete.
Bless God, America |
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Then what would everyone talk about? |
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Looks like it's going to be an interesting April York!
Tony |
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If there was any truth in your statement it would probably be that DCS operates TMCC but not the extra Legacy features in a legacy engine. My guess is most folks who have both DCS & TMCC see no reason to buy a $300 Legacy control system for those extra features even after buying a Legacy engine... I can only imagine how it must tear Jerrys heart out to see that.. Joe |
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Papa you've got the right idea. For some reason Steve Winwood's song "Roll With It Baby" came to mind. When life is too much, roll with it, baby Don't stop and lose your touch, oh no, baby Hard times knocking on your door I'll tell them you ain't there no more Get on through it, roll with it, baby Luck'll come and then slip away,Yu've gotta move, bring it back to stay Wild Mary (AKA Nick, AKA Charles Nichols) "Riding The Wild Mary"  |
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Joe,
How about giving it a rest in 2009 |
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Just posted on the TAS website
Effective immediately TAStudios will no longer be offering installation services for aftermarket sales of command control upgrade products. In a decision that was not made without a lot of consideration we have decided to cease the aftermarket installation of our upgrade products. We are changing the direction of our business model and will be offering support of our products that have been sold. We will also be selling out the remaining parts we have in stock for the next 30 days, however, these sales will be conducted through authorized dealers, which we will update as soon as the list is completed. We have several products in the marketplace that are still under warranty and TAStudios will honor these warranties as we have in the past. Effective December 24th we will no longer be taking phone calls for support of the product line. Instead all support and inquiries will be handled through electronic mail only. warranty@tastudios.com. We understand that this change in our business model is generating a lot of unanswered questions in the marketplace and we will answer these questions very soon. Please have patience with us while we make this transition. For those who are concerned about the OEM sales of our products, the licensed manufacturers will still continue to use products such as Engineer On Board (EOB) speed control, Turbo Smoke Units and SAW Boards. This change in the business model in no way will affect the OEM marketplace. Please feel free to enter the website using the link below Thank you for your patience and understanding. Merry Christmas! TAS Staff "We understand that this change in our business model is generating a lot of unanswered questions" You think? "It's 3-Rail. In 3-Rail you can do anything you want" - Larry Harrington, WBB |
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I think all it means is that TAS will sell boards to Atlas, Weaver, and Sunset, but not to YOU.
Michael    |
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Well I heard from a good source that the transition team wiil soon appoint a TMCC/EOB Czar who will make sure nobody gets left out of this deal ! Unless of course you didn't contribute to the team fundraiser. This same source also said the merger of GM/CHRYSLER/Sanda KAN could happen in the near term possibly as soon as the snowplows dig out Vegas!
Gunny |
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FINALLY !!!! A resolution to solving the many unanswered questions surrounding this controversy!!! Just where and when is the inauguration of this "TMCC/EOB Czar" expected to take place? And if he's going to take a highly publicized train excursion to his swearing in, what's the route being taken so I can wave to him as he goes by, or can I buy tickets for the trip? Gee, I wonder what type of train equipment will be called into service for this exciting event??? Thanks for this great news!! |
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The problem with getting you on this train Alan would be a security clearance!
Please submit the following 1 Abstract of phony birth certificate. 2 Illinois right to work campaign payoff video (audio tape will work) 3 Proof that you never did any physical labor. Please forward all this to my good friend farquan A Squee care of first National Bank of Bailout Nayrobbi Can Ya for prompt consideration. Standing here beside myself with happiness I reamain M T Madeoff Withmyshare ESQ/PBA |
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gunny on a roll!
Fabulous Forrest at the Brewer Ave & Pacific RR  |
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From TAS
We understand that this change in our business model is generating a lot of unanswered questions in the marketplace and we will answer these questions very soon. Please have patience with us while we make this transition. For those who are concerned about the OEM sales of our products, the licensed manufacturers will still continue to use products such as Engineer On Board (EOB) speed control, Turbo Smoke Units and SAW Boards. This change in the business model in no way will affect the OEM marketplace. |
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To be perfectly blunt.... they should have kept their mouths shut until "whatever is going on" was a completed deal!!! Then...... release a "All is fine and well at the "new" TAS ... and everybody's happy!!" blah, blah, blah..... Everyone would have been much better served!! |
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It sounds to me that they are changing their business model to a B2B, Business to Business model, rather than a B2C or Business to Consumer model. There are many reasons why a company would want to do this. Usually, a B2B model requires less manpower and is cheaper to operate. You don't have to deal with the end user and end-user issues. Also, in many cases your buying power from suppliers is now increased because instead of selling in ones and twos, you are selling items by bulk, case or pallet, so you can also take advantage of those volumes to better control your inventory.
Again, I have no idea what's going on...but that's my guess. I wish TAS all the best no matter what they do. |
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So does this mean no more smoke fluid loaders? What ever happen to the guy who designed it and used to post here a lot? For the likes of me I can't remember his name.
Regards, Gary Long live the Boston & Albany. |
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His name was Ernie. He still posts occasionally. His handle is Lionel2341.
"Then again what do I know? I'm sitting in a 53' white box watching TV"  MartyE and Kodi the Husky Dog (3/31/90-9/28/04) Crappy Basement Productions Present... A Proud Member of the CBL Assoc. MartyE.com My O-Gauge RR Webpage...Home to Kodiak Junction! |
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I was quite dismayed when I saw this thread. Earlier this year, I had TAS convert 6 PS 1.0 engines to TMCC. It was really convenient for me as they are less than an hour from my home and I dropped them off rather than have to go through the pain of shipping them there. They did a great job for me, and I was very pleased.
I have about another 20 engines that I would like to upgrade, and was planning on doing about 5 a year for the next few years. So this news was quite disappointing to me. Someone mentioned that Weaver Models provides this service as well. So I contacted my friend Joe Hayter, owner of Weaver with whom I worked on the Weaver O scale line poles a few year ago. His response was: "We definitely do provide this service. And, we have been doing it for quite awhile. So, if you need anything done, let us know - and spread the word." Joe, consider the word spread. And now at least we know another option exists for upgrading engines to TMCC. Neal Schorr Modeling the Middle Division of the Pennsylvania Railroad |
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