Trains.com

My first Lionel LionChief Plus engine #2050

7123 views
41 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
KRM
  • Member since
    January 2011
  • From: North Bluff above Marseilles IL
  • 6,506 posts
Posted by KRM on Friday, January 18, 2019 7:50 PM

rtraincollector

 

 
KRM
 
Michael6268

All still in their original shipping cartons.  Given the state of Lionel quality, i cringe when the day comes i take them out and try them out!

 

 

 After two days on the track I keep hearing a high pitched noise coming from the engine and thought maybe it was to be the sound of the turbo, Nope it is the fan motor?? Anyone else notice that? or are your fans quiet?

Tried to get a hold of someone at Lionel for hours!!! I think I would have better luck getting the POTUS and the speaker of the house to get along than get someone at Lionel to answer the phone! Laugh

 

 

There closed due to the govermeent shutdown Whistling Surprise

On the serious side thou I feel for them. (That's all the polical I'm getting. ) 

 

Is there a point here RT????? Nothing here is political, it was a metaphor about getting Lionel to respond. 

Anyway,,,

 I have decided that buying new trains today is like a Quickie, you get a moment of joy and a lifetime of grief.  Laugh

 I had best stick with my old stuff.

Joined 1-21-2011    TCA 13-68614

Kev, From The North Bluff Above Marseilles IL. Whistling

 

  • Member since
    April 2005
  • From: South Carolina
  • 9,713 posts
Posted by rtraincollector on Friday, January 18, 2019 3:17 PM

KRM
 
Michael6268

All still in their original shipping cartons.  Given the state of Lionel quality, i cringe when the day comes i take them out and try them out!

 

 

 After two days on the track I keep hearing a high pitched noise coming from the engine and thought maybe it was to be the sound of the turbo, Nope it is the fan motor?? Anyone else notice that? or are your fans quiet?

Tried to get a hold of someone at Lionel for hours!!! I think I would have better luck getting the POTUS and the speaker of the house to get along than get someone at Lionel to answer the phone! Laugh

There closed due to the govermeent shutdown Whistling Surprise

On the serious side thou I feel for them. (That's all the polical I'm getting. ) 

Life's hard, even harder if your stupid  John Wayne

http://rtssite.shutterfly.com/

KRM
  • Member since
    January 2011
  • From: North Bluff above Marseilles IL
  • 6,506 posts
Posted by KRM on Friday, January 18, 2019 3:07 PM

Michael6268

All still in their original shipping cartons.  Given the state of Lionel quality, i cringe when the day comes i take them out and try them out!

 After two days on the track I keep hearing a high pitched noise coming from the engine and thought maybe it was to be the sound of the turbo, Nope it is the fan motor?? Anyone else notice that? or are your fans quiet?

Tried to get a hold of someone at Lionel for hours!!! I think I would have better luck getting the POTUS and the speaker of the house to get along than get someone at Lionel to answer the phone! Laugh

Joined 1-21-2011    TCA 13-68614

Kev, From The North Bluff Above Marseilles IL. Whistling

 

  • Member since
    April 2013
  • 346 posts
Posted by Michael6268 on Friday, January 18, 2019 9:39 AM

Ive got all steam   

Hudson

Mikado

And a Pacific.... 

 

All still in their original shipping cartons.  Given the state of Lionel quality, i cringe when the day comes i take them out and try them out! 

Time to add a diesel !!

  • Member since
    March 2004
  • From: Jelloway Creek, OH - Elv. 1100
  • 7,578 posts
Posted by Buckeye Riveter on Friday, January 18, 2019 6:39 AM

I now have four Lionchief Plus locomotives. All of them run good but there have been a few tweaks. The Mikado had a trailing truck that would not move freely. The best part is the grandsons can run them.  

If you have popped off the shell, it is much better layed out inside. Not a bunch of wires as found in TMCC. 

I would like to see Lionel use this system as an intro to more road names. It seems like it would be very simple especially for the diesel units.

Celebrating 18 years on the CTT Forum. Smile, Wink & Grin

Buckeye Riveter......... OTTS Charter Member, a Roseyville Raider and a member of the CTT Forum since 2004..

Jelloway Creek, OH - ELV 1,100 - Home of the Baltimore, Ohio & Wabash RR

TCA 09-64284

  • Member since
    January 2009
  • 1,986 posts
Posted by 8ntruck on Friday, January 18, 2019 1:17 AM

I've got three of them now - a Piere Marquette Berkshire, a NYC Hudson, and a MKT NW2.  Haven't had a chance to run the MKT yet, but the other two have nice detail, good smoke output, and nice sound package.  Smooth runners too.

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: Hightstown, NJ
  • 2,886 posts
Posted by anjdevil2 on Thursday, January 17, 2019 10:23 AM

Glad you like it, Kev!!

I have 3 and working on 4. 

1) Polar Express set ($279)

2) CNJ CamelBack ($300)

3) CNJ Blue Comet with Bluetooth and Transformer Control ($300)

4) (Pending) NS First Responders unit 5364 set with Bluetooth and Transformer Control. ($300, yes, for the SET.  My LHS is taking care of me).

I REALLY like the LC/LC+ stuff, like Marty said, a GREAT BANG for the BUCK!!

I'm not overly excited about the Bluetooth (It does have sound and pitch control), the sounds and smoke are really superior to what I am used to from Lionel.  AND I can run it with my TMCC/Legacy system and engines.

From the start, I thought these engines were a great value.  Can't wait until my layout is up and running, then I can get my MPC era Blue Comet Coaches on the back of my Blue Comet engine.....

 

I am the monster in your head...And I thought you'd learn by now, It seems you haven't yet.
I am the venom in your skin  --- Breaking Benjamin


  • Member since
    April 2003
  • From: Pittsburgh, PA
  • 1,429 posts
Posted by MartyE on Thursday, January 17, 2019 6:51 AM

I find the LC+ engines some of the best bargains out there. Lionel is now using some of the PW tooling for these including the Berks.  I wouldn't put it past them to start tapping into the Lionmaster tools and get some bigger engines on the market.  I think they'd sell like hotcakes, whatever that means.

Enjoy your new engine!

Trying to update my avatar since 2020 Laugh

MartyE and Kodi the Husky Dog! ( 3/31/90-9/28/04 ) www.MartyE.com My O Gauge Web Page and Home of Kodiak Junction!

KRM
  • Member since
    January 2011
  • From: North Bluff above Marseilles IL
  • 6,506 posts
Posted by KRM on Wednesday, January 16, 2019 9:04 PM

Michael6268,

I think it was more than fair. Most places are sold out of them. I got it from Mario's trains for $274.00 delivered. Wink

Joined 1-21-2011    TCA 13-68614

Kev, From The North Bluff Above Marseilles IL. Whistling

 

  • Member since
    April 2013
  • 346 posts
Posted by Michael6268 on Wednesday, January 16, 2019 7:44 PM

I've been thinking of buying that unit.  Where did you get it? Good deal?

KRM
  • Member since
    January 2011
  • From: North Bluff above Marseilles IL
  • 6,506 posts
Posted by KRM on Wednesday, January 16, 2019 5:48 PM

Rob, No Bluetooth on this as far as I can tell??? it is already 3 years old. Most Recent Catalog: 2016 Lionel Volume 2.  BTW I have a dumb flip phone so would not do much for me. Guess I need to get with the times? I thought just getting LionChief Plus was a big step. Laugh

To to adjust the sound volumes independently would be nice!!!

Joined 1-21-2011    TCA 13-68614

Kev, From The North Bluff Above Marseilles IL. Whistling

 

  • Member since
    February 2008
  • 318 posts
Posted by robmcc on Wednesday, January 16, 2019 4:51 PM

Nice video and review from Kev's Train Box! Laugh

That doesn't have Bluetooth, correct? If it does, I would recommend downloading the Lionchief app. It allows you to adjust the sound volumes independently, so you could have the engine volume lower than the horn. Glad you bit and got one! The LC/LC+ is a nice bridge between conventional and command. What did the Mrs. say? Big Smile

Rob

KRM
  • Member since
    January 2011
  • From: North Bluff above Marseilles IL
  • 6,506 posts
My first Lionel LionChief Plus engine #2050
Posted by KRM on Wednesday, January 16, 2019 3:14 PM

I have been wanting to try the Lionel LionChief Plus since introduction. My main reason is the feature that they will pull a grade and keep a constant speed. Up till today all of my trains are conventional units run from one of two Lionel ZW transformers.
Out of the box it looks very nice and has good weight. Pleased.
 On the track, Sounds work well and were to loud for me so the feature you can adjust the volume with the remote was one of the first things I did. It was an easy process to do and I have them where I like it. I do wish the horn was louder and the engine revving not so loud but it will do.
 Remote operations, lights, horn, bell, crew talk and couplers worked as advertised.
On the track it has a nice easy start up and runs smooth with engine revving following the speed well.
Speed control runs it up well but for me it should have more levels. It seems to be too slow or too fast for my liking but not beyond living with.
Smoke output is great and gives life to the movement.
After three laps around the track on the flat it was time to check the speed up the grade?? Perfect. I am very happy.
 Attached is a short video of the first run.
 

Joined 1-21-2011    TCA 13-68614

Kev, From The North Bluff Above Marseilles IL. Whistling

 

Join our Community!

Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account.

Search the Community

FREE EMAIL NEWSLETTER

Get the Classic Toy Trains newsletter delivered to your inbox twice a month