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I am one of the people that was not thrilled about the LionChief System when it was announced but after watching this video I have changed my opinion. If you have not seen the video take a look. 

 

I think this is a big improvement over the traditional Polar Express set.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VXQScIMl3z4

 

 

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I had the opportunity to run a prototype of the the LionChief Polar Express set.  I also got to observe several 5 to 8 year olds playing with it.  The children figured out how to use the LionChief remote in just a few seconds, and better yet, operating the set with the LionChief remote held their interest.

 

My personal experience with the prototype motivated me to order a set. A LionChief Polar Express set is definitely fun to run and I am looking forward to letting young folk play with it during the Fall/Winter display season (along with myself , of course)

 

 

Ed Boyle

I see two problems with the LionChief system.

 

1.  If the remote stops working you cannot run the set until/unless Lionel repairs the remote.  LionChief locomotives will not run conventional.

 

2.  If a person who owns a LionChief set wants to add non-LionChief locomotive he would also have to buy a conventional transformer to operate it.  I do know that with the MTH DCS Remote Commander sets that this is also a requirement of those sets as well (adding a non-DCS locomotive to them).

Stuart

Has anyone on the forum had a chance to open up an engine to see what electronics are inside?  Ditto for the remote.  I'm wondering if the board and remote might be a separate sale item some day so that older engines could be retro-fitted.  If it would be similar to putting an electronic e-unit in an engine, it would be an easy conversion.

I can see the market where these would be good for, but I don't fall in that market.  When I first learned of it, I didn't like it, and after seeing the video, I still don't like it.  It's a good thing I noticed it before I placed an order for a RTR set, I could of up screwing myself over with a locomotive I couldn't use.  It's good that Lionel is offering the locomotives in either LionChief or conventional, but they should really make the locomotive work under both.  TMCC and Legacy can, so why not this?  The only reason I can think of is that they were too lazy to design a PCB that'd allow both.  A switch could even make it so both boards are installed.  And boy did he talk a lot about the non train sounds, like the announcements and music.  To me those are not features, but reasons to avoid them.  They should of also made these things TMCC or Legacy controllable.  What are these little engineers going to do when they grow up and go to a "big boy's" command system and find their favorite childhood engine won't work with it?  Who hands to use two remotes at once?

If I'm not mistaken, these are probably the least expensive O gauge sets on the market by a factor of about 1.5-2x.  The price point is likely designed to appeal to largest number of people possible.  $150-200 street price is a lot more attractive to many families than 1.5-2x that price, obviously.  I'm guessing that cost was a major factor in the design specifications:  provide improved technology at prices no higher than and sometimes lower than where Lionel toy train sets have been heading.

Originally Posted by John Korling:
The LionChief system is the same in principle as the astronomy/birdwatching/RC/musician analogy.  It's designed and marketed as starting point; not marketed for pre-existing O gauge hobbyists.  If the LionChief set is as far as the consumer it's marketed towards wants to go with it, nothing more is needed and has done its job.  If the person's interest in the hobby evolves and expands, then he/she invests in the more advanced equipment and he can still either hold on to and play with, sell, or pass down the LionCheif set, just like the aforementioned analogies.

I guess we should ask who doesn't still have their 1st train set, because those I know well that are into trains still have them and enjoy running them.  Not anyone I personally know would get rid of them, and that includes some people that aren't into trains, but still have their 1st train set.  Mine was an old Marx, and I still have what's left of the set.  I've even paid money to keep the locomotive running so that I can pull it out and run it with my more modern stock.  So, unless someone buys one to give us, there'll never be any LionCheif equipped trains in my house.

 Stuart, regarding your second point, even if you did not buy into the Lion Chief system, you'd still need a transformer to run a conventional locomotive.

     While I tend to have a favorable view of this new system, I have a few concerns and questions after watching the video.
     First, I noticed that when the engine was in neutral and either the horn, bell or announcement was activated that the idling engine sounds would stop and then abruptly come back on after the bell, whistle or announcement ended but while running the chuffing sounds continued under the sounds of the bell, whistle or announcements. Wonder why that happens. I'd assume sound board has dual channel capability so why use it only for forward mode and not neutral?
     Second, I'm wondering whether the electronics of a Lion Chief locomotive could be removed and retrofitted into my current Polar Express loco that has the steam whistle effect. I'm assuming likely not but am optimistically hopeful that it could be.
     Looking forward to Lionel reps at York having answers for these two concerns.
Kenn
 
Originally Posted by Stuart:

I see two problems with the LionChief system.

 

1.  If the remote stops working you cannot run the set until/unless Lionel repairs the remote.  LionChief locomotives will not run conventional.

 

2.  If a person who owns a LionChief set wants to add non-LionChief locomotive he would also have to buy a conventional transformer to operate it.  I do know that with the MTH DCS Remote Commander sets that this is also a requirement of those sets as well (adding a non-DCS locomotive to them).

Stuart

 

I would be interested in a Lion Chief upgrade to both my PE and Thomas sets. Jr Engineero expressed interest at four and a half years old...that she would love to be able to roam the Christmas  layout to control her passenger and freight sets. She'll be six in a few weeks time.

If Lion Chief upgrades aren't possible, ever,  then I may go the TMCC upgrade route.

She is looking to be able to control her trains while standing in front of many elf delivery/drop off zones to load/unload various boxes in her hopper and gondola cars.

If anyone can find out about upgrades while at York or via OGR contacts I would be thankful to know either way.

Thanks,
CH

CH:

As far as I know, LionChief is only available pre-installed in some starter sets. The only thing that is available seperately are the additional remotes.

 

ogaugeguy:

Transplanting a LionChief board from one loco to another should be only a little more involved than installing an electronic reverse board. It's basically just a radio receiver+speed controller, probably two wires in from the pickup rollers/wheels, two wires out to the motor, and perhaps two to a speaker and/or smoke unit.

 

---PCJ

i must admit i didn't watch the video all the way through, but i still stand where i did when it was introduced. i don't care for it but then again i'm a conventional only type of guy. if there was a switch for conventional with a transformer i would've jumped on last years scout set. but the remote only operation was a turn off to me. on the other hand i do understand why lionel is doing this, and also understand why other folks like it. i just wish there were a switch so i could run it with a transformer instead. i've always liked starter sets but it looks like those days are coming to an end for me. i'm also thankful i got the polar express last year, sice there doesn't seem to be a transformer controlled entry level version this year. as for the sounds i don't need them.

Originally Posted by CH:
I would be interested in a Lion Chief upgrade to both my PE and Thomas sets. Jr Engineero expressed interest at four and a half years old...that she would love to be able to roam the Christmas  layout to control her passenger and freight sets. She'll be six in a few weeks time.

If Lion Chief upgrades aren't possible, ever,  then I may go the TMCC upgrade route.

She is looking to be able to control her trains while standing in front of many elf delivery/drop off zones to load/unload various boxes in her hopper and gondola cars.

If anyone can find out about upgrades while at York or via OGR contacts I would be thankful to know either way.

Thanks,
CH

Go with TMCC from ERR, you'll thank me in the morning.

I also am hoping Lionel will release the Lion Chief as separate upgrades.   I think Jon talked about 10 separate frequencies available, so I could equip my Williams and RMT and low-end Lionel with some duplication.   But I would probably only install in 4 locos or so just to try it for fun.  -Ken

"Except for the limitation of "line of sight" operation the MTH system offers much the same capability as the Lionel system. Plus the MTH system can be used with any PS-2 capable engine."

 

The MTH system requires you buy a PS2 or PS3 set, which usually costs about 1.5-2 times as much as a low end Lionel Lionchief set, so that's one difference.  The second difference is the Lionchief system allows you to control as many different trains as you have space for, each independently without using DCS or Legacy.  The Remote Commander is limited to one train at a time, in terms of independent control.  So I'd have to say that for conventional mode, the Lionchief is the less expensive, more flexible and capable system at this point in time, albeit only in conventional mode.

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