New Lionel Lionchief+ NW2 Switcher

That BN is awesome---love the level of detail on these engines

Can't wait for the B&O

 

Thx for the pics

Agreed. I bought the B&O livery but may have to pick up another one!

 

Edit: Yeah, that Burlington scheme is sharp. I may get that one although possibly wait and see if I can snag one in October as a "York Special."

I resisted temptation out of the catalog but seeing after this thread came out, I caved for the Burlington.  Is on its way. 

Thought the same thing about picking up another one
May wait for the new catalog and see if they continue with more road names

I wonder given  The B&O is a TR3, the BN is a rebuilt former TR2 into a NW2, and the other two remaining as of this writing are TR2 if calves will ever be released.

Boy .... LC+ is cool! I didn't know.

 

You guys have some really good looking fun there!

 

Yea ... cow/calf would be cool!

 Great Steve... Will mine be the first one out ? 

Lionel already has the calf in the form of the LCCA Texas Special NW2 cow/calf set. It does seem like matching calves will be money in the bank if Lionel decides to make them.

A friend passed along his new BN NW-2 for me to test on my layout.  It ran great with a slow steady speed of 2 scale mph and a top speed of 82 scale mph (at a track voltage of 16, which is what I use for TMCC).  I was able to stand at one end of the basement and control the locomotive while it was over 60 feet away, with my furnace room between the locomotive and me (and the handheld remote).  I think Lionel has a real winner here.

 

To answer some of the questions above:

Is the frame diecast like the Postwar unit?

Yes, it is diecast.

I would not think that a RS385PH can motor (typical motor for diesels) would fit under the hood as the 385 is rather tall.

The motor looks like it could be an RS385.  It appears to sit down into the truck mounting a little and there is no big flywheel on top.  See the photos below.

Are the gears plastic or metal?

All of the gears are metal.

Where are the smoke, remote, and sound switches? Under the cab?

Yes, all 3 slide switches are on the bottom of the frame under the cab.

the only minor thing that I wish was different with the NW-2 is the frosted windows.

The windows are frosted to hide the circuit boards.  The board stack is located in the cab area.  See the photos below.

 

Click on a photo to see a full screen version.

 

 

 

Thanks for the info Bob.

 

Care to guess on how many cars you

think it might pull ?

 

 

 

Paul, taking a look at the inside, I believe the frosted windows help block you from seeing the electronics board that sits under/in the cab.

That BN looks sharp.

 

How is the shell affixed to the frame? Does it use the postwar system?

 

The only thing that gives me pause are those front marker lights. Setting aside whether the real engines had them (photos I see suggest not), they just look kinda cheesy from the pics I've seen. Anyone have any insights into the thinking behind them? Thanks

The two pictures above of the WP and IC switchers do show the same lights on the end of the long hood. I think they're a prototypicalish size. It seems odd to me that they only come on when the cab end is leading. Maybe they're reverse lights in the real world? The effect is lost if the loco is pulling cars while running cab first.

 

The shell is not mounted the same way as the PW die cast frame switchers. Maybe it's held on by screws under the frame?

By looking at the photos of the inside I can now understand the frosted windows, as you can say "there's a lot under the hood". Before my B&O got here I almost considered buying another one but decided not to. I will wait to see what come out in the future, I did not realize that I have way too many NW-2's.

 

After playing with the Lion Chief+ at Lionel last year and running my UP GP-7 on a public display last Christmas I was sold on them. Even my friends at the public display (which is strictly MTH) were surprised at how well it performed and looked.

 

Care to guess on how many cars you think it might pull ?

a couple of dozen easily.

 

I think of all the Lionel LionChief Diesel engines released to date these are the most scale looking of the bunch. The others have toy like cast railings.

 

Perhaps one could replace the frosted window glass with clear and instead put up a black sheet of plastic/cardboard to hide the electronics this might look better then the frosted.

 

I think the hand held remote for each LionChief engine is for some an advantage and selling point.

 

Thanks all for the photos this looks like a pretty impressive little engine. How long a train will it haul?

I think you could call this Texas Special from the LCCA a predecessor to the new Lioncheif Plus version. This one is set up very similar to the new ones innards but it's straight conventional. The LCCA and Lionel did an awesome job on this one! I'm thinking it's probably doable to swap out the electronics and give my Texas a "Plus" upgrade!  

 

I think the wrong trucks on the LC+ bother me more than the frosted windows.

+1

One apparent difference with the LCCA model is that the front marker light housings appear to be painted the same color as the surrounding shell. By contrast, on the engines just released the housings look like an unpainted white, which makes them much more conspicuous.

 

If I'm seeing this correctly, I suppose one could just do a little painting. But maybe Lionel can take the LCCA approach with future runs. 

The frame and detailed trucks on the LCCA version are die cast.

Exactly what I was thinking.  If Lionel ever makes one of these in one of my favored road names, that's exactly what I'd try.

 

Just got home and un-boxed my new NW2.  Most of what I could say already has been addressed here, but I want to confirm this is one sharp little locomotive.  I will admit the frosted windows look a bit odd if you stare at the thing for flaws, but in normal operation, I doubt it will make any difference for me.  

 

Personally I'm not looking for prototypical, scale models when buy something, and especially when paying about $275 with tax.  I buy engines to run them, and I can tell you this:  This sucker runs amazing.  The sounds and lights, and even the nice detail work are just icing on the cake.  

 

This is my first LC+ purchase, but if the quality of speed control is as good on others I will be buying many more as the budget allows.  I clocked a smooth 2 SMPH at the lowest speed setting and just over 75 SMPH at full throttle, pulling a few cars.  I was especially impressed by the control given at the low end.  The first quarter of the speed range seems to adjust in about 2 MPH increments up to around 12 MPH.  This engine will just Crawl along all day.  The remaining 3/4 of the speed range is much less sensitive, half way being about 35 SMPH.  

 

In the end, this is the first switcher  I've owned that could actually be used in a yard, and it looks good doing it.  

Good to hear.  I had the same experience with my first Lion Chief Plus (one of the steamers produced in the original run of LC+ locos).  Was skeptical about this new line at first but after seeing the great features -- and especially the speed control -- I was hooked.  Another great job by Lionel.

 

Waiting on my B&O NW2. Speaking of which -- paging Charlie Nassau! Have you received your NW2s?  Thanks!

Received my Southern (soon to be US Army) SW2 switcher from Charlie at Nassau Hobbies.  What a solid, detailed and quality engine.  If this is a sample of what is to come in the future, like the FT set, then Lionel shows that it can deliver quality products to the hobbyist.  Thanks, Lionel

 

Steve and Lady

I have five left and would be happy to take some orders for them - $269.96 each:

 

6-82163 - B&O - 2 left

 

6-82164 - BN - 2 left

 

6-82165 - CB&Q - 1 left

 

Thanks..........

According to the Shipping and Delivery Gods, my B&O NW2 should arrive today.

 

Sounds like another winner from Lionel!