Skip to main content

I'm really looking forward to getting one of these, though I'm waiting for the 2021 catalog just in case Lionel puts out some new road names. It's better sized as a switcher for those of us running semi-scale/traditional sized gear. In an era of skyrocketing MSRPs, this one alsio seems like a bargain.

Original Post

Replies sorted oldest to newest

Does that include this one?
https://www.lionel.com/product...ionchief-set-2022090

If so, I received mine last week from Charles Ro and have been running it heavily for several days.  I don't buy much new stuff, so I don't know what's considered "normal problems" for a modern starter loco.  Just really fell in love with this little set when I saw it.

The chuffing effect makes mine run with stuttering, jerky movements at low speeds.  This has gotten a little better over a few days of running and following a light grease and oil.  I eventually had to stick a piece of a paper clip in the mechanism of the rear coupler to keep it from randomly opening, so for all intents, it's now a nonfunctional coupler.

Lifetime conventional runner, so I'd prefer a handle in my hand and not the whole remote thing, but it's an overall good product, aside from the aforementioned items.  Smokes great, all sounds are loud and vivid.

Hopefully it better than the first run. our club has one and I have had to remoter it twice as it has $1 motor mounted vertically , the bearings wear in the motor and then gears start to get chewed up and it fails. there is no easy way to get it apart for normal lubrication to keep it from happening.  everything else about the loco is very nicely built but the cheap choice of motor makes its lifetime very short. and also No parts available so next go around this loco is history.

@Rick Rubino posted:

Hopefully it better than the first run. our club has one and I have had to remoter it twice as it has $1 motor mounted vertically , the bearings wear in the motor and then gears start to get chewed up and it fails. there is no easy way to get it apart for normal lubrication to keep it from happening.  everything else about the loco is very nicely built but the cheap choice of motor makes its lifetime very short. and also No parts available so next go around this loco is history.

Well, considering this is LC Plus 2.0 and quite a bit of a redesign (per Lionel Dave's comments some months back), let's hope for better results.

@johnstrains posted:

That's also my preorder. Liked the look of it in the catalog.

My layout is a reflection of our family.  My parents were New Yorker's and although I've spent my entire life in CT the New York influence did rub off on me.  So, I also liked the look but it was the "Brooklyn" that attracted me.    Also, No. 15 lives on in another life as prototype size Thomas the Tank based in Strasburg. 

I received mine today. I will post pics and videos this week end. To start, it has the slow power up like the new b6sbs. When power is applied in tmcc mode, the engine stays dark and silent. After addressing the loc, the engine lights fade in and then the sounds start up. Engine has odyssey2, smoke, 4 chuffs, front and rear headlights, operating couplers. It's loaded with details - coupled cut bars, engineer figure, all diecast.   This has some surprising heft for a small loc.  Lionel packs spare tires, tool to remove side rods, and a pipette for filling the smoke unit. Engine seems to stutter a bit on speed step 1. Hoping some break in will smooth it out. It has 5 whistle pitches and 5 bell pitches. So far I really like it. Sounds are very good. I only tested in tmcc. I will test Bluetooth this weekend.  Very impressed.

These are great little engines, nice detail,  good to hear the reviews above. If Lionel has indeed done the upgrades to the motor and gears then may consider getting one, would like to hear how these hold up. Have many Lionel engines LionChief and LionChief + the last few years that have failed with very little use and light loads. Just replaced the drive wheel gear set on a $500 LC+ engine today that had died after about 2 hours use from new, and corrected the factory motor - gear design that had a lot of gear slack allowing gear slip and failure.

I have the original much older conventional version of this 0-6-0 switcher still trying to figure out how to get a new motor in as they are not available.

The features are great on these new engines. Hopefully they will hold up and come out with more road names.   The LC Plus 2.0 electronics and features add a nice selection of fun options for operating the newer engines.

@kj356 posted:


I have the original much older conventional version of this 0-6-0 switcher still trying to figure out how to get a new motor in as they are not available.

https://ogrforum.ogaugerr.com/...e-and-series-2-motor

I was recently successful in getting the series 2 replacement motor into the series 1 frame with a minor modification to the frame. See link above. Granted, it will never be as feature rich as this LC+2.0 version.

Got mine yesterday from Legacy Station. Ran kind of clunky at first before I realized it didn't come with the traction tires installed. Slapped the tires on and gave it a rip around the layout. Pretty smooth operation for such small wheels. I found it seems to respond better when controlled using REL100 on the Cab 2 remote.

This engine has a tiny electrical footprint though and even the slightest voltage drop anywhere on your layout will make it cutout. The rear coupler droops a bit but I am sure that is easily fixed. Like said above, it smokes like crazy and seems like it wants to puff at really low speeds but the 4 chuffs per rev on such tiny wheels turns it into a constant fan operation.

The detail and paint is excellent especially considering its a $215 engine all in. Overall very happy outside of the minor quirks noted above.

Add Reply

Post
This forum is sponsored by Lionel, LLC

OGR Publishing, Inc., 1310 Eastside Centre Ct, Suite 6, Mountain Home, AR 72653
800-980-OGRR (6477)
www.ogaugerr.com

×
×
×
×
Link copied to your clipboard.
×
×