For Lion Chief Set Fans: Your Favorite?

I only have the Polar Express (10th anniversary edition) as far as LionChief goes.  I will say that the cruise control function on the Plus engines is the award winner, so the regular LionChief products appeal to me a little less for anything that is offered in a LC+ version.  That said, the polar express's 2-8-4 berk is a fantastic engine (though it does have a few annoying quirks).  The set as a whole is also a great value for what you pay.  I paid on the high end of retail from what I've seen, at about $360 but have since seen these sets going for as low as $270.  There is not much different in the LionChief version versus the older conventional version as far as the lighted coaches or the rest of what's in the box... The star of this show is the LionChief control of the engine.  When I bought it I was amazed at the low speed control, then even happier to find it would pull a lot more than the 3 cars it came with... 20 more cars easily.  In the name of fairness there are 2 issues I've had with the 2-8-4, one specific to the polar express, and one that seems to be true for all of the newer 2-8-4's and 0-8-0's .  first, the long nose of the polar express's pilot, and in this case, cow catcher just might be the right term...anyway, the long tip has a tendency to touch the center rail on un-even track and grades which shorts the power.  The second issue is that the engine only makes it barely through the O36 curves that come in the set, and will not run reliably on O31 or O27 curves.  It is not a big deal in that it is rated O36, but annoying since most of the several dozen switches I own are O27.  I'd like starter sets to remain operational on O27 curves if I could have things my way.   

All in all, I don't think any O gauge hobbyist's collection would be complete without a Polar Express set, and this is the best one made to date in the entry level products.  

JGL

I paid $250 shipped for the PE set, then I sold the locomotive as I already had mine that has been upgraded to TMCC with MTH smoke and my Super-Chuffer.  I really just wanted the cars to add to my PE train, it looks good with seven cars.  The upgraded PE smokes like a chimney, looks good with all the extra lighting, and has excellent performance.

I have the LC+ Camelback, the difference between the LC and LC+ is fairly significant, I don't think I'd routinely run the LC stuff now that I've had the LC+.

I only have the Batman set.   It's a really nice set but I didn't realize how much I'd miss the scale speed.   Next time I'm going for the LC+.

I have the Amtrak Passenger set and I love it.  I'm a diesel guy, and this FT Diesel looks great. I run passenger trains on my layout for now.

PDX,

    I have purchased several that were given as Christmas presents, my wife purchased the new Hallmark/Lionel Santa Toy maker Express for me this Christmas and I love the colors and the announcements.  Hope they make a couple add on cars next Christmas season, for my new LC Christmas Train.

PCRR/Dave

Love the sound of the steam generator on the Frosty the Snowman steam engine when its sitting still. Wish all my steamers had this idle sound.

I too have the Polar Express Anniversary edition. I am looking at the Metro North M7 set, but I wish Lionel would add a Subway series to the LC+.  The Amtrak set also looks appealing but again I would prefer LC+ over the standard LC.

I'm still trying to find my favorite.

So far I've got the Pennsylvania Flyer set, the Thomas set, and the Bethlehem Steel set. Needed one remote for each nephew.

Next on my list is the Pennsylvania Keystone Special or the Chessie set.

I have the Chessie Mikado locomotive (LC+) and the seven passenger cars sold alongside it, as well as the Chessie Diesel Freight set.  

The LC+ Chessie Mikado is amazing, and one of the best purchases I've made in recent years.  Very highly recommended.  

The LC Chessie diesel locomotive is "good enough", but I don't see myself running it much in the future.  However, the caboose and rolling stock from the set are nicer than your typical starter set.  I'm quite pleased with those.

Save your pennies for LC+, from my perspective. 

I have the older pre 10th anniversary PE, James, Pennsy Broadway, and Pennsy Flyer.  My family really enjoys these sets for our Christamas layout and for my 3yr old son to drive on the big layout.  The PE is a great engine, it is heavy and has a strong motor that can easily pull the three cars plus the add on cars that they sell.  The James engine was a hit when my son was 2, but does not get much run time and is generally a very low quality set.  The flyer is ok, the 0-8-0 engine is the super cheep version with a dummy front coupler and very weak motor.  The Broadway 0-8-0 has a better motor and is much more detailed with a working front coupler.   The passenger cars  on the Broadway look nice and were the source of a lot of fun train station stops for the kids on the Christmas layout with the PE. 

I did set up a multi level layout this year for Christmas, the PE pulled up the hill fine, but without cruise control flew down the hill.  The flyer was useless on the incline, and the Broadway did fine.  I am looking forward to a PE LC+ engine to head up my Christmas layout in the future. 

I did just buy the Lionchief + Mikado (PRR) ordered from Mario. Looking forward to trying LC+, since I love LC so much.

I have my eye on the M7, Amtrak, Area 51 and Zombie trains. Love the idea of all of them. Love passenger trains most of all, although, believe it or not, I prefer the silhouette windows.

Too much fun. I enjoy hearing about your favorites!

Not really interested in the Lion Chief line but do have several (up to 4 now) of the Lion Chief Plus offerings.

Really enjoy the features for the price point:  decent looking, well made, excellent speed  control, operating couplers, smoke is good, and performance has been fine.

For a mostly conventional operator they fit the bill for running either conventionally or with the remote. 

I have three LionChief Plus, locos on my layout. It is the best way to get visitors a hands on experience.  It takes to long to get a visitor up to speed with a MTH - DCS Controller, TMCC, Lionel Legacy or WiFi.  Just hand them a LionChief Controller and they are now a Model Train Engineer.

See photos below, Click on photo to enlarge.

Gary: Cheers from The Detroit and Mackinac Railway

And here’s my favorite LionChief set: in John Deere Green!

Bill

I have a pair of RS3's, one LC and LC +, love 'em both! Although the electro couplers on the LC + does have the edge.

How does the Chessie GP-38 run?

I had an early LC Santa Fe Scout RS3 and the power wires to the trucks were drawn up so tight it was walking out of curves. The trucks didn't articulate at all.

I'm drooling on that Pennsylvania set with the GP-38 but if I have to fiddle-fart around with the wiring like I did on that RS3 to get it to run on my mainline, my enthusiasm may cool off.

I've Got the LC Western Union General set.  Love it!  A remote controlled General in a great looking decorative scheme.

My favorite  LC+ locomotive is this Mikado.

This is now my favorite LionChief Plus - FT A - B - A  /  This is Lionel's first time doing an A-B-A unit as a LionChief Plus . It looks great with my post war locos. It looks like a classic Lionel F-3.

Check out my You Tube Video........ A detailed review.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X1IqzW9IL7U

Gary - Cheers from The Detroit and Mackinac Railway

I think the FT passenger sets look cool.  Amtrak had some F3's, not FT's.  However, the set looks like 1970's Amtrak!