Would you buy a LionChief Plus Polar Express locomotive?

YES! They need to just get it over with and make it. So many people would but it. It's probably still Lionel's best selling set today. I was really disappointed when I realized that Berkshire wasn't part of the new plus line. I went and purchased an MTH Berkshire and the TIU with remote to pull the polar express cars! The Lionel berk is cool for the first year but then you see videos on YouTube of locos with cruise and a decent smoke unit and you want something better. Yea make it! "If you build it, they will come. I'd still buy one even tho I bought all this MTH stuff. 

Mike 

And I would definitely keep the original berk that came with the set.

That's what holding me back! I want LC plus......

Peter

IF Lionel would make an O gauge set resembling their S gauge Flyerchief Polar Express rtr set I would buy it in a heartbeat. The decision would be a no brainer. Btw, if they equipped the coaches with led lighting, that would be icing on the cake for PE fans.

I totally agree! Haha I'm running my MTH Berkshire, pulling the polar express passenger carts right now! It's 330 am here.. Lol I bought the MTH berk because the Lionel berk didn't do what I wanted. But if they made it like the flyerchief id be buying it and be happy. I like my MTH berk but I do miss the movie clip sounds to play for my 3 year old son. I seriously think Lionel dropped the ball on not making one. I'm now working on making some more scale like MTH 60 foot passenger cars. I just got the paint I needed the other day. It should be pretty cool when it's done. But again, even after doing all the mods on the MTH stuff; I'd still buy one if it had cruise; fan driven smoke, electric coupler etc.. 

Hey anyone ever notice on the box of their lionchief PE set, it says operating coupler on the tender? When I first bought it, that was one of the things I looked forward to.. That is not an operating coupler. It's kinda false advertising don't you think??

I upgraded a Series II PE to ERR cruise and RailSounds, then added the MTH smoke unit and my Super-Chuffer, so I probably have filled my need for the LC+ model.

Wyatts dad posted:

Hey anyone ever notice on the box of their lionchief PE set, it says operating coupler on the tender? When I first bought it, that was one of the things I looked forward to.. That is not an operating coupler. It's kinda false advertising don't you think??

It is operating....

It doesnt state "electro coupler".

Just says operating.

I don't  see any false advetising.

The term "operating coupler" has been used for magnetic couplers for many...many... years.

Yes.  I purchased the non-plus set for our grandchildren for Christmas, and they love it.  I would add the "plus" set to my roster, since my LionChief Plus locos are favorites on my postwar style layout with smaller radius curves.

Well then why don't they say the other coupler operate? Hmmm?????? Cause it's a given! That's why. So why point out an operating coupler on a tender? It's misleading whether you want to think so or not. 

Why didn't they point out the other couplers operate???? It's misleading.

For sure if they made polar express cars like the S scale ones.

ed h posted:

How about a Postwar sized Berkshire decorated as the Polar Express with LioneChief Plus ?  With a nice diecast tender I think it would be a very good seller.

YES!  They brought it back recently for Conventional Classics, so why not use the frame and chasis for a PE LC+?

NO.

Hi ogaugeguy & members,  watch this video from my You Tube Channel. This video is a Show & Tell Video and after you watch this video, you will see that their is place for a LionChief Plus Polar Express Berkshire on any layout.  From the beginner layout to an advanced layout.

This video was also picked up by the Lionel Corp. and was run on their FaceBook Page. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=72_RH1wwp2w

Gary

I hope Lionel adds this idea to the production schedule.   At present, for the first time in six years, I have nothing on preorder, so I would jump on a LC+ Polar Express.

Great video Gary! Your grandchild was having the time of his life after buying the whole MTH setup with berk to replace my lionchief polar express, I have to say this, the louinel lionchief remotes may be train specific but! They are very reliable, accurate and can be used a long distance from the train. Also there is no lag time with the signal like my MTH TIU remote. After owning both I have to say the Lionel remote system may have less features but it seems more reliable. No weird signal loss like I'm getting sometimes with the MTH high end stuff. 

Anywho that's my two cents.

take care, great vid!

Mike

Have the original set and all the add on cars. The engine struggles to make it around the layout at times,  so I'm going to find something to replace it. I was thinking of the LC so if they made a LC+, I'd buy it.  I wouldn't keep the original. 

Wyatts dad posted:

Why didn't they point out the other couplers operate???? It's misleading.

If you are relatively new to the Hobby, I understand your confusion, but Lionel has been using the term "Operating Coupler" for many, many years, to differentiate the magnetic(Operating) couplers, from the dummy(Non-Operating) couplers. Then there are the "Electro-Couplers) which you evidently thought was included when you read "Operating coupler"

No doubt about it, Lionel has some confusing terminology, especially for the newbies, such as calling a crossing, a CROSS OVER, they have also called Truss Bridges "Trestles" among other incorrect terms. I have heard others, but those were the first two that came to mind.

Doug

Thank you Doug for making me feel not crazy!

I bought it for my son the year he was born and to a new person it sounded like it would be the type that released thru the remote. 

You're Welcome Wyatt's Dad, Even after more than 10 years in 3 rail, after switching from more than 35 years in HO, there are still things with Lionel in particular that I don't understand, but not as much surprises me any more.

Doug

Has anyone looked into the scale heavyweight passenger cars? They seem a little scarce to me. Other than the gold ones... Who's bright idea was that?? Yeah let's go drop about two grand in coin for my "scale" "gold" train set. I mean how out of touch is the engineerig/developing dept? I bet that's a big seller! Laughable. 

Wyatts dad posted:

Has anyone looked into the scale heavyweight passenger cars? They seem a little scarce to me. Other than the gold ones... Who's bright idea was that?? Yeah let's go drop about two grand in coin for my "scale" "gold" train set. I mean how out of touch is the engineerig/developing dept? I bet that's a big seller! Laughable. 

Last November, I went on a mission to buy the PE heavyweight passenger cars to attach to my Pere Marquette Berkshire.  It was not easy finding them.   I found a number of used ones from one seller on Ebay but each wound up being sold for north of $200.  Decided I didn't want to pay over $200 for used ones.  After searching many Lionel dealers on the internet, I found 6 at the following dealers: Mr. Muffins Trains, Trainworld, and HobbyWorks.  2 Coaches and 1 baggage from Mr. Muffins, 1 Diner and 1 Obvservation at Train World, 1 Combination from HobbyWorks.  I found a new PE Express tender on Ebay.  Couldn't find the broken toys car.

NO

NO

No, I won't buy any lionchief engines,,..one system is enough.

Gary

All these hardcore no's because the remote is train specific. Lol it's still a cool remote/train system tho.. Yeah it's not your regular remote that does this and that but......the signal is always good on these remotes! No weird signal loss. It serves it's purpose.. It's an upgrade from a regular transformer. Not everyone can lay down 300 or 400 or even 500 bucks for a remote system. If it continues to attract new people to the hobby then it's not a bad thing, at all.. I'm actually a bit disappointed with my MTH dcs remote system. It was expensive and it doesn't work flawlessly at all.. 

Yes! Mostly for speed control. Once you have speed control you become spoiled, it's an awesome feature!

Maybe.  My older son has the lion chief PE and loves it.  The reason I say maybe is because in the case of train like the PE where you probably won't do much switching with it anyway, I'm not sure where I see the advantage of the LC+.  I wouldn't mind being able to buy a PE engine as a separate sale item but I just don't see much of a market for it without a few cars.

Now if they could do away with that machine gun sounding chuff - that would be nice!

yep, I think that would twist my arm enough to finally get one.

Yes the chuffing is awful!! Haha when I very first bought it, I thought wow that's rely cool! "It was our first train" but after about 30 minutes it started sounding really annoying.. I think they should improve the chuff sound for sure. She sound reminds me of the blitz. For a minute I thought I was under fire! Lol

Sorry to bump an oldie, but man if this hypothetical lionchief plus came with a seasonal switch it would be worth gold.

Like many, I bought the PE set for my son and realized what I was buying when it showed up. I've since become a model train guy... He loves it and of course the season is right here and I've gone on a shopping spree for him.  I'd love to use the engine otherwise, but it's gimmicky PE stuff just doesn't jive.

YES! Speed control, speed control, speed control!

No, I have an O-27 version I upgraded to ERR with railsounds and I have a legacy scale version

No, I upgraded mine to TMCC. G

Berks came in conventional first. Strong too; I'd fake it

I just got some emails on this old thread and earlier today I posted some of these pics of my MTH polar express Berkshire. I couldn't wait for Lionel to come out with a lionchief plus version. (If they ever do) and I couldn't justify, the over 1,500.00 for a legacy model. So I bought a brand new MTH berk and made one.

it was my answer to wanting a nice PE berk with all the good stuff. Speed control, firebox glow, fan driven smoke unit, different chuffing rates, and just a lot of different functions. I painted and re-lettered it so I'd finally be happy! Lol 

According to my experience with the SW1500 B & O switcher I have, I would definitely buy any LionChief Plus loco Lionel would offer.  

We have some members in Badgerland S Gaugers who are looking forward to seeing some of the diesels in S with Flyerchief. We have a couple of large shows in the area that we display layouts. We have run TMCC/Legacy and we have run Flyerchief. The problem I see with Legacy in a show with multiple Legacy layouts is the excessive use of the "red panic button", some folks don't realize or don't care that they shut down other layouts near them when they use the panic button. With the Flyerchief we do not have the problem unless we utilize the Powermasters. 

Ray

Wyatt's Dad:    Yep, or faked like dat!  

Lionel could have done a much better job on the Berkshire buy using the old postwar 736 style engine.  The looks were much closer to the movie and it would still handle toy train curves.   That was going to be our plan had we gone the O gauge route, pick up a beater 736 with good magnatraction and restore as 1225, then find a 12 wheel tender and have proper sounds installed in it.  We would have had to live with the 4 axle coaches, snow on the roof is just a quick job with an air brush or flock from the hobby store. But we saw the much better looking Flyer version and bought that instead.  We both just wish Lionel would better support the S gauge set with add on's like they have done with the O gauge set.   Happy Holidays.  Mike and Michele T

No probably not, as I have one of the original sets, with all  cars including the additional tender with sound and the announcements car. With that being said, have not really been impressed and have no interest in spending additional $$$ to upgrade these engines. For the same money I can buy an MTH Steamer with PS3 or Tinplate items I need or desire.

Joe Gozzo

I definitely would've purchased one, I'd been hoping they would put one out this year and they didn't, so I bought an MTH imperial Berkshire, re painted and re lettered it. I'm glad I did and I'd advise any polar express fanatic to do the same. The MTH imperial line is a great product that is totally affordable, with modern features like fan driven smoke unit, speed control, etc.. We own the lionchief PE set and after using it for two years I wanted something that was quiet if I so desired, a chuff sound that didn't become irritating, modern electronics and something that you could control the volume. Totally happy with it. In fact I love it! Lol 

Wyatts dad posted:

I definitely would've purchased one, I'd been hoping they would put one out this year and they didn't, so I bought an MTH imperial Berkshire, re painted and re lettered it. I'm glad I did and I'd advise any polar express fanatic to do the same. The MTH imperial line is a great product that is totally affordable, with modern features like fan driven smoke unit, speed control, etc.. We own the lionchief PE set and after using it for two years I wanted something that was quiet if I so desired, a chuff sound that didn't become irritating, modern electronics and something that you could control the volume. Totally happy with it. In fact I love it! Lol 

Wow, impresses with your talents... Great idea!

Joe Gozzo

Thank you so much

In a word, Yes.

Now that we have the Universal Remote, we could run the LC Plus loco with the S Gauge version at the same time with one remote. That would be very neat!

Ed Boyle

No reason to:  the train goes 'round the oval.  The transformer takes care of that just fine.