RS-3 LC+ 2.0 Discussions

Well, a dual-motor with all wheels driven should be a lot better than your previous experience.

I especially hope the die-cast trucks will help it stay on the tracks @gunrunnerjohn. A metal frame, die-cast trucks, and dual motors will hopefully be enough weight to make a difference. The powered truck on the old RS3 used to jump all over when it tried to get traction. I'm hoping dual-motors eliminates that.

I had a LionChief Plus rectifier.  It was awful.  Out of the box it would not pass through a FasTrack switch without derailing. I sent it to Lionel and they sent me a check fir my purchase price as it was a known issue on some of the models.  I have been gun shy to purchase another locomotive with a similar chassis and truck design.  I was thinking about an RS-3 in Pennsylvania livery. However, I won’t until some else gets one and uses it successfully on FasTrack switches.

You can also add a little weight.  This is my Lionel TMCC HHP-8 that was fairly light and didn't have much pulling power.  The addition of a bit over a pound of weight made a huge difference.

@RixTrack posted:

I had a LionChief Plus rectifier.  It was awful.  Out of the box it would not pass through a FasTrack switch without derailing. I sent it to Lionel and they sent me a check fir my purchase price as it was a known issue on some of the models.  I have been gun shy to purchase another locomotive with a similar chassis and truck design.  I was thinking about an RS-3 in Pennsylvania livery. However, I won’t until some else gets one and uses it successfully on FasTrack switches.

Well I don't have a FasTrack switch unfortunately so I can't test that. I will report back on the Gargraves and Atlas switches I have. I'm hoping it runs well.

@gunrunnerjohn posted:

You can also add a little weight.  This is my Lionel TMCC HHP-8 that was fairly light and didn't have much pulling power.  The addition of a bit over a pound of weight made a huge difference.

That would be my back up plan. Here's to hoping there's some open real estate under the hood. I suspect I'll need to add weight to my dummy engine as well to prevent derailments. I'm eyeing the details on the underside in the middle of the engine. Hopefully they're hollow and can be filled with something heavy.

I might consider looking into trying to modify this engine and make it a fixed pilot. My hope is that the 0-72 and 0-90 curves it will navigate might make it unnecessary to make it a fixed pilot.

@Grampstrains posted:

I have 2 LC+ GP7 - 2 RS3 and one rectifier.  Never had any trouble with any of them.  In addition to diecast trucks, they also have diecast fuel tanks and pilots.

Perfect! That's good to hear. I thought they might be plastic. What's the cab interior like? I thought I saw the flywheel from a motor in the cab of an RS3 in the one video.

i think the problem with 1 motor engines is they are inherently unbalenced.my mpc era one derails quite often.the 2 lionchief 2.0 engines are quite good so far.a little bethlaham switcher and a up sd 80.so far so good.and the lc 2.0 works great with tmcc and legacy.

The LionChief Plus 2.0 ALCo’s are awesome EXCEPT that they have EMD trucks with steps that jut out beyond the length of the frame!

Jon

@Grampstrains posted:

They do have flywheel motors

And the flywheels are visible through the cab glass?

@kranky I think you are correct. To hold my old RS3 in hand, it's blatantly heavy on one side. It's good to hear you've had success with the newer engines. I really do like the LC+ 2.0 because I would love to have Legacy everything but it's just not realistic on my budget.

I have one of the old LC+ RS-3 on my layout. This is a video from my YT channel. I did see the new RS-3 in the 2021 catalog but the four road names did not cause me to place an order. LeHigh Valley, Pennsylvania, Santa Fe and Southern.

https://youtu.be/Hw2_EjBif4U

I was able to justify this loco because of the road name Rio Grande. My wife and her family are from Ouray, Colorado. This loco can pull 15 to 20 cars with no issues. It still runs great and looks cool on the layout. The RS-3 has a very special rambling engine sounds.

Gary

I have an LC+ Rs3. It has a good bit of weight to it and runs and smokes great. I bought it brand new for $195 still in the brown box. I believe it is from the 2017 catalog when I looked it up? Very happy with it.

Brad

Thank you for the video @trainroomgary! That helps.

I'm pumped to get mine. It sounds like they have been great locomotives for everyone. Now I just need December to get here.

to billy o414,sorry i havent responded ,been a busy work week.lionchief is also great for those of us who have smaller layouts.the sd80s are real nice

No worries @kranky. I was tied up with the county fair most of the week/weekend. I'm very excited to get this engine on the layout and in a lash up. It's going to look and sound awesome!