Lionel could use the casting for the Southern Crescent pacific they did in Legacy recently.  It is scale but rather small and can be made so it makes tight curves.  I'd definitely buy one.

I would like to see them make EP-5s, FMs and they really should make LC+ GG1s.

 

Art

Really the sky's the limit at this point. It's still a very new line so plenty of options.

 

Interesting that they are doing the E-33 Rectifiers in this next group from the 2015 catalog. Not exactly your "main stream" loco. Which is fine with me. As a PW guy I'd love to see them do some of the classics.

Steeplecab electric

A semi scale N&W A or J Class, similar to the Railking Imperial Line. Now I would buy that!

That would be a good seller, for sure.  I still hope Lionel shifts Lionmaster, its Imperial equivalent in my view, to LC+.

I’d like to see Lionel follow the same path with LionChief as when they introduced the MPC era Mighty Sound of Steam engines. Southern Crescent, Blue Comet, Chicago & Alton ….

Historically, wasn’t the Mighty Sound of Steam with the brightly colored engines credited with being one of the products that pulled Lionel out of hard times?

Well, MSS itself certainly added some excitement to Lionel's product line at a time when there wasn't much and they needed the boost.  Frankly I always felt that the sound system, innovative as it was, was not the real thing that turned it around.  Being new, it gave them an excuse to aggresively market toy train.  The concentrated on very appealing, colorful trains - Southern Crescent, Blue Comet, etc., that would attract attention.  

 

I'd really like to see the scale Southern Crescent and Blue Comet Pacifics in LC+, too.

yes!...a NH ep5 and PRR GG1 in brunswick green...maybe a B&M GP9...why not a whole post war classic series

What do you think would make a good Lionchief or plus enige, and why and why not?

Clinchfield Steam Engine #1

 

Why, Because I would love to own one or two.

 

Why not, Because not many people want a Clinchfield #1

Seems like the Lionel Phantom would be a good choice for LC or LC+.  On my layout, the phantom always seems to be popular with visitors (particularly kids).

 

Jim

I think they'd have to lose the AC Pulmor motor if they do it in LC+!   It is popular, and even long time train guys have told me they never saw one.  That somewhat amazes me as there have been four pressings of the Phantom sets in various colors!

 

I agree, going to one (or preferably two) DC can motors would be preferable. That plus some additional weight in the engine and LED lighting in the cars.

 

I added a second power truck and some more weight to the LC Alien RS-3 and the performance improved considerably. (I used your idea for the series PTC on the motors to protect the LC board - which looks like basically the same driver design as the CC-lite). 

 

Jim

I can tell you the Phantom REQUIRES two motors to be reliable, at least the first generation one.  I put a second motor in, night and day!

 

I agree Lionel will not doubt make LC+ only with can motors.  And I think Lionel will stick to locos it can create with running/gear and chassis pretty close to present models for a while, until in exhausts all its options there.  For example, while trying to fix the two GP7s I have (remember, both jammed trucks, never could fix them) I determined that a Lionel F-series body - at least both the A and B bodies from one 1990s set I have, would almost slip right on the GP7's chassis.  It was exactly the right wheelbase (compared to the original) and the trucks looking nearly identical.  Had the two GP7 chassis worked, I would have converted them with those two santa fe warbonnet F3s bodies.  I'm not sure any modification would have been required, but certainly not much.  However, now that Lionel has done the FAs in their catalog, I will wait for them.  By varying the wheelbase and truck side facades, LIonel can create just about any two-axle truck diesel in LC+ with little but cosmetic changes.  Maybe eventually they will do a three-axle truck, too, but . . . 

 

So, would the Phantom fit on an LC+ chassis, even shortened?  It would surely be a cool train.  

Wish Lionel would put LC+ in some classic sets.

Trainmasters, baby and the big sister. B&O PRR, SP,RDG.

Interesting thought, it has a unique chassis, though it's pretty much the same size as the old GP models in length.  I'm sure it could be grafted onto the chassis if desired.

 

The trick here would be getting the sounds, I don't think the LC+ stock sounds would do it justice.

 

You might be able to use the LC+ control board to power the original Phantom sound board  It seems feasible, if not exactly straightforward

Lee, I'm not sure how that would work.  I doubt the LC+ board sends out compatible serial data, though I certainly don't know for sure.  If it had RS serial data, it might work.

 

Ok, my 2 cents.

The M & SL GP-9, Red and white with the blue roof. Just a classic.

 

what about a LC+ crane ? Just like the legacy version but toned down.

Maybe Left,Right, Boom, hook up and down.

No sound and out riggers to cut cost's.

 

I'd love to have the legacy version but just a little steep for most of us.

There is enough control on the typical LC+ remote to do basic functions.

It could be done with 3 motors. I think it's very doable...

 

 

It would be interesting to know.  Manufacturers generally tend to keep parts and boards common when they can, for cost and convenience (theirs, not yours) reasons.  The phantom has unique sound so no aftermarket or alternative board would work.  Still, an LC+ version would be appealing - I like the looks.  But frankly LC+ would satisfy me on sound, too: I would rather have some other less "science fictiony" sound.  Ideally a turbine sound, but I could live with a good diesel.  I'm probably in a minority there.  

I've got lots of diesels, and even a couple of turbines, I want to keep the unique sound.

 

I've mentioned this before, for Lionchief Plus, I think semi-scale versions (think Lionmaster) of modern diesels such as the EMD SD70ACe and GE ES44AC would be popular for hobbyists who have smaller layouts. Locomotives that can actually be seen today would be more likely to attract youth into the hobby. This requires new moldings, so I don't think Lionel is likely to want to spend the money.

I'd like to see a 2-6-0, a modern 4-4-0, a 4-4-2, a 2-8-0 and a 4-6-0, all in New York Central. Also a 2-8-4 New York Central System. These locos could be offered in a large number of road names so they could get lots of use out of them.

 

Why? Small steam locos seem perfect for the LC+ line.

 

Why not? Not everybody likes small steam, so they may not sell enough. I actually think they would sell well since there's not a lot of small steam in traditional size.

Heck, if I'm dreaming, why not a Niagara and a Mohawk, and/or a Dreyfuss Hudson?

Country Joe - I agree that smaller locos are more convenient and better looking to run on small layouts and that means they have a greater market range than big locos.  For that reason Lionel probably will focus on them: they can expect more people to buy them.

 

That said, I prefer scale locos, so I would want LC+ versions of smaller locos, like you indicated - 2-6-0, etc. I have a scale Dreyfus Hudson and Niagara and other scale Hudsons and Northerns and they are the biggest locos I routinely run, but I prefer smaller locos like Pacifics and Mikados, etc. 

Hi Lee, I don't know if Lionel will make LC+ scale locos. They might see it as competing with their Legacy line, though I don't know for sure. I do think they could do as ES44AC suggested and have a LC+ equivalent to the MTH Imperial line, very close to scale and more detailed, but still able to run on O31 curves. 

 

I've only really seen the black Atlantics , and one Comet with MSoS

 

 

Basing the target audience as kids Id say the line needs the basics filled first.

 We have steam, but I haven't even seen a diesel shown off yet. Is there one?

  A very modern one would be smart in that it wouldn't have much competition yet.

 An electric?

A GE Steeple would be nice in that it would also fill the electric side of needs in my next thought: Small switchers in each power category.

 For an oddball, how about a Mac Gas electric box cab?

 

I have two LC+ GP7s and are one or two other diesels already released.   I am waiting hungrily on the A-B-A EMD FA set in the current catalog.  That will be cool.  And they have a boxcab electric and a bunch of other diesels in that catalog, too.

Hm, looking at the posts Skookum a 2-4-4-2 really does fit better than I thought.  Really like the engines I am seeing.

 

A scale 44-ton locomotive would be a good LC+ locomotive!

 

I actually looked at that briefly - well, not briefly, I studied it it through and through, with a 44 tonner and a GP7 LC+ loco opened up on the workbench in front of me.  

 

I don't think I could do a conversion, even with all the tools and time I have: you need the tower drive with the flywheel sensors on speed on the motor, but powering those tiny little wheels.  I think I could swap a LC+ diesel truck from a GP7 into a GP7, but its wheels are far too big.  

But I think a factory could re-engineer it to work, with a single motor, and both the boards, installed very close together at the other end.  Cooling for the two boards might be an issue.  

 

MTH's will have PS3, which is, from a board and circuit standpoint, just as demanding of everything (i.e., you need a speed-sensor equipment motor and sound and control on boards, etc.). It will be interesting to see how they do it.  Bet the inside is tight. 

 

My two 44 tonners are running nicely, if always going to be challenged on power and traction.  I'm content with them, although if I were going to add anything, it would be smoke.  

 

BTW Gunrunnerjohn, I put my two (cow and calf) up on rollers to test them.  There is far less rolling noise on rollers than on rails, and then I could really hear their sound.  I can run the pair up to 18 V and the diesel engine noise is still just at idle on both: it never varies at all on mine, whether in neutral or running.   

Lee, something is amiss there, the sound card connects directly to track power from the reverse board.  I could hear the difference with the unit suspended and no wheels on anything, just hanging in the air.  I can also just connect the sound board to a transformer and change the engine RPM just by advancing the throttle.

 

Here's a sound clip in MP3 format.  The transformer is a 1033, and I went from around 5 volts to the full 16 volts the 1033 can do, then back down again.  You can hear three different pitches on the way up, and four on the way down, I suspect the up just jumped over the step.  The maximum prime mover speed is still pretty low, so it doesn't sound like it's working that hard at full throttle.

 

I would like to see some local road names, Like Detroit & Mackinac Railway. With built to order, it should work out.