A Look at the Lionel LC+ 2.0 0-6-0T New Coupler Design

But will it work with any previously released couplers?

Gee, I sure hope so!  They're pretty rough inside, I can feel them grating.  Once I took the end off, I rubbed it back and forth a bunch of times to try to knock some of the rough spots off, it did help the operation.  Now at least the coupler that wouldn't open does open with 16 volts on the track.

An interesting fact, they actually build that operating rod out of three parts, and it has two screws holding it together!  These were obviously not planned well in advance, so they didn't have time to actually make the single part, pretty interesting.

That is interesting and I can see what you're talking about when I look closely at it. I see the screw heads holding it together. I would love to hear the story behind that.

I'm guessing the story is the coupler had to be mounted low because of the existing design, and the head had to be offset.  I love the home rolled actuating rod with all the separate pieces, that's really a trip!   They actually build that actuating rod out of three pieces and two screws, that has to be a bit more expensive than a single piece!

Well, the locomotive was made in China, so I assume the coupler was as well.

Sounds like a last minute patch to me . . .

Rube Goldberg moved to China?

Gunny

Lee, I think it is a last minute patch.  It's an interesting rig, that's for sure!

John;

I just picked up the Brooklyn version of this engine - my first LionChief engine. Slightly off topic... when my engine starts up, the headlight comes on. If I reverse direction, the rear headlight comes on, but the forward stays on. When I reverse again, the rear goes out leaving the forward on. Does yours do the same thing??? Haven’t had too much time to give it a full shake down yet, but overall, I was pretty impressed by the little engine (and you can’t beat the $225 street price). Thanks.

Yeahhh not a last minute patch. I designed the coupler in 2018. The arm is 3 pieces instead of 1 so we didn't have to make a tool for it.

Dave

there you go again suppressing the rumor-mill.

I had never seen that design before Dave, is this the first thing it was used in?  FWIW, that part seems to work fine, but inside the knuckle section it's really rough, and two of the four couplers on my two engines don't open all the way without help.  I'm figuring I'll have to pull the rivet and smooth the insides and the knuckle to get them working properly.

Does this coupler use the standard electrocoupler knuckle?

@Apples55 posted:

John;

I just picked up the Brooklyn version of this engine - my first LionChief engine. Slightly off topic... when my engine starts up, the headlight comes on. If I reverse direction, the rear headlight comes on, but the forward stays on. When I reverse again, the rear goes out leaving the forward on. Does yours do the same thing??? Haven’t had too much time to give it a full shake down yet, but overall, I was pretty impressed by the little engine (and you can’t beat the $225 street price). Thanks.

This is standard with headlights on all my Lionel command steam locomotives.  The headlight is always on, even when the locomotive is going backwards.

Like he said, standard with steam, the headlight is always on.  It's not broken, it's a design feature.

FWIW, I just received mine today, and the couplers open and close fairly easily.  I'm sure they'll get even better with use.

Thanks John and Sinclair. I guess I am just too use to the directional lighting on my diesels (or maybe it is just that this engine is so much smaller that my usual steamers that the two lights were so noticeable).

I’ve had the chance to run the engine a bit (pulling two of the new milk cars) and it has performed well. It does have the wobble that has been noted, but it isn’t a deal breaker to me. Since I was born and raised in Brooklyn, I’m really happy to have a hometown engine to run on my layout.

@Apples55 posted:

Thanks John and Sinclair. I guess I am just too use to the directional lighting on my diesels (or maybe it is just that this engine is so much smaller that my usual steamers that the two lights were so noticeable).

I’ve had the chance to run the engine a bit (pulling two of the new milk cars) and it has performed well. It does have the wobble that has been noted, but it isn’t a deal breaker to me. Since I was born and raised in Brooklyn, I’m really happy to have a hometown engine to run on my layout.

Paul, I have a great idea: consider building Ebbets Field on your layout to go with your little Brooklyn engine.

@Arnold D. Cribari posted:

Paul, I have a great idea: consider building Ebbets Field on your layout to go with your little Brooklyn engine.

Unfortunately, Arnold, I have little to no building skill... but if I did, I’d at least have a start on the outfield!!!

@Apples55 posted:

Unfortunately, Arnold, I have little to no building skill... but if I did, I’d at least have a start on the outfield!!!

Paul, what a great scoreboard you have. With the electrocouplers working on the new BEDT switcher (I'm lucky cause mine work fine), your scoreboard would go so well with the Schaefer beer car that Melgar and some NJ Hi Railers have. Then, those beer cars can be shuttled in and out of a siding near the ball park.