A suggestion for Lionel's RTR Christmas Lionchief sets.

I don't think any of the LionChief rtr sets have volume control beyond on and off. Silver Bell and the PE don't. The most annoying sounds are controlled with the announcement button so it's easy to turn it off and depending on the direction of the train the switches under the locomotive are pretty easy to reach. The PE has swicthes in the cab which is probably the best position being most user friendly.

I too have thought volume control would be a nice option in these sets but if it's going to increase costs I can live without it.

I slapped a piece of duct tape across the speaker on my new Lionchief 10th Anniversary Polar Express.

Makes the volume a lot more bearable.

This train definitely needs a volume control.

I will add one after the Holidays are over before I box it up.

Russell, maybe one of the many electronics gurus on this forum can post directions on how you could add a simple volume control to you set thereby eliminating the duct tape. Unfortunately, over time, duct tape can become "welded" to any plastic it's affixed to, permanently marring the surface.

If anybody knows a surefire, simple way to install volume control for your specific loco, Russell, it'll likely be gunrunnerjohn. Hoping he reads this post (or that somebody brings it to his attention) and he replies.. 

Hm, I found running lionchief on elevated tubular over carpet worked, and improved drastically the sound quality. The Fastrack road bed really messes with the sound, and does a to good job of amplifying it.

Well, I know the LC+ sets have a way to adjust volume, don't they?  Can't remember now but it is rather involved, push a button three times and then turn the kn=ob left of right . . . something like that.  You might check carefully through the manual and see if there isn't a sentence hidden in there - in the LC+ manual it was not that easy to find. 

It's hold the bell and whistle buttons down and turn the knob to adjust the volume.

I just checked it on mine...

I tried adjusting the volume on my 2-4-2 lionchief to no avail, using the plus remote directions. I have looked, on the engine with out results.

So if it can't be done using the remote, then hopefully someone can figure how to do it by adding a volume control pot.

No volume control, but the chuff can be switched on & off.

This is definitely needed.  I have read reviews on Amazon for various RTR sets complaining about just this.  I wouldn't think adding a volume control would cost too much for Lionel to do.  Even just a dial on the bottom of the locomotive would be enough.  It wouldn't have to be through the remote.

Maybe instead of duct tape you could use some painters tape so it would easily come off.

LC+ volume control works well.  The info is in the book.

I think the problem is they test the sound on tubular and not fas-track. Even just a volume switch for tubular and fas-track would be great. Unfortunately you can't completely turn off the engines sounds. The woosh of steam when it stops still plays, and the the crew talk still works with sounds turned off. I would go with tape to dampen the sound, or running in on tubular if it is an issue. I find the high speed chuffing has a rather annoying sound hiccup, where it interrupts itself on my engine, leaving a brief moment of silence in the cut up of sound effect. It also drowns out the other engine sounds, easily heard while running on tubular. Makes me wonder if there is a way to improve fas-track's sound dampening qualities.