Any thoughts on these LionChief starter sets?

All can be a lot of fun, and are based on prior Lionel products just updated to the Lioncheif control system, which means the products themselves are well-proven, sorted out, etc.  

 

These are basic, even starter-grade sets and products, and you will probably want to upgrade and add fairly soon thereafter.  That is worth thinking about.  In particular, when you shop for the best price, Lionchief Plus locs are a particularly bargain for what you get.

I pretty much agree with Lee. They are fun sets but quickly outgrown. If you're starting from scratch they me be fine, Otherwise you may want to consider building something from a LionChief + engine if you're on a tight budget.

I looked at some of the swts you mentioned.my expectation is, that you are buying these for children. So while I agree with the other posters about outgrowing the sets and other things being more versatile, the Lionchief line is a fine way to go. Also, I havent seen dinosaur or any other "fantasy" sets released in other formats. Get them started with the Lion Chief sets. They can have fun now. If the hobby expands for them, they, or you can look at options. Whatever expansion you decide on someday, they will probably be able to use these trains.

56f100, I share your interest.

 

I looked on the Lionel website and the parts illustrations have been up for a while. The Industrial Switcher engine is basically the same chassis/motor set up as before LionChief, although there are now 3 weights instead of one.

 

The Dockside steam engine in these sets is a completely revised set up from prior locos, which used the same basic sheet metal chassis used in the 2-4-2 and 4-4-2 steam engines. This is a completely new design with a worm gear motor.

 

I have yet to see a video posted on these sets running, so I don't know what sort of sounds they have.

 

I looked on Amazon at the reviews on these sets. People say the sounds are tinny and high pitched, but the speakers in these locos are VERY small. Reviewers have written the announcements sound like a child's voice.

 

The big complaint on the steam sets is the lack of a headlight, although the box says it has one.

 

The rolling stock has the single axle set up screwed into the frame, so these could easily be changed to standard trucks.

 

The frame and the couplers on the diesels are delrin plastic which is hard to repaint. The couplers and frame on the Pet Shop loco are bright pink. The couplers on the Dinosaur set are black. So I was thinking of doing a variation of the Norfolk Southern environmental friendly paint scheme on the Dinosaur set, since the frame is already green.

   By chance, has anyone purchased any of these sets?   Are the locomotives and cars painted, or are they molded in color?   

Thank you Brianelo27 for pointing out the way the trucks attach. I was considereing the pet shop one for my daughter but wasn't a fan of the 4 wheel cars. Perhaps it's time to reconsider...

 

J White

 

Well first of all, Im new so hi everyone. 

Second of all, I'm really not a big fan of the LionChief and LionChief Plus starter sets simply for the fact the compatibility of the two is really just for that particular train or set and it can't control any other O gauge train on the market thats from Lionel, MTH, Weaver, Atlas, K-Line, etc. 

Thats why I have TMCC because I can control TMCC Engines, Legacy Engines, and dozens of any O Gauge locomotive ever produced including Hornby O Gauge (probably). 

They are great for their intended purpose. The young's first train set. LC+ on the other hand is a step up and are very good performers. The 5 year old son of a forum member has a LC+ diesel engine that he puts on the track himself and easily runs the train like an adult.

yea but it doesn't look semi-scale to scale proportions. 

Since I have some wide radius curves, I like to get the biggest engines I can without making it look a bit ugly when turning. 

If some cousin of mine wanted a LC+ train, I may ask my parents or my grandparents to get it for my cousin but I'm never buying any LC+ engine. 

Its just that I only like semi-scale and scale models. 

No they are not scale that would take them out of the starter price range. Although the GP diesels are probably close.

Interesting find Brianel.  It looks like they re-purposed the driveline from the later Thomas/Percy locos.  It's a shame this mechanism doesn't have a flywheel.  I also wonder how well it will hold up when enthusiastic youngsters try to push it down the track by hand with the power off.  Rubber tires and self-locking worm gears don't always get along...

lionchief and lionchief+ are not meant for the command person.. they are starter sets.

 

but they are fun to run.

So Jim1939 ur saying the GP LC+ diesels are semi-scale? 

Old post, new interest, so I'll add my experience. I purchased the 6-81287 Lionel Junction Union Pacific for my grandson.

 

This engine shell is molded in black with silver detail and numbering painted. The cars are a molded color with painted details.

 

The sets are generally not of the quality of the Thomas LionChief sets.

 

The motor has an electronically controlled "flywheel". There is a delay in starting and stopping.(That annoys the grandson when he turns the throttle and it doesn't move)

 

The chuff and bell are ok. The child's voice announcement is disappointing. It has the toot-toot for the whistle. That disappointed me also. It's not Thomas.

 

Only a circle of 036 track is included. The wall pack is not the two amp version that is included with Thomas. If I recall, it's not even half an amp. If you add a few 10" straights, you start to have power issues. I had to use an AC transformer.

 

The wheel sets snap into molded side plates on the cars. My grandson(4), likes to pull them out.

 

The diesels would most likely be more durable as Godzilla has broken off the stack and cracked off the valves and part of the pilot on one side. (CA repair)

 

I would have liked to have seen a slightly higher price point with a better wall pack. An adult announcement would have been better.

 

Very good for a first train. Looks good. Consider it a throw away if it's gets abused.

I have the Silver Bells Lion Chief set and it is great for around the Christmas tree.  I also have 4 Lion Chief Plus (3 steam, 1 diesel).  The LC + engines run and pull great.  I tend to "set and forget" run them on the inner loops of my layout while paying more attention to my legacy engines on the outer loops running using Ipad LCS app and new app allowing me to change Sensor track settings on the fly.

I'm glad you asked.  I have just purchased 6-81286, Lionel junction steam set for my 1 1/2 year old toddler.  The main point was to give him something and to be able to take away my older son's LC polar express.  Since the polar express was my only other LC set that I have experience with I had high hopes. 

I guess my thoughts are this - you get what you pay for, but I am still disappointed.  As mentioned elsewhere, the axles can come off the cars.  This isn't a huge problem as they snap right back in and the ends are rounded instead of pointy, but it still was a surprise when the older boy and I took it out of the box. In general the cars are fine, and just whimsical enough for the youngest model railroaders. 

The circle of track without even two straight sections is a little disappointing as well, but I didn't buy it for the track.  As to the wall wart, I didn't even look at it so i can't comment.

My biggest issue with this set is the engine sound.  Like many people I can't stand low quality simulated electronic "chuff" noises, so I turned it off.  The problem was it didn't actually turn off.  What I found is that the engine has no headlight, so the basic "noise" package doesn't turn off until the engine is in motion.  I guess this way you know it has power. Once in motion the noise stops and it is fairly pleasant to run.  I have only tested it on an 042 loop so far, when I handed the control to my toddler he immediately crank the speed all the way up.  I am happy to report no flying locomotives or other speed related derailments!  The whistle and bell are just fine for the product, actually rather happy with those.  Its just the noise when it is sitting there in idle and the lack of headlight that I find insanely annoying. I actually wrote to lionel asking them if this is how it was supposed to be but have not received a response.  Additionally as mentioned elsewhere in this thread, the child voiced announcement are terrible.  Particularly the one at idle is hard to understand because the other noise can't be turned off. Fortunately the instructions with the set had a note saying what the announcement are. As a parting note, the engine does have a functioning manual rear coupler.  This is a pleasant surprise as i was expecting a fixed coupler.

 

The control itself works just fine.  good for both young and young at heart.  

 

Overall I don't think I would buy one again as is.  If they raised the price point a little to fix the sounds and add a headlight I might be game for another.  In the meantime it gives my littlest guy a chance to run trains with me and his big brother - and that makes us all smile