FWIW I agree and have said that MTH has an edge in offering PS3 in starter sets for future growth, but as a beginners sets the Lionchief line is great for new users. My non-train sister bought one last year for her daughters, they loved it. However it will probably be the last train set they ever buy so expansion is not really an issue.
I would like to see a head to head test against a MTH starter set and a Lionchief set, I am thinking the Lionchief will outpull the MTH sets
Chris,
I'd call you a troll, however, that would most likely be insulting to the enite troll population.
I agree that there are no LionChief Plus sets released to this point. That makes the decision a bit more of a toss-up, which I would resolve based on the ease at which kids take to the remote.
I seem to recall that there was a lower cost for LC sets without the CW-80. Not sure if that is still the case.
Someone commented that the LionChief steamers are the "same size". Yes, the Pacific and Hudson are on the same powered chassis, but are bit different in size, but similarly compressed. the Mike is a different chassis and closer to scale for a small Mikado but still compressed,. I don't know about the camelback yet.
For what it is worth to this discussion.
Interesting points of view here. I would like to add in some of my experiences. I like the Lionchief starter sets that I purchased last year and 2 of the 4 engines had quality control issues. One had drive rods that fell apart and then other had a smoke unit wire connection that was not crimped correctly. I was able to resolve them but likely another first time buyer would have been very upset.
The remotes were easy to use on the Lionchief units and very intuitive for speed, direction, etc. The MTH remote unit does have the colored buttons and takes a little bit of looking at it by the user as it is used.
Engine pulling power on both MTH and Lionchief sets is pretty darned good. I loaded up several of the Lionchief engines with a large consist and they ran well with a large consist. The only engine we did not load up was the little Silver Bells Atlantic engine which has a disclaimer in the instructions to limit the load on the engine. That one has run many hours without any other issues besides the initial smoke unit issue. I know that MTH units pull very well so this could go either way. I agree that the MTH units weigh more and have a better heft value to the user.
Here is the rub for me. With 4 Lionchief engines I have to keep track of 4 remotes to run them. The MTH uses one remote. True that using the starter set MTH remote I cannot run two MTH starter set trains on the same track at different speeds, but then how many do that anyways? The MTH engines will run right away with the full DCS system whereas the Lionchief are an in-between that is not really compatible with any other existing system. First time buyers will likely never notice but for the few that expand more into the hobby will this rub them the wrong way? Only time will tell.
Chris I think he meant the other Chris.
Yup he meant me. My comment was meant because the OP asked a specific question about LionChief, yet several people jumped in and without answering his question told him he should buy something else. It's like going to a car dealership and telling them you want a ford and suddenly having a bunch of Chevys shoved your way. Both are cars, but its not what was asked about
i don't go looking for DCS thread to tell people that they should buy Legacy, why should others jump into threads to push other products that aren't being asked about
Yup he meant me. My comment was meant because the OP asked a specific question about LionChief, yet several people jumped in and without answering his question told him he should buy something else. It's like going to a car dealership and telling them you want a ford and suddenly having a bunch of Chevys shoved your way. Both are cars, but its not what was asked about
i don't go looking for DCS thread to tell people that they should buy Legacy, why should others jump into threads to push other products that aren't being asked about
DITTO!
Art
I have a number of of the Thomas theme Lionchief engines. They have all worn out after a few shows use. I have had to repair 4 controllers that the kids have broken.
The motors in 2 engines have burnt out.
I think the basic sets of the LionChief sets for the kids are not that rugged. If used a lot or abused they will wear out. Now they can be fixed the LionChief remote replacement is about $20 and it takes an hour to take one apart and repair the dial that is easy for the kids to turn to far it easily breaks off.
My experience with running trains at shows has been the MTH sets are overall better build quality, but of course a bit more money as well.
The MTH and Williams engines that I have run are very rugged and have always held up well running through weekend trains show displays.
Just spent a few hundred $'s ordering another fleet of new Lionel Thomas series LionChief engines to replace all the broken engines, so I can run for the holidays. Then will try to rebuild the broken engines.
Would be nice to be able to replace the cheap motors with something more robust.
And for the controllers I have board that I mount them onto with metal brackets to limit the dial rotation on the remote so it will not break off.
The MTH DCS sets seem to be well built and run well and easy to run in conventional.
Also any time I can hand a kid a remote control and keep them away from a transformer the better.
Yup he meant me. My comment was meant because the OP asked a specific question about LionChief, yet several people jumped in and without answering his question told him he should buy something else. It's like going to a car dealership and telling them you want a ford and suddenly having a bunch of Chevys shoved your way. Both are cars, but its not what was asked about
i don't go looking for DCS thread to tell people that they should buy Legacy, why should others jump into threads to push other products that aren't being asked about
You must have missed the very first question he posed: "If you were to buy a starter set for a child today, which one would you buy?"
While he stated he was leaning towards LionChief, there was nothing else suggesting he wanted to know people's opinions of LionChief exclusively.
If you were to buy a starter set for a child today, which one would you buy? It's a tough choice. I am leaning towards the LionChief because of how powerful the engines are, better smoking ability, better speed control, and obvious play value with the remote and being able to run more than one set at a time.
I don't have a dog in this silly fight, but it appears to me that the original poster's query was regarding Lionel products.
good comments from Kj356 on the durability of the TTT sets. I do remember a lot of
comments on the remote & how easily children could break it. While I took that into
consideration when ordering a set, my experience was very pleasant.
Now, I am thinking about purchasing a Lion-Chief Plus after viewing one of the forum members You Tube videos.
I only have one Lionchief, I Recently purchased the Polar Express 10th Anniversary set.
Comparing it to all my other equipment, most of which is MTH.
The Lionchief PE runs FAST, or not at all. Notch 1 on the control is zero movement, 2 gets it rolling along but it slows on curves, 3 is fast. Everything higher threatens to jump the rails. Admittedly, it's on an O-48 loop hitting the diverging side of O-36 switches and connecting curves.
Also, the engine and cars look quite small next to my MTH Railking (non scale) equipment. The cars also look very small compared to K-Line Heavyweights.
Comparing it to a Starter set from MTH is apples and oranges.
MTH costs more and gives you more. Such as Compatibility with Full Command Control.
The MTH Starter set Remote gives you remote uncoupling of the engine in the rear (front depending on engine), Bell, Whistle, more accent sounds, Fine control of speed, Several Steps in Volume, Direction, Start and run through Passenger or Freight Sound sequence (depends on set you buy), Start up / Shutdown.
It will also run in conventional control and you can coax sounds and functions from it with a series of bell and whistle buttons in conventional mode.
The Lionchief Polar Express has 3 sound effects on the remote (Bell, Whistle, Conductor announcement (4 different ones, depends on movement or not) and chuffing built in (switchable on/off).
It has NO VOLUME CONTROL AT ALL and it is quite loud. I put a piece of duck tape over the speaker grill to reduce it, it's still a bit loud.
Smoke is on or off Via switch in the Cab. Chuffing sound also has a switch there.
It has a manual uncoupler on the tender.
The cars are lit and have frosted windows with silhouettes, manual uncouplers on both ends except the observation car, no coupler on the back of that one.
Ya pays your money and gets what ya pay for.
I only have one Lionchief, I Recently purchased the Polar Express 10th Anniversary set.
Comparing it to all my other equipment, most of which is MTH.
The Lionchief PE runs FAST, or not at all. Notch 1 on the control is zero movement, 2 gets it rolling along but it slows on curves, 3 is fast. Everything higher threatens to jump the rails. Admittedly, it's on an O-48 loop hitting the diverging side of O-36 switches and connecting curves.
Also, the engine and cars look quite small next to my MTH Railking (non scale) equipment. The cars also look very small compared to K-Line Heavyweights.
Comparing it to a Starter set from MTH is apples and oranges.
MTH costs more and gives you more. Such as Compatibility with Full Command Control.
The MTH Starter set Remote gives you remote uncoupling of the engine in the rear (front depending on engine), Bell, Whistle, more accent sounds, Fine control of speed, Several Steps in Volume, Direction, Start and run through Passenger or Freight Sound sequence (depends on set you buy), Start up / Shutdown.
It will also run in conventional control and you can coax sounds and functions from it with a series of bell and whistle buttons in conventional mode.
The Lionchief Polar Express has 3 sound effects on the remote (Bell, Whistle, Conductor announcement (4 different ones, depends on movement or not) and chuffing built in (switchable on/off).
It has NO VOLUME CONTROL AT ALL and it is quite loud. I put a piece of duck tape over the speaker grill to reduce it, it's still a bit loud.
Smoke is on or off Via switch in the Cab. Chuffing sound also has a switch there.
It has a manual uncoupler on the tender.
The cars are lit and have frosted windows with silhouettes, manual uncouplers on both ends except the observation car, no coupler on the back of that one.
Ya pays your money and gets what ya pay for.
First I am surprised no one has brought up Atlas O Industrial Rail train sets. They look a bit funny in a good way, but are still conventional and from the Atlas youtube video the 4-4-2's are strong pullers.
Remembering my first engine, it had a hard life. Lionchief may not always have the highest end motors, but the RTR sets appear to have the fewest pieces to fall off, something rather important with children. As for Thomas what I have read here and elsewhere if they are not Tomas fans avoid the sets, they seem to have quality issues. My 2-4-2 Scout does improve in control the closer to the loading limit it got or under volted with a transformer. As for future expansion I bet some clever person out there will find out how to upgrade on their own the basic Lionchief to TMCC, so it it not as much a dead end as it first looks.
Atlas Industrial Rail appears to follow in the same vein as old fashioned conventional sets. Durable low detail and priced between Lionel and MTH.
The MTH sets I don't know they have higher levels of detail, hence parts to break off. Do not have maintenance free motors, the last I looked so that may have changed, something that can frustrate any one new to train sets. They cost more and if you don't know how long a child will play with it that can be a big deal. They have more features and require no changes to run on DCS and future layouts.
As for track Tubular or fast track. Realtraxs is great for a layout, but I recall reading about durability issues with heavy use a.i. reconfiguration. something children are known to do.
fastrack is as of the last time I looked into it the only track system with manual switches with anti derailment. Something that can be rather nice cost saving feature while not losing a child caused derailment proofing feature.
tubular is good in being affordable, and quieting down loud lioncheif engines especially if set over carpet, and as a side effect making them sound a little better. Just make sure it is O31 and up for lioncief engines.
I don't much know about Atlas's ballasted track system. It seems to fall some where between realtrax and fastrack.
I only have one Lionchief, I Recently purchased the Polar Express 10th Anniversary set.
Comparing it to all my other equipment, most of which is MTH.
I'm not particular since I buy everything 
That being said Lionel sets are very colorful and have many themes to choose from.
MTH sets which I have the F F3 set, seems to be aimed at adults since they are much less toy like. Kids might want a set that is more toy like maybe.
I just purchased this Lionel set with RTR Railsounds this month and I just love it ... I run it with DCS remote on a variable track, works great.
LionChief plus if possible.
The question was about a Lionel set so as usual the MTH guys have to jump in.
As mentioned several times here A DCS upgrade will double your set price and you have a lot less sets to choose from.
Plug and play it's that easy.
The original post never specifically stated it was to be a Lionel set. The title however, could possibly lead one to believe that?
Then the question: "If you were to buy a starter set for a child today, which one would you buy?" was asked at the beginning of the post.
IMHO, with the question asked, suggesting MTH, Atlas, Williams or any other set was not out of line.
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