Lion chief Plus A5

I got one on sale last week since it's an older one without Bluetooth.  I have a k-line A5 with tmcc and have had nothing but trouble with it so I bought the lionchief plus A5 as an affordable replacement.  The lionchief plus A5 seems like a step up in some ways and down in one but overall I really like it. The one dissapointment I have is that  I like the sounds of the k-line better.  Besides that the operation is great.  It runs smooth, starts slowly, and creeps along pretty well at least for my purposes.  I can't afford legacy engines so I couldn't compare it to anything more expensive.  

Hi Dan,

I don't have the A5 but would like to get one, all I can is that the Lionchief Berkshire I have is great. Smooth runner, looks good, good sounds and even the app on my iPad and phone work without any problems. 

Dave

There are also a few Weaver brass A5's.   With today's new smaller electronics they can be upgraded.  This was one of my first upgrades done with relatively old (Digital Dynamics) electronics.   Required a chuff sensor, but the wheels/drivers are so small the chuff quickly becomes a blurrrrrr. 

Tight fit. 

I have the previous incarnation of the A5, which Lionel did in all-conventional in a faux Southern Pacific "Daylight" paint scheme. I purchased it about 2 or 3 years ago now.

I think the conventional variations listed for some astronomical price, I think around $600. I got mine, NIB, about a year after release for less than $200. It runs beautifully. Full Railsounds, glass smooth runner. Very, very happy with it and it has never caused any trouble. Only thing to note is the catalog said it would have a fan driven smoke unit, which it did not. It had an old-school "puffer" smoke unit, which was, and still is, fine with me.

The reason I asked about the Lionchief Plus version is because I have, on order, a Lionchief Plus Reading GP-7.  It's my first, well almost, foray into Lionchief Plus.  I had a B & O switcher a few years ago that I sold when I decided to go into post-war exclusively.  Trouble is, I like to do alot of switching operations and the LC+ offers the electronic uncoupling.  That and the fact that the LC+ locos seem to have a much better slow speed range than most post-war locomotives.  Mario's Trains has some good pricing on the A5 switcher so I thought I would like to have one.  

Are the LC+ steam locomotives as good at crawling as the diesels ?

I have the K-Line A5 with TMCC, and adding the ERR Cruise Commander M to give it cruise control was a very worthwhile investment.  The low speed performance with the ERR cruise is WAY better than LC+ cruise, much finer control of the speed.  It's a very nice running little locomotive, and I think it's one of the better looking of this model.

My only future upgrade is to try to stuff fan driven smoke in, I think the small MTH smoke unit might fit...

Dan Padova posted:

The reason I asked about the Lionchief Plus version is because I have, on order, a Lionchief Plus Reading GP-7.  It's my first, well almost, foray into Lionchief Plus.  I had a B & O switcher a few years ago that I sold when I decided to go into post-war exclusively.  Trouble is, I like to do alot of switching operations and the LC+ offers the electronic uncoupling.  That and the fact that the LC+ locos seem to have a much better slow speed range than most post-war locomotives.  Mario's Trains has some good pricing on the A5 switcher so I thought I would like to have one.  

Are the LC+ steam locomotives as good at crawling as the diesels ?

Like GRJ I have a K-Line upgraded to cruise. Runs very well. I suspect LC+ will be much better than a post war engine though. Is you layout divided up into blocks? Otherwise you will have take all your post war off the tracks to operate the LC+ as it requires full track voltage. The old problem of running command and conventional together.

Pete

I have one of the new A5 LionChief+ engines. As mentioned above speed control is better with ERR cruise, however as a little switcher that can pull a lot of cars with operational couplers on both sides I can't complain. I purchased mine for switching duty and it performs that task very well.

If you are asking in comparison to the lionchief + diesels I would say it's close but not quite as smooth.  My comparison is the lionchief + NW2.  When it comes down to it though the A5 works just as well as the NW2 on our layout for moving a few cars around between accessories even though it isn't quite as smooth as the NW2. Personally I think you really have to be picky to notice the difference though.  The electronic couplers on both ends release consistently and it creeps slowly enough that it makes for a whole lot of fun.  Some of the other options above might be better but if you aren't looking for a project and want something that just works out of the box at a good price it's a nice option if you get one of the ones without Bluetooth that some sellers are clearing out.  

Still contemplated the A5 LC+.  I see that the rear coupler is remotely activated but the front coupler is not.  Could be a deal breaker.

By the way, my new Reading LC+ GP-7 has Bluetooth.  While not a techno geek by any stretch of the imagination, I downloaded the APP to my smarter than I iPhone and was pleasantly surprised at the control it affords.  

Eric Segal did a review of a Lionchief Plus loco recently.  That's where I learned about the feature.  I'm not ready to give up my post-war stuff however.  But I do like the switching capability of LC+.

Dan Padova posted:

Still contemplated the A5 LC+.  I see that the rear coupler is remotely activated but the front coupler is not.  Could be a deal breaker.

The one I have has a working front coupler.

From 2018 LionChief+ A5 Union Pacific

• Front and rear ElectroCouplers™

Not having a front electrocoupler is a bummer, I wonder why they omitted that?

The PRR from 2016 didn't have the front electrocoupler, looks like even Lionel figured out that was a mistake.

Davety posted:

Dan Padova posted:

Still contemplated the A5 LC+.  I see that the rear coupler is remotely activated but the front coupler is not.  Could be a deal breaker.

The one I have has a working front coupler.

From 2018 LionChief+ A5 Union Pacific

ADDITIONAL FEATURES:

• Front and rear ElectroCouplers™

Typical for Lionel, the catalog wording is misleading. In one line describing the features, it touts a remotely operating rear coupler on the tender, leading one to believe that there may not be a working coupler on the front. Yet further down on the same page, it clearly states operating coupler on both the front and rear. Which is it? Maybe Dave at Lionel can weigh in on this and let us know for sure, do all of the LC+ A5’s have operating remote couplers on both ends?

I’m with Dan on this, a non-operating front coupler would be a deal breaker for me, too.

Bill in FtL

@Dave Olson 

Bill, an "operating" coupler and an "electrocoupler" are two different things.  I agree, you want clarification of the capabilities of the earlier model.  It may be wording, it may be they actually didn't have it.

All LC+ A5 locos have front and rear electrocouplers.

Davety posted:

Dan Padova posted:

Still contemplated the A5 LC+.  I see that the rear coupler is remotely activated but the front coupler is not.  Could be a deal breaker.

The one I have has a working front coupler.

From 2018 LionChief+ A5 Union Pacific

ADDITIONAL FEATURES:

• Front and rear ElectroCouplers™

Yes, that is clear in the description.  However, on Mario's website the features description is as follows.  This is Mario simply repeating what Lionel had in it's own description and not any reflection on Mario or his website.  You will note that the second feature clearly states a remote activated coupler on the rear of the tender.  Then, near the bottom of the list under Additional Features it states front and rear electro-couplers.  This is the description of the Bluetooth version.

"LIONCHIEF PLUS STEAM FEATURES:          Conventional AC transformer control mode or LionChief® wireless remote control with AC or DC power
ElectroCoupler™ on rear of tender (controlled by remote or App)
Operating headlight
Synchronized fan-driven smoke
On/Off switches for sound and smoke
RailSounds RC™ sound system with steam chuffing and background sounds, whistle, bell, and useractivated announcements
Adjustable volume (controlled by remote or App)
Speed control for consistent speed at all ranges regardless of track condition or load
Flickering firebox
Chuffing sounds in sync with puffing smoke
Powerful maintenance-free motor
Die-cast metal locomotive body, frame, and trucks
Die-cast metal tender body and trucks
Metal frame on tender
Engineer and fireman figures (no figures in Berkshire)
Traction tires         ADDITIONAL FEATURES:          Front and rear ElectroCouplers™
Tethered connection between loco and tender for additional power pickup"

Below is a description of the model without Bluetooth;

LionChief™ Plus Steam Locomotives Features:

• Conventional AC transformer control mode or LionChief™ wireless remote control with AC or DC power
• ElectroCoupler™ on rear of tender (controlled by remote only)
• A5 0-4-0 equipped with ElectroCoupler™ on front as well as rear of tender
• Operating headlight
• Synchronized fan driven smoke
• On/Off switches for sound and smoke
• RailSounds RC™ sound system with steam chuffing and background sounds, whistle, bell, and user-activated announcements
• Adjustable volume (controlled by remote only)
• Speed control for consistent speed at all ranges regardless of track condition or load
• Flickering firebox
• Chuffing sounds in sync with puffing smoke
• Powerful maintenance-free motor
• Die-cast metal locomotive body, frame, and trucks
• Die-cast metal tender body and trucks
• Metal frame on tender
• Engineer and fireman figures
• Traction tires

Length:

• Camelback 17 1/2"
• Mikado, Pacific and Hudson 19"
• Minimum Curve: O31
• LionChief™ Plus Steam

Remote Features:

• Forward and reverse speed control knob
• Buttons for whistle sound, bell, special announcements and ElectroCoupler™ activation
• Requires three AAA alkaline batteries (not included)

Dave Olson posted:

All LC+ A5 locos have front and rear electrocouplers.

Thanks Dave!!!

gunrunnerjohn posted:

Bill, an "operating" coupler and an "electrocoupler" are two different things.  I agree, you want clarification of the capabilities of the earlier model.  It may be wording, it may be they actually didn't have it.

I understand the differences between “Operating” and “ElectroCouplers”, and I can live with either, but I was really disappointed to find the silly looking tiny little non-operating (and non-electro) dummy coupler on the front of my LC+ Mikado. It’s not like Mikados we’re not supposed to be used for switching!

Bill in FtL

Bill Nielsen posted:

Dave Olson posted:

All LC+ A5 locos have front and rear electrocouplers.

Thanks Dave!!!

Electro-couplers to me are the post-war type that have the thumbtack plunger below and need a UCS track section to operate.    So I must ask again, are both couplers on the A5 operated via LC+ remote ?

Bill Nielsen posted:

gunrunnerjohn posted:

Bill, an "operating" coupler and an "electrocoupler" are two different things.  I agree, you want clarification of the capabilities of the earlier model.  It may be wording, it may be they actually didn't have it.

I understand the differences between “Operating” and “ElectroCouplers”, and I can live with either, but I was really disappointed to find the silly looking tiny little non-operating (and non-electro) dummy coupler on the front of my LC+ Mikado. It’s not like Mikados we’re not supposed to be used for switching!

Bill in FtL

I hate to be a wise guy, but a typical 2-8-2 would be a huge engine for switching purposes. Yard switchers usually didn't have any leading or trailing wheels (like the A5). The only case I can imagine is a branch line using one in the late steam era that needed to do some switching while on the move but branch lines were usually served by 2-8-0 and 2-6-0 locomotives.

I don't disagree entirely though, a 2-8-2 with an operating coupler in front would be really cool and would probably have made me a buyer from the uniqueness factor.

Yes they are both operated by the remote or app.

Steve

Well I pulled the trigger on the Pennsy LC+ A5, today.  I opted for the Bluetooth version, although it's price was a bit higher than the non-Bluetooth model.  I'll post some photos when it arrives.

Dan Padova posted:

 Trouble is, I like to do alot of switching operations and the LC+ offers the electronic uncoupling.  That and the fact that the LC+ locos seem to have a much better slow speed range than most post-war locomotives.

Are the LC+ steam locomotives as good at crawling as the diesels ?

LC+ slow speed operation vs. Postwar would be no contest.

I have a LC+ Gt. Northern Mikado, and if it could crawl any slower it wouldn't be moving.