Lion Chief Plus Prototype In Action

One remote for each train is the future?  No legacy or DCS any more?  G

These look awesome, and the prices are great.  To G's point, it would be cool if there was an interface that would convert legacy signals to the RC signals these engines use.  Just a box that blasts out the signals and uses the legacy remote.  You would just need to program the box with whatever engine you have.  Possibly download it from the new Wifi module/iPad app. 

Thanks very much for posting these.  Looks like great fun!

Will dealers be getting the brochures with the LionChief Plus items ?

Charles Ro has them in stock.  Very good brochure.  I would think all the dealers should have them by now.  It shows twenty engines and outlines all the features.

Watching the second video with all the crew-talk dialog, it occurred to me that kids would have a lot of fun if they could send their own voice to the engine rather than the silly crewtalk dialog.   No big thrill for adults, but if one of the goals besides making $$ with these is to appeal to the lower-end consumer and kids, that feature would add some decent play value = sell more sets and interest kids longer.   Just an idea.

Crew talk is debatable, but you don't have to use it. I find that friends who have not seen a recent toy train run or heard it's sounds are very interested and yes amazed, in all it's features. Adding remote is a plus that will continue to improve even more over time.

Ken:

Thanks for doing the videos.  I would never consider this product had I not seen this demo.  Very interesting and intriguing.  I might have to get one?!  It certainly has to draw attention to the product / trains by kids.

I like!

Jon

MartyE wrote:

Coupler control from the remote and speed control.

Marty, what do you mean by "speed control"?  Do you mean cruise control, or are you saying you can't control the speed of the Lion Chief engines from the handheld?

Sounds like if you have a Lion Chief Plus engine all you need is a power source to the track, it's about time .  Good job Lionel

Cruise control.  Set it and it will run the same speed around, up, and down.

Thanks Marty!

What frequency do these engines run?  If it's up in the GHz range then there's the possibility of being able to own/run a lot of engines without any extra stuff needed.

Curious as to why the frequency would matter, as long as each locomotive only responds to its own remote?  If the locomotive is bound to a specific controller, as current radio control receivers are, the frequency then becomes irrelevant.  If these are not digitally bound receivers, but frequency dependent, Lionel has claimed that each locomotive will operate independently with its own remote, so even consisting would be possible with both identical locomotives responding to a single common remote.  So, in effect, this is command control "light" as I understand it.  And command control "very inexpensive" one might add.

For simple layouts and simple minds like mine, I'm not sure this isn't all the command control I need at this point in life.  I suspect they will continue to put Legacy in their high end locos, so you'll need Legacy or TMCC for those, but for everyone who focuses on the mid-range and lower cost locomotives, this system sounds like it's simple, inexpensive, and hopefully robust.  I'm sure those with complex layouts and who want to use command control for routes, switches, accessories will still buy Legacy, as will those who are interested in the high-end locos.

One thought occurs to me.  These locos, unlike TMCC and Legacy locos, will not be controllable, except in conventional mode, by MTH's DCS system's handheld.  You'll need the Lionel remote that comes with the set or loco to operate these locos in "command" mode. You're pretty much locked into using Lionel's technology, which is probably a side-benefit to them of  this marketing approach, not the main intent.  You'd never get away with this approach in any other scale/gauge. Given the small number of vendors who offer a complete line of products (basically only MTH and Lionel), MTH has gotten away with it with DCS for 10+ years, and Lionel is now moving towards that model of a "closed system" (pun intended).

this is going to be an issue imo, because if your have people show up at a club with two of the same sets/engines they will not be able to run at the same time.  should have a way to change frequency so multiples of the same can run on the same track.

Many thanks MartyE, this is a big help and clears up most of my questions!

I was just about to ask if the brochure or sales material is available online, when a quick search found the thread where you shared a scan of the brochure here (I must have missed that thread the first time around).

So thanks again!

Robert

I believe, the LIONCHEIF Engines will also have IR Tethers...

IR tethers would be a great feature.  The pictures show the thick loop of wire, which is unsightly.  Gardner - where did you hear about the IR tethers?

On another Thread Marty Fitzhenry mentioned He saw one of the LC+ Steam Engine at Charles Ro and I`m sure He said it had an IR Tether ... Thanks..

I remember reading or seeing or hearing somewhere something about new steam engines not having a wireless tether, but also not having the unsightly cord either.  I recall hearing/reading/seeing that new steam would have the drawbar also be the electrical connection between engine and tender.  But maybe I am wrong, because I don't remember when or where I saw this.

very cool.  Now I just need to figure out where I heard about the drawbar connection I was thinking of...

The engine had a very good looking set of open spoked drivers.  I am not a fan of the postwar drivers that we grew up with.  Open spokes are very cool.

Thanks again Marty.   I have pre-ordered both the Hudson and Pacific, and am now learning how smart I was .   These will be a blast to run!

Ken, I am basically an MTH guy but could not put the remote down.  This thing was off the charts.

Marty F - Thanks for the info regarding the brochures.  Will have to ask at my LHS again, last time I checked he didnt have any of the brochures.  Seems like Lionel needs to add the brochure to their website as a pdf download.

Attached is a copy of a "Lionchief Plus" Brochure I found in pdf, albeit not on Lionel's site as you mentioned (at least not that I could find).

I believe it's pretty much one for one with the scanned version MartyE shared.

Robert

MakingTheGrade - Thanks for the pdf download. I see Trainworld now has it on their website along this info regarding LionChief Plus features.

 Happy that it was helpful Ed!  I think I found posted by some place called 'warehouse trains'...I'm not familiar with them.

The Trainworld demo video along with the speed control and ability to run conventionally really has me tempted to pre-order one of those Pacifics.

Robert

hope it has better speed control Lion Chief