The LC stuff is made to run with its respective controller.

Unfortunately, you will be in for a surprise because I'm pretty sure LionChief and LionChief+ are NOT DCS/TMCC compatible.

You were sold a load of bull puckey along with your new locomotive, I'm afraid.

They only work with their own controllers. Hopefully you can enjoy the locomotive with its own controller and don't get too bent out of shape that it's not compatible.

OK, I understand. Each engine LC or LC+ has it's one controller. But what is difference between LC and LC+?

All LionChief, with or without the "+" is dedicated to its particular controller (or one channel of a multi-controller).

LionChief+ adds a switch and reverse unit so that the loco can also run under conventional.

"Working with a DCS/TMCC setup" means the LC/LC+ unit will use the constant track power of the other two systems, while observing the commands sent by its dedicated controller.

---PCJ

The main difference between LC and LC+ is LC+ has a switch under the locomotive to allow for it to be operated conventionally with a transformer.

LC and LC+ locomotives will operate with their respective controllers with TMCC or DCS voltages applied to the rails.

Rusty

LC+ can be used conventionally without the LC+ remote, you vary the track voltage with a transformer handle.  LC+ usually has couplers that you can open from the remote.  LC+ generally has better sound quality. 

Matt,

I've run my LC+, with it's separate remote on my DCS layout. Not as nice as my MTH engines but I like it.

So, no coupler control or conventional control with LC.

Correct.

Thanks everyone. I like my new LC+ engine. Runs good and sounds ok, I still not sure about the sounds. I'm a MTH fan and have several but for the money the LC+ engines are pretty good.

we have both - LC is great for beginners and kids. when we got the LC+, I was amazed at the constant speed control (especially at very low speeds), even on gradients, up or down. the sounds are similar, but you can control the volume through the remote. so impressed that we now have 3 LC+. enjoy your trains and Happy Thanksgiving!

I have both and the difference is QUALITY. I have an LC RS3 and i think Lionel would have built the can motor out of plastic if possible. LC+ is heavier, better built (more metal parts), and has more features with more robust control options. 

The LC+ is major step above the LC and I would never look back given the option now.

I have one LC+, the Camelback.  I bought it so I could experience the system, and it was one of the few scale sized LC+ products.  I've seen enough of the LC (no plus) in Henning's store to know that I'd probably not like them nearly as well.

Lion Chief vs Lion Chef+

, what's the diff?

One is a train, the other is a cook

oops, sorry.

Some of these have been mentioned, others not, or not correctly:  

LionChief (no plus) will run on any layout with a constant voltage, such as TMCC,Legacy, and DCS layouts, however they can only be controlled from their own remote control.  

LionChief Plus, will also run on any layout with constant power, but also have a switch that will let them run as a conventional locomotive with transformed controlled speed and direction, bell and whistle.  You can not fire the electro-couplers however, when using conventional control, or activate the announcement sounds.  

LionChief engines have basic forward/reverse control from the remote as well as Whistle, Bell, and announcement sounds, but the over all sound quality is the lowest of any current Lionel products.  In truth the sounds are ok, but nothing special.  

With LionChief Plus, you gain a somewhat better sound system, that can play several sounds at the same time.  You can also adjust the volume of the sound system, and you gain the electro-couplers, which can be opened by 'double-clicking' the whistle or bell buttons on the remote.  

The other major features a Plus engine has are a fan-driven smoke unit which will produce a much larger volume of smoke as well as a better looking effect than the puffer units on non-plus engines, and the speed control.  LC+ engines will hold at whatever speed they are set to, where as regular LC engines will speed up and slow down as they encounter grades, differing track voltage, curves, and different loads.  

There are a number of internal differences in how the electronics function, but I don't think there is a need to get that in depth just yet.  

JGL

Thanks JGL,

One small correction:

"but also have a switch that will let them run as a conventional locomotive with transformed controlled speed and direction, bell and whistle.  You can not fire the electro-couplers however, when using conventional control, or activate the announcement sounds.   "

** you can trigger the announcement sounds with a short whistle in conventional mode.

One nice thing I have discovered while operating a Lionchief plus loco is that since the track has constant voltage, there is no need for fixed voltage plugs on O22 switches.....