Lionchief / Father's day Help

Lionchief will run on AC or DC.    It is designed that way. You can run it with a wall wart, or an AC Transformer. Just don't use both.

Just as Train Nut said, normal LionChief will operate either from the included DC wall wort or a typical AC train transformer, BUT using the transformer you'll still NEED the remote included with the set (or your smart device if the set is a Bluetooth one). The transformer will just give you power, but no speed or direction control.

And the milk car will operate on DC current also (I know as I have the option on running my layout on DC and have operated the milk car on DC current for years). Though your dad will need the special operating track section to operate cars with slide shoe pickups.

What I don't know about, is the wiring set up of the FasTrack Operating Track section. I know it comes the control button, so maybe it works off the track power. But since the wall wort puts out 18 volts to the track, that would really make the milk cans come flying out of the car.

As an afterthought, I've read where folks have used a transformer with LionChief with a little less than 18 volts going to the track, so that the high-end speed is a little bit slower. That would improve the "snap action" operation of the milk car.

But I'm guessing you'd also probably be advised to use a more modern transformer over a postwar type to help protect the electronics in the engine. I'm not as knowledgeable about the LionChief stuff, so maybe other will chime in on this point. 

Cool, a 6-12054 is the plan then.

As far as I know, when pushed, the controller uses track power to raise the shoes, which then apply track voltage to the car.