Lionchief hogwarts express set

I received the new Lionchief Hogwarts Express set as an early Christmas present.  This is my first Lionel train.  I have 2 MTH trains and a trolley.  

I have it setup on a tile floor in a 5'x5' layout around the Christmas tree where my MTH Christmas train was last year.  The engine is heavy die cast and the tender is plastic with a die cast frame.  The passenger cars are very lightweight plastic.  I was expecting a little higher quality.  The train likes to derail if run too slow or too fast.  The voice announcements are hard to understand.  The new 54-watt DC power supply does a good job of powering my layout.   The train does not pour out the smoke like my MTH trains, but that could be a Lionel thing?

I do not think I will consider a Lionchief set again.

Stephen

Last year we purchase our first train set, an MTH Rugged Rails RTR passenger train. This year we added the new HP Hogwarts Express to our layout because 1 we have loved our 1st train so much and 2 we are big HP fans.

I have been completely disappointed in the LionChief as the comparably priced MTH is superior on all counts.

SOUND: There is no volume control on the LionChief and the running sound when the train is idol is annoyingly loud. As mentioned above the announcement sounds are hard to distinguish and it only has two station announcement when idol, and 5 while running. Both sets of announcements are basically one running conversation. The chuffing isn't bad, but again is either on or off. I do like the whistle.

SMOKE: Unlike my MTH you cannot adjust the smoke levels at all, just whether it is on or off. IMO it is a decent amount of smoke, but I have my MTH tuned just the way I like it.

DERAILING: Lionel claims this engine can handle a 31 curve which I find hard to believe. It comes with 36 curves and I run it on a 42 loop and it bogs down in the curves, barely moving at low speeds and consistently derailing at higher speeds. It has one sweet spot on the throttle where it runs decently. It will not go over the realtrax 45 crossing on my other track at all.

CONTROL: The throttle isn't smooth at all. Turning the dial a single "click" sends the train lurching forward and it often stops completely (including making the braking sound) before I have throttled down all the way.

I'm not a fan and would have returned it if my wife and kids didn't love "the Harry Potter train" so much.

The Hogwarts' locomotive is strictly 036 and above. That's why the set comes with such curves. Wherever you spotted Lionel stating it would handle 031, it has to be a typo or oversight. A starter-set loco that does not handle 031 is a bit of an odd duck, so far as Lionel's offerings go.

This video is of the non-LionChief HWE operating with an MTH Z-1000. I've since expanded it to a 9-car train, but haven't run the consist since the video was taken:

---PCJ

RailRide posted:

The Hogwarts' locomotive is strictly 036 and above. That's why the set comes with such curves. Wherever you spotted Lionel stating it would handle 031, it has to be a typo or oversight. A starter-set loco that does not handle 031 is a bit of an odd duck, so far as Lionel's offerings go.

 

---PCJ

Lionel states O31 on their website (http://www.lionelstore.com/Hog...y-To-Run-Set-6-83620) and their current print catalog.

When I emailed them about this they did not address the claim, but instead directed me to a video on how to adjust the front truck of the engine. Apparently the packaging pushes it out of alignment. The adjustment helped... a little.

Yes, I've seen the truck adjustment video as well, apparently that's the main cause of these derailments. Also, I've heard another way to help prevent derailments is to put a straight track section in the middle of your layouts curves.

Will someone please post a link to the truck adjustment video mentioned? Thanks.

Here you go...https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ceXfQL3p35M

The Hogwarts Express and Polar Express sets are as described above. Decent metal loco and good sound from the plastic tender. My Polar set came from the factory with the crappiest paint touch up work I've ever seen-thick brushed on high gloss paint. The cars are super cheap and light with plastic trucks that barely hold the rails. This year I am adding weights inside the cars in hope that they will stay on the rails for my boys. 

IMHO. Pass on these cheap sets unless it is a have to have. Then be prepared to do after market tweaks to get better operating characteristics. 

I wonder how many takes it took for these guys to get this video done without it derailing then, by what people are saying.

The chuffing sounds don't irritate me, since I've been around a lot of LC engines, and the rest of the sounds feel good.

After having seen Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, I wouldn't mind picking one up actually.

Did Lionel make any changes to the loco and cars from the original issue of this set?  Besides the loco in mine having some tightness when in the curves (the Fastrack ones that came with the set), I had no trouble with the loco or cars staying on the track.

And mine was a stock, straight out of the box set.  No mods done, running at a normal rate of speed.

I'd like to think they improved the front truck on the engine since that caused derailments on the old set.

I picked this up as a Christmas  present for my daughter on the Amazon Black Friday Sale.  $240.  She loves HP and I lovery trains!

These sets are more expensive for what they are, in terms of quality and function,  than typical LionChief sets, presumably due to the royalties that are paid to the owner(s) of the trademark/copyrights involved.  Thus from a value perspective, do not expect them to be competitive with Lionel or other manufacturers' products that don't bear these additional cost burdens.

Panther97 posted:

I picked this up as a Christmas  present for my daughter on the Amazon Black Friday Sale.  $240.  She loves HP and I lovery trains!

I picked up a Hogwarts Express from a fellow who bought two by mistake.  New in Box!  Our daughters and their husbands have loved Harry Potter since the first book came out.  Our daughter who was married in September was over last evening to move some more things to their house and saw it in the box in the family room.  She thought it was cool!  This 60-year old kid who is writing is pretty happy with it too!

bigtruckpete posted:

The Hogwarts Express and Polar Express sets are as described above. Decent metal loco and good sound from the plastic tender. My Polar set came from the factory with the crappiest paint touch up work I've ever seen-thick brushed on high gloss paint. The cars are super cheap and light with plastic trucks that barely hold the rails. This year I am adding weights inside the cars in hope that they will stay on the rails for my boys. 

IMHO. Pass on these cheap sets unless it is a have to have. Then be prepared to do after market tweaks to get better operating characteristics. 

Ditto. They are super cheap crap. I have always marvelled at all the praise the Polar Express gets. I really like what it's meaning is, but it's still very poorly made. A mouse fart would trash the cars. The movie is a Christmas must for us nowadays though.

Matt

The Polar Express cars are actually an improvement over the original Baby Madison cars released 1973-1976.  Those cars had body-mounted dummy couplers, while these have truck-mounted operating couplers.  I still have my Broadway Limited cars from 1974... and I've yet to break one...

Jon  

I have a bunch of the Polar Express and Hogwart's cars.  They're not expensively done, but I haven't had any issues with them.  The PE TMCC upgrade with ten cars is running around my tree.

My PE was built in 2012.  I got it used 2 years later.  Sure it is a lower end product.  For the price I think it is fine.  Looks pretty good, and I haven't had any trouble with it.  I did buy a used add on chugging tender, that is better than the original wimpy whistle and no chug.

The LionChief Hogwarts is still in the box, but looks good through the wrapping.  

I was considering buying the new hogwarts Lionchief, but was hoping they would of put die cast trucks on the cars. I had the old conventional one, and also had a Lionchief PE. I just didn't like the plastic trucked passenger cars. They were ok quality, but would not work well on switches. The berk jr and tender were very light too, plastic tender frame and molded in handrails on engine and tender. This engine never ran well on switches for me, and the speed control was very jerky. 

The MTH Railking passsenger cars with die cast trucks feel a lot nicer. I have a lot of Railking Amtrak cars, which all work great on o22 switches. The superliner and amfleets are very heavy, and have nicely done interiors. MTH Madison's painted in PE colors would look amazing. I think the detailed interiors add a lot. 

I like the quality of the williams Madison cars with the 6 wheel die cast trucks. I wish Lionel would make a traditional PE with passenger cars equipped with die cast trucks. The MTH Railking Berkshire I bought with PS3 runs a lot better than the Lionel Berkshire jr. I think a Lionchief plus PE with separately applied handrails, and a die cast tender would do well. I have a Lionchief plus mikado, which I am very happy with. I think they could do a Lionchief plus hogwarts with a die cast tender, and passenger cars with die cast trucks. The set would run great with the speed control, and heavy rolling stock. 

I upgraded a Hogwart's locomotive and a set Polar Express locomotive to TMCC & RailSounds, added fan driven smoke, a Super-Chuffer, and all LED lighting.  They are pretty nice running sets now.

Liam,

You have a point about plastic trucks, though I have not tried to run them through switches myself.  Of course they want to keep cost down on an entry level set, but they do show on the box how to buy expansion sets of track with switches.  If too many have trouble with switches, that will discourage entry level folks.

If you have an issue with the PE or Hogwart's cars and switches, add some weight internally, problem solved.

My daughter really liked the Harry Potter train I got her for Christmas.  Unfortunately, it doesn't work properly.  It's on the way back to Lionel.  Ugh.

Tim,

That's a bummer; especially on a Christmas gift!  So far my new one has worked properly.  All 4 of our adult kids loved it!

Mark Boyce posted:

Tim,

That's a bummer; especially on a Christmas gift!  So far my new one has worked properly.  All 4 of our adult kids loved it!

 

Her electric scooter didn't work either.  She had a bad string of presents this year.  LOL.   I'm sure Lionel will make it right.

That is disappointing for her.  Yes she will get a good one back!

hutchback posted:

Last year we purchase our first train set, an MTH Rugged Rails RTR passenger train. This year we added the new HP Hogwarts Express to our layout because 1 we have loved our 1st train so much and 2 we are big HP fans.

I have been completely disappointed in the LionChief as the comparably priced MTH is superior on all counts.

SOUND: There is no volume control on the LionChief and the running sound when the train is idol is annoyingly loud. As mentioned above the announcement sounds are hard to distinguish and it only has two station announcement when idol, and 5 while running. Both sets of announcements are basically one running conversation. The chuffing isn't bad, but again is either on or off. I do like the whistle.

SMOKE: Unlike my MTH you cannot adjust the smoke levels at all, just whether it is on or off. IMO it is a decent amount of smoke, but I have my MTH tuned just the way I like it.

DERAILING: Lionel claims this engine can handle a 31 curve which I find hard to believe. It comes with 36 curves and I run it on a 42 loop and it bogs down in the curves, barely moving at low speeds and consistently derailing at higher speeds. It has one sweet spot on the throttle where it runs decently. It will not go over the realtrax 45 crossing on my other track at all.

CONTROL: The throttle isn't smooth at all. Turning the dial a single "click" sends the train lurching forward and it often stops completely (including making the braking sound) before I have throttled down all the way.

I'm not a fan and would have returned it if my wife and kids didn't love "the Harry Potter train" so much.

Volume control is in the remote from what I have heard by holding down 1 or two buttons and spinning dial. Should be in the instructions.

Joe Gozzo

Lionchief engines don't have adjustable sound. The two buttons and speed dial is for lionchief plus engines. Lionchief engines are not adjustable unfortunately.

I have recently opened one of the new HWE locomotives up to fix some minor production flaws.  It is a well built locomotive but I am with Gunrunnerjohn, it's a must upgrade locomotive.  If the upgrades are done you will be more than happy with it.  The passenger cars are still cheap.

RRaddict2 posted:

I have recently opened one of the new HWE locomotives up to fix some minor production flaws.  It is a well built locomotive but I am with Gunrunnerjohn, it's a must upgrade locomotive.  If the upgrades are done you will be more than happy with it.  The passenger cars are still cheap.

What upgrades are you doing if you don't mind me asking? Would these apply to the pe set as well?

Joe Gozzo

I'm satisfied with the RTR PE I gave my grandson; even though sound is not adjustable, low speed operation is unpredictable and smoke is marginally acceptable. I wouldn't buy one for myself, but to me this is a good entry level set for a child.

I have the original Hogwarts Express, and it works great. I have the add-on 2 car set with it, and it pulls the 5 car train no problem. The cars and engine track great (with my O-42 curves with lousy switches, as well as on fastrack O-36 when I tried it there). I use it as an engine for kids to run when they come to see the layout, as I can't seem to derail it! The only thing it needed was a piece of tape over the low-tone hole of the air whistle to give it a higher sounding whistle, and it is enough sound for me. 

Personally, I don't like the idea of Lionchief sets. I like being able to run my sets with just a transformer. If I had to get another one, I would look for an original set, not one of the new ones. 

Here's what I did to my Hogwart's Express.

gunrunnerjohn posted:

Here's what I did to my Hogwart's Express.

GunnerJohn, love the improvements, I guess one needs to determine the additional cost of parts and labor add on to the engine or set if you will. Thanks for sharing the video

Joe Gozzo

Let's just say the parts & labor exceed the set price.   However, it does have the full complement of features.  The only thing I haven't gotten around to doing is lighting the lanterns on the pilot, that's in the queue.  I actually did them for an upgrade for someone, but I never got around to mine.

I have the original PE set, the 10th anniversary set, the Lionchief set and the whistle steam loco.  My one complaint is that two of the locos have a quite visible wobble as they run down the track.  Sent one in for correction but the problems persist.  Not sure if it's a wheel alignment, bent axle or other problem.  Other than that, no problems with derailments.  Original set was upgraded by GRJ several years ago but it's headed back to John for a super chuffer, fan driven smoke and any other goodies he can envision.

gunrunnerjohn posted:

Let's just say the parts & labor exceed the set price.   However, it does have the full complement of features.  The only thing I haven't gotten around to doing is lighting the lanterns on the pilot, that's in the queue.  I actually did them for an upgrade for someone, but I never got around to mine.

Sounds like a great project. Hope we get to see when completed

Well, other than adding the lanterns on the pilot, I think mine is pretty much complete.  I would like to figure a way to put a larger motor into it.  The HW Express has the small flat-sided set motor, and it just doesn't have the muscle to pull a lot of cars.  I have the Series II PE also upgraded to TMCC, and it'll pull a ton of cars.  I have it pulling ten passenger cars and it's not breaking a sweat.  The HW Express struggles with 5 or 6 cars, and it's heavier and should have more traction.

John,

Your Hogwarts Express is most impressive, as I expected!  

All,

At least I don't need to add the Super Chuffer & Chuff Generator.  Ours is a smoke-free house due to smoke messing with my wife's asthma.  However, the TMCC and Railsounds may be a nice add.  It remains to be seen how much the set is run, before I decide if it would be worth it.  My Hogwarts was an initial hit with the young adults in the family.  One daughter suggested she needs look for appropriate accessories, which could turn out to be anything, since I do not know the whole Harry Potter story.  They like that better than buying me ties (the kind you wear around your neck to Church on Sundays, not the railroad kind)