LionChief Plus in Conventional Mode?

I called lionel today about this. honestly the woman on the other end of the phone wasn't sure since it hasn't been manufactured yet LOL. but she id say this. it will work on a tmcc layout but using the remote from what I understand the couplers work from the remote only. and also from what I understand from a dealer I called also about it. he stated since I was looking to replace my ac version chessie steam special with something alittle better tmcc ability multiple trains on one track better sound. he stated it would be better for me to upgrade my current engine instead of purchaseing the new lion chief plus engine. he stated that the semi scale look of it and the drawbar is much longer that my current engine is far superior than the lionchief engine.

Well at the Red Carpet event at Lionel during the tour part of it was with Mike's large private layout above the Lionel archives room. He showed us but most of the time had us operate 2 separate LionChief Plus engines on separate tracks and each was pulling about 20 standard O cars. 

 

One thing that we learned was that you could have the train going forward at full bore and immediately turn it to full bore reverse and the train will immediately slow down and slowly start off going in reverse slowly. Mike told us that there is no way you can burn up the by doing it.

 

If you switch the engine to conventional then you need to use the transformer to control the engine. The speed control works in the conventional mode. The sounds work by the transformer whistle/horn, bell along with the railsounds.

 

The Cab 1 or Cab2 can be ONLY be used to operate the engine is in the conventional mode as you could any conventional engine with the proper setup needed to operate a conventional train.

 

The couplers only work in the remote mode.

 

The engines preformed very well pulling all of those at all speeds.

 

Maybe I should post the video that I shot of them it's about 20 minutes and Mike talked about them and answered questions as we ran them.

 

please upload the video. I for one would like to see it maybe with everything being so new no one really knows and I got bad info today so please upload it

 

I had already ordered the Chessie LionChief Plus 2-8-2 and I will be ordering all 7 of the Baby Madison cars to go with the engine since the cars have fully detailed interiors and flexible diaphragms to have my 3rd Chessie Special.

 

I already have the MPC Chessie Steam Special and I also have the Chessie Steam Special from 2005 which is a TMCC engine.

Mine is the 80's one i have all the cars minus the diner car. I would like to get the 2005 version and the lion chief version. Just wish i knew more about lionchief plus. Could you post a photo of both you have now i would like to see the differences. If im not mistaken the 2005 version has black roofs where as the 80's version has gray roofs. Wonder what this version will have. Gray i think.

OK Here is the video I shot at Lionel's Red Carpet event. This is with Mike and the LionChief Plus engines operating session.

 

The 2005 set has gray roofs also and the new set that they are bringing back out also has the gray roofs.

 

At the present time all of my trains are packed away and I have have no photo of them.

 

When I get home from work today, I'll post pictures of both the Chessie Steam Special sets. The 2005 set has richer, slightly darker colors and clear windows. Looking forward to adding the new ones to my collection as well!

that engine was pulling a pretty good load ! HMM you just made me spend a little more money

 

I'm just curious about them running on O-27 curves. The catalog says these will run on O-27, but past experience says that claim can sometimes be "optimistic."

 

paulp,

 

Thank you very much for your answers and taking the time to take the video at the event and posting it here.

 

Sounds like in transformer (conventional) mode it operates like a normal conventional engine with whistle and bell, but you get the benefit of speed control. You don't get the other fancy features such as the electrocouplers or extra sounds.

Here are samples of a couple of the Chessie Steam Special cars--original release and 2005.  Looking forward to adding the new set, which will have seven cars rather than six, based on how they're being released. (three, two, and two). 

 

white windows and clear windows look to be the only difference

 

They're pretty different.  Aside from the windows and the markings, both the orange and the yellow on the newer set are noticeably darker, as you can see in the photo.  The trucks on the newer set are black, while they're a washed grey on the older ones.  They're different enough to the point that it looks strange when you run them as part of the same consist.  

 

I'm hoping the new set will be a close match for the 2005.  My T-1 needs a nice long consist to pull. 

about to do the preorder on the whole set of the new chessie  april for the engine and oct for the cars seems like a long time to wait

oh well

 

That Lion Chief Plus Chessie loco and cars are probably going on my list.

 

Yep, let's hope the loco is first. I've had preorders in the past where the passenger car set came 2-3 months before the loco. Can't do much with that.

The LionChief Plus engines are on their way to the dealers as we speak..

 

I just received an email that one of my pre-orders is in:  the LC+ Pacific.   I paid up and its on the way!