LionChief replacing Legacy?

Never happen.  Both systems are very good.  They are aimed at different markets.

No way!!!

LionChief does not replace Legacy.

LionChief engines are not scale.  They are mostly for starter sets and kids.  Work fine on/for postwar style layouts.  Each engine has it's own remote.

Legacy is for the higher end scale engines.  Many more features. One remote controls many engines.

Will probably get one for under the Christmas tree.

Hope these over simplistic answers help.

Dan

I have the legacy system and although it does a lot it's a severe learning curve.  I love the simplicity of the lion chief plus myself. 

Just another example of something for everyone in this hobby.

At some point - and I don't think any time soon, Lionel will have to "rationalize" the two systems.  I hope they have a plan and have thought it out, but whether ten years from now or whenever, eventually they will want one system that responds to conventional, Legacy/TMCC and Lionchief.  Really not that difficult to do, but I've seen products in other industries that go through these types of new/different systems and standards and eventually, the manufacturer has to do it.  Lionel will most likely get to it - eventually.  

I do not see it happening.

 

what would happen in a club setting and everyone showed up with the same engine?

To be honest with you, I am very good with MTH DCS and Lionel Legacy now, but......

if Lionel would ever focus on making F3's in LC+ I would sell both my MTH and Lionel DCS systems, just buy the road names I want in LC+, and use my existing passenger cars and call it a day, with mucho savings and better performance than my PWC TMCCs.

of course that is not going to happen, with Lionels obsession with fantasy and sport themed engines and sets.

 

I believe that this is the most logical solution. If Lionel made an upgraded LionChief system backwards compatible with both operating systems, perhaps this is the future.

Understand that Legacy is used in the high end engines, but add a few features and LionChief control can be adapted to them.  IMO, the future of all industrial and home products will be tied to more complex silicon intensive electronics that do more but by using less space. Its just a matter of time before the train industry will follow suit. 

I also believe that an add on LionChief replacement control system for conventional engines will eventually be offered. It will be interesting to see what the future holds for model trains...Bluetooth, iPhone interface, more features and maybe even an entire layout that is programmed and controlled via a laptop where your transformer now sits. 

I think Lionchief and Lionchief Plus is aimed at the person who wants to move around with his engine, something you can't do with conventional. Lionchief keeps cost reasonable for anyone who wants to have fun with the hobby.  Also, it is ideal for younger kids.

Not going to happen. Some my switch for a less complex system but replace Legacy totally I don't see it.

I really like LC.  That is what got me back into trains.  My main problems with LC are speed steps are too great and different remote for each engine.  For the person that only wants a couple of locomotives and does not need the extra control of layout, LC is the way to go.

I have them all.   Legacy, an original TMCC system, DCS, and a couple new LionChief+.

 

They are ALL great and easy to use.  They all work well together if you set it up properly.

As Marty says, two different markets, LC & LC Plus won't ever replace Legacy.

 

I do see the ipads and smartphones replacing the Legacy and DCS remotes sometime in the future. I expect this will probably also eliminate Lion Chief and Lion Chief Plus remotes? Possibly something similar to Bachmann's newly announced Bluetooth system for the less expensive sets? I don't see Lion Chief upgrade kits, probably cost more than they sell the sets for, but who knows? Just have to wait and see how that one plays out. I think MTH and DCS are also headed to ipads and smart phones replacing remotes.

Why would you want to downgrade your layout system going from Legacy to LionelChief.

If you are speaking in terms of todays technology and how both products are employed, I would agree. The question is will there be a more complex LionChief system in two years that does everything that Legacy does? Will a new system emerge that integrates the functions of both? While electronic integrated circuit functions grow in complexity ( while shrinking in size), this will undoubtedly have an effect on the design of new remote control products. In a couple of years who knows? 

Still think Lionel missed the boat with LionChief and LionChief Plus in terms of compatibility.  Why not just stick with a very basic TMCC setup, that would be compatible with Legacy ?  Use a concept similiar to the Marklin digital delta system, in  that its a starter digital system that can be later used as a full digital system.

At this point I have TMCC, Legacy, LionChief and now LionChief Plus, have to admit after using TMCC or Legacy, LC or LC Plus really dont compare.

In the Lionel world, Legacy rules.  It is very simple to operate.

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The biggest advantage of LionChief and LionChief+ is NO PROGRAMMING required.  Many times I have found that the problem customers have with DCS, TMCC?Legacy, and DCC is that they don't know how to program the engines to run.  With LC and LC+ just take the trains out of the box, install batteries in the remote, and turn every thing on.  If you add another LC/LC+ engine (as long as its not the same as the first) just set it up, and you have two trains running independently.

 

Stuart

 

 

As others have said, these won't merge. They are marketed to entirely different consumer bases. For those seeking simplicity and lower price, there's Product A. For those who want more features and performance, and who can afford it, there's Product B. I don't think GM has any plans to replace the Corvette with the Camaro, either. 

LionChief Plus replacing Legacy? No

    I am a big fan of LionChief Plus, but Lionel will keep making both operating systems and improvements on both. 

    If you take a look at Lionel Catalog 2014 Vol.2. They have twenty pages about the LionChief Plus Locomotives, with a lot of new stuff, Camelback Steam Engines, GP20's, and NW2's.

    I like the LionChief Plus, because of the one transmitter per engine. This means if you have three LionChief Plus Engines, you can have 3 guys or gals, running at the same time. That is very hard to do with Legacy. Their are a lot of cool features on the LionChief Plus, my favorite is "Constant speed control" also called "Odyssey® II"

   Think about RC Controlled cars, they are one transmitter per car same for planes but they do share 2.4G.  It would be very hard to control five RC cars from one controller. 

   My suggestion for Lionel, I would like to see some semi scale engines in the LionChief Plus operating system

Below is a YT, video that have poster on the forum about the LionChief Plus, If you have already seen, thanks for watching, if you have not. please take a look. 

 

 

trgary, as always thanks for great info.  I have the LionChief(not plus) with the "track transformer", just Fastrack that accepts plug in from wall outlet. Question I have is when I add powered accessories and track, won't that require more "juice" , will the wall outlet "track transformer" have sufficient power  for added track and accessories?

I believe the Plus would have same issue. Thanks trgary

Stuart, that is because they do not read the book.  Anyone can program a Lionel or MTH engine.

 

For the record, I am also a huge fan of LionChief.  It is a great product.  It is just not LEGACY.

As I said to trgary, for folks new to the hobby, the LionChief and Plus are true plug, no traditional box transformer required. and play, downside, is the don't "learn" the traditional box transformer like cx 80 and all requirements  of more juice as additional track pieces and powered/lighted accessories are added.

To Old Creosote: Thanks for the support, I have large layout, using Five Lionel Bricks, 80-Watts each. One for each of the four main lines and one for accessories. You should have the required "juice" for your layout, with the accessories.  Maybe some other Forum Guys can help with this question. Also ask you Authorized Lionel Dealer.

Good Luck & Cheers from Michigan

Yep, I will need the traditional "box/brick transformer like cx 80. I didn't think just plugging in the terminal FasTrack to wall outlet would supply enough juice for expansion. But out of the box, to power the Lionchief or Plus and a little expansion, a traditional cx 80 type transformer is not required to run the train. Issue comes with expansion, then  something like cx 80 needs to be added to get "juice" required.

Thanks again trgary

I'm confused by your saying you have to program a legacy engine. put engine on track punch in number and turn red knob.

I thing he is talking about changing address numbers or doing a reset.

If you want to run more than one independently then you do have to program them with different addresses.

 

Stuart

 

 Edit:  Marty just answered this as I was typing.  Also, Marty, you expect people to read manuals?

trgary, my LionChief is powered like detail shown below.  so I would  get 3-4 pieces of Fastrack terminal track and 3-4 80 watt bricks and plug them into my layout, 3-4 pieces of FasTrack terminal track and 3-4 80 watt bricks, all in same oval or fig 8, etc layout?  

 

Lionel will probably come up with a radio command base for Lionchief to make it compatible with Legacy someday. Only problem is Lionchief is ID locked, so it will be interesting to see how they work around it.