Lionel Lionmaster LC+ Big Boy - Comments, Reviews Desired

I don't own one of these. However, having owned one of the previous legacy lm big boys .

  After viewing videos of the Lionchief bigboy on line. The nit I would pick is that it only has 4 chuffs per revolution. The previous legacy runs had the more prototypical  8 chuffs.

Outside of that. It shares much of the the soundset with the vl bigboy, aside from my "nit" . It sounds fantastic.

I have been wanting a lion Master version of big boy for some time. I finally got one in March.  Little parts came out of the box with the engine. It derailed on curves. My local Lionel service station fixed it and it ran okay for a week. Then the problems started again. Same problem, derailing on curves. It has been fixed again and seems to be okay so far. I really like the engine and all of the TMCC functions work just fine. Now if it will just stay on the track I will be a happy camper. It is a beautiful engine and is numbered for the big boy at Steamtown in Scranton.

I have had my lc2 big boy for several months.  This is my favorite locomotive.  I got the 4017 because UP might sell it to B&O.  I ran it with bluetooth for a couple months until I bought a legacy controller.  This really woke the loco up.  The tmcc control and features are great.  Looks, Sounds, and smoke are wonderful.  Recently bought a legacy class A that has a quilable steam whistle which i am really liking. However the BB is my best runner and I run them both a lot.  In addition I do run it on O36 with no issues.  I  built my layout with a Berkshire and when i bought the BB I had to make several clearance adjustments.  Rookie mistakes galore!

hope this works.

https://youtu.be/HNuIEoUnlQI

We bought one for our club. Nice looking, runs well and great sound.

@Dillonm posted:

hope this works.

https://youtu.be/HNuIEoUnlQI

 

Sure sounds to me like the sound is cutting out in that video..am I hearing that correctly? 

it was. not usuall. the yard is under construction and that was track.  not the loco.  need to clean from last night.

Review on 1-18-20 at Eric Trains. His YouTube channel is amazing.

@RickO posted:

After viewing videos of the Lionchief bigboy on line. The nit I would pick is that it only has 4 chuffs per revolution. The previous legacy runs had the more prototypical  8 chuffs.

Outside of that. It shares much of the the soundset with the vl bigboy, aside from my "nit" . It sounds fantastic.

I too noticed the single 4 chuff beat of the new LC+2 version, but I think the earlier versions, Legacy and TMCC were dual 4 chuff that would go in and out of sync as you ran the loco.

Few club photos.j

Here's another thread for this engine...

https://ogrforum.com/...boy-from-mr-muffin-s

Here's a post I did back in march when I receive mine.

https://ogrforum.com/...big-boy-4014-1932162

I have only had 2 small issues with my engine. The smoke unit motor was loud and needed a tiny drop of oil to quiet it down. Second, the original traction tires had no grip, they were like slicks and had to be replaced.

SJC, would you be running your Big Boy in conventional mode?

@James in VA posted:

SJC, would you be running your Big Boy in conventional mode?

Jimmy, 

Nope, despite my preference for conventional operation, I do have a Legacy system and would use that. 

Thanks to all that have provided comments, much appreciated. 

I own both an MTH Imperial Big Boy and the older Lionel Lionmaster Big Boy. Over all the MTH runs way nicer then the Lionel in my opinion. I bought both of them around the same time. Thus far no issues with the MTH version, on the other hand with the Lionel my smoke unit has since burned out which has been a known issue with these engines. @gunrunnerjohn has talked about this smoke unit issue quite a few times including even in my own wall of post. I will post a video of both of my Big Boys for you to check out. 

Video of the two of them running with a bonus Erie Triplex. 

Received my loco last week and have one question. Using CAB-1 how do change the master volume on the legacy locomotive. The whistle, bell, and crew talk is too loud. Don't want to use the LionChief App if possible.

@ns1001 posted:

Received my loco last week and have one question. Using CAB-1 how do change the master volume on the legacy locomotive. The whistle, bell, and crew talk is too loud. Don't want to use the LionChief App if possible.

Number 1 should be volume up and number 4 should be volume down.

I have one and love it.  It is one of the few non-scale locos I run, big enough that it mixes with most scale steamers and diesels and can visual pass for "big enough," and it looks like a Big Boy, yet looks good on curves, something no scale Big Boy ever has for me (too much boiler front stick out for me).

I had a previous LM Big Boy and literall wore it out.  I treasure this one.  

It is detailed and worth the money.  Mine runs perfectly and pulls a lot.  I prefer to run it with an LC+2.0 universal remote. 

@Lee Willis posted:

I have one and love it.  It is one of the few non-scale locos I run, big enough that it mixes with most scale steamers and diesels and can visual pass for "big enough," and it looks like a Big Boy, yet looks good on curves, something no scale Big Boy ever has for me (too much boiler front stick out for me).

I had a previous LM Big Boy and literall wore it out.  I treasure this one.  

It is detailed and worth the money.  Mine runs perfectly and pulls a lot.  I prefer to run it with an LC+2.0 universal remote. 

Couldn't agree more...not scale, but "big enough" to play nicely with other scale locomotives and freight.

I picked up my 4014 LC+ 2.0 Big Boy a few months ago and it hasn't left the tracks since then. I had a few concerns when I took it out of the box, basically the front drivers were hanging off and I found the mounting screw in the box. I was able to get it reattached and I also had to tighten the nuts on the rods.

Since then this engine has given me nothing but joy. The sounds are incredible and Lionel did a great job on the details. If this is the future of LC+ 2.0 then I'm on board. 

Thanks Davety for telling me how to adjust the overall Legacy sound volume. I was using AUX 1 then key 4.

@ns1001 posted:

Thanks Davety for telling me how to adjust the overall Legacy sound volume. I was using AUX 1 then key 4.

I think that is a Legacy command for what you wanted to do. When controlling a LC+2.0 engine using a command environment / remote it's technically a TMCC engine, so using those commands should work for you.

Anyone with a LC+ big boy notice static from the tender when the volume is turned down past the half way point? More specifically if using bluetooth, the lowest setting but not all the way down. I notice mine having static but when I get the loco running it subsides and also if I turn the volume up past half.

Using the bluetooth app, I isolated the static specifically to the "chuff" section of sound. I can keep all other volumes high and then when I put the chuff sound low I get that static noise. Wondering if its common and I am just being picky or if its unusual?

Are you sure you aren't hearing the fan smoke unit spin up which is in sync with the chuffs. The fan will push smoke out with the revolutions and the fan can sometimes make a high pitch sound as it spins up. Try turning off the smoke unit and see if it still does it.

@BNSF-Matt posted:

Are you sure you aren't hearing the fan smoke unit spin up which is in sync with the chuffs. The fan will push smoke out with the revolutions and the fan can sometimes make a high pitch sound as it spins up. Try turning off the smoke unit and see if it still does it.

I can confirm it is definitely not coming from the smoke unit itself. I 3D printed a mount to help with the smoke unit whine and it did great. This sounds like very light static from old cable TV from the tender. I also notice it at idle vs when running? Kind of a weird thing but I will take a video to show you what I mean.

@BNSF-Matt posted:

Are you sure you aren't hearing the fan smoke unit spin up which is in sync with the chuffs. The fan will push smoke out with the revolutions and the fan can sometimes make a high pitch sound as it spins up. Try turning off the smoke unit and see if it still does it.

this is how I get the static to happen and what it sounds like.

Ok, gotcha. So if other sounds are perfectly fine then we can rule out the speaker. You might want to open the tender and just make sure everything looks tight, no loose wires or grounding issues.

Otherwise the sound sample for that particular audio piece needs to be reset or the sound board replaced. Did you try a full factory reset on it?

@BNSF-Matt posted:

Ok, gotcha. So if other sounds are perfectly fine then we can rule out the speaker. You might want to open the tender and just make sure everything looks tight, no loose wires or grounding issues.

Otherwise the sound sample for that particular audio piece needs to be reset or the sound board replaced. Did you try a full factory reset on it?

I understand. I can check the tender but doubt that because I think it would happen with other sounds.

Do you know how to do a full factory reset? Luckily it's in the warranty period so I may be able to send it to Lionel if the board does need to be replaced.

Does yours make the same noise with those sound levels set that way?

I actually need to update, I am finding the crackling/static with all rail sounds at the lowest volume setting.

Just spoke to Lionel on the phone and was told this static was programmed by design and they knew about it... LOL. Anyone else with the train will experience the same thing. It is in the software. I was not the first one to call and have concern and they played it off like a standard feature. Hope this helps anyone wondering about the same issue if they get this train.. excuse me this "feature"

@papajoewill posted:

Just spoke to Lionel on the phone and was told this static was programmed by design and they knew about it... LOL. Anyone else with the train will experience the same thing. It is in the software. I was not the first one to call and have concern and they played it off like a standard feature. Hope this helps anyone wondering about the same issue if they get this train.. excuse me this "feature"

Bull!

@Dave Koehler posted:

Bull!

A big bologna sandwich with lettuce, tomato, and pickles.

I have the greyhound version and have not experienced any static noise or issues. I use the Bluetooth and app and have had it at most volume levels as well.

• Brad

Love mine no issue's

@B rad posted:

I have the greyhound version and have not experienced any static noise or issues. I use the Bluetooth and app and have had it at most volume levels as well.

• Brad

Turn down the volume to how I have it posted above and let me know.

@rpmcobra posted:

Love mine no issue's

Turn down the volume to how I have it posted above and let me know.

If rpmcobra or B rad doesn't have this problem I will call Lionel back.