Hello. I'm considering the current Lionel Pennsylvania Flyer lionchief set. ($170@amazon). I also have a polar express which runs great, and a hogwarts express which runs poorly in comparison.
So what I'm wondering is how the Pennsy fits in?
Will the motor be similar to either, or something different again? And how is the performance as you add cars? Thanks in advance.
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The newer Polar Express LionChief set has the larger motor and seems to run fine. I have the Hogwarts set, and I upgraded it to TMCC cruise with RailSounds and fan driven smoke. It manages to pull four cars with no problem around the club, grades and all. It does have the smaller set motor, so I suspect if I run it a lot I may need a motor replacement. 
Looks like the 6-30233 Pennsy Flyer has the small starter set motor like the Hogwarts if that's any help.
Thanks for the replies. Price point led me to believe it had the smaller motor, but it's nice to actually know up front.
I have the Pennsy Flyer Lionchief set from about four years ago. I run the engine on my permanent layout and around the Christmas tree. It does a nice job and I have it pulling 6 cars on O60 curves right now. It will do about four light weight non scale cars on an incline. My Polar Express engine is more powerful.
Interesting. So the Pennsy is smaller motor both pre and post 2013?
I looked up the Lionel 6-30233 Pennsy Flyer that Amazon has for $169.99 and it has the small motor. I don't know if they've made a "series II" version of the Flyer, I didn't find one.
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