New LC+ GP-7 a hit with me!

Lee, that is a "LionChefPlus" Loco?

Well, "uncontrollably" may not be quite the right word.

Very nice.

Almost makes me want to start buying diesels, but probably not. Still that is nice.

ooops! I meant unusually controllably - gotta go fix that!

Yes, absolutely.  

Not bad!

Good videos Lee, but would have been nice to hear the horn and bell.

Also, not that it matters that much, but the UP ran their GP-7s long hood forward, then ran their later GP-9s short hood forward.  

Nice videos, nice locomotive.

I have to agree, very nice addition. 

Is the GP-7 scale size or is it shrunken to fit teeny curves?

It is for tenny curves Rex me thinks it is a suped up traditional Geep that got some of them new fangled rail/legacy/odyssey thing a ma gigeys slipped inside the little beast, runs very nice.

Does that engine have the 567 prime mover sounds? Doesn't sound like it....?

I'm interested in the LCCA B&M GP7.  I would join the LCCA club to buy one if the price is reasonable.  Anyone got an idea of what the price is going to be?

I think the LCCA said pricing would be available in October or November.

These are scale-sized, like traditional Lionel Geeps.

This was another reason I bought one.  It's scale size and thus a "mainline" engine as far as my layout is concerned.  

Sounds like its idling in notch 4 as well

The sound is not Legacy quality.  Generic diesel, idles too fast, only revs a bit above that until it really moves fast.  But still, it is loud, diesel like, and varies as the train works harder.  I keep in mind it cost $300 and some change is all.  For that, it is a bargain.  

I guess we're always asking for more, but I really can't complain given the price. 

Exactly right. You can't buy a $25,000 Toyota and expect that it will accelerate and sound like a Ferrari. Not sure what people expect. Personally, loud continuous diesel whine gets to me pretty quick, and I always turn it down anyway.

Don't take my post as a dig...just a curiosity. It is a nice engine and certainly well worth the price. 

I didn't take it as a dig, but a legit question. I would expect true to near-true sound from Legacy, but here, it is what I actually expected to get from it, since it cost only $300.  Breezinup is right, you turn down the sound pretty quickly because it is so monotonous, but leave it a little bit - it does make sound.  

Still, if Lionel would put sound like in a Legacy U30C in it, I'd pay at least $50, maybe $75 more - awesome. 

Hi Lee,  thanks for posting the video.  I really like the look of it and now seeing it running, its perfect for smaller layouts like mine.   Lionel did a nice job showing the exploded view of them in the 2014 v2 catalog.

You're welcome Brewman1973.  You are right that it is a good size for smaller layouts.  I love it on mine.  Bigger diesels (DDX35, etc.) look silly on mine.  

Hard to fault this puppy.  Scale. Nice and heavy --- excellent -- just awesome pulling power, even when creeping.  Remote control couplers.  Good smoke.  Detail is good - okay, not Vision quality, not even quite Legacy maybe, but its good, really good, if not a lot of "separately added pieces."  And yeah, as observed, the diesel sound isn't Legacy quality.  But I paid only $249.95 including shipping . . .   THAT is a bargain. 

I wonder how you unit is running? Still okay? At our little train night group last night one of the participants brought his new delivered Lionchief Chessie Mikado. It ran for about 25 minutes and then started acting up with no response stalling, and then it would run again but all sounds were gone.

He was not happy to say the least and based on my luck lately this is typical so that is why I was wondering how your unit was doing?

Hmmm, I have run mine for about an hour straight without any issues noticed. Could be that it is Chessie rather then PRR! Keep us posted as this has not been the normal performance.

Had the same engine, purchased from a forum sponsor. Asked for it to be tested, I don't believe it was. Arrives and the sound would cut out and the engine would bind up and overheat. Sent it back for a refund, have another one coming from Trainworld tomorrow or Wednesday. Hope it isn't a dud either...really like the engine!

Be sure the tether/drawbar is really pressed together. The top should be flush. The engine will run without the tender but I found it to act up just a bit if the tether wasn't fully plugged in. 

Hi Lee, I received my LionChief + Santa Fe GP-7 but have not had a chance to run it since I am in the middle of a major layout modification.  Thanks for posting the video, it is a great looking engine and for the price the features are fine with me.

Steve, Lady and Tex

Sorry, that is pretty bad. Sounds more like a jet engine or something alien. 

Not only  that, but I bet the LionChief technology of not having to put power to the rails, is the future of the hobby and an advancement.

Makes the great price even more attractive.

They just need to figure out a way to consolidate remotes..maybe a LionChief remote hub or something.

If you have an LC+ loco and have erratic performance, try changing the batteries for a fresher set.  Of the four locos I have had the running problems only on the Hudson and Pacific, but it both cases they started not responding and the sound would act up.  Fresh batteries fixed the problem.  Apparently if the loco is not getting a good signal it gets lonely and act up.  After 24 minutes I would not think the batteries would be weak yet, but it is easy to try . . . 

Lee, 

Thanks...good to know. My issue wasn't a battery, at least with the performance, there was a MAJOR bind in it. I wiggled the tether a bit, and had some erratic sound but once I really clamped down on the tether, all went away. Clearance between the tether and railhead looks a bit tight to try the zip-tie trick but I maybe wrong. Mikado #2 arrives tomorrow, hopefully this one isn't a dud. 

Looking at the RTR catalog...if that Amtrak set had a detuned F3 and the PW style 2400 series passenger cars I would have bought it in a heartbeat.  Never been a fan of the new low end streamliners...nor the trucks Lionel used on low end switcher's and alcos up until recently.