New Lionel Lionchief+ NW2 Switcher

Here are a few more shots on my layout. I love the lighting. The marker lights on the long hood are red when the locomotive travels cab first. Is that prototypical?

I can see Lionel upgraded with safety tread, windshield wipers, and cab window glass. The new trucks look excellent, though the marker light configuration looks a little odd compared to the postwar version. Oh well, it's not that big of an issue, maybe it's just a nitpick.

At first I didn't like the marker lights on the end of the long hood. I thought they were too small.

 

Then I started looking at real switchers. The Lionel lights look about scale-ish size.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/92095601@N08/8395979074/in/dateposted-public/

Is the frame diecast like the Postwar unit?

I've seen lantern style lights on switching diesels and rail cars before. Ive seen them with none too.

 

 

Are the windshield wipers cast in or separately applied?

Good looking update to a classic!

Sam lets see a video on your NW2!

Looks great! Hopefully more road names to come.

Interesting that the motor is under the hood rather than in the cab. I would not think that a RS385PH can motor (typical motor for diesels) would fit under the hood as the 385 is rather tall. 

 

Nice looking chooch. Wish that this round had a ATSF unit. 

Looks stunning. I can hardly wait to finally place my order, calling the local hobby shop ASAP. Who did you order from?

Wow, totally surprised. Thought these were more of a mid-August delivery. Glad to see one in "the flesh."

 

Looking forward to getting mine (B&O livery) and seeing others post pics, vids, and reviews.

It would be interesting if someone could compare the LC+ NW2 with the LCCA NW2 that came out a few years back. The trucks are different, and doesn't the LCCA switcher have a Pullmor motor? It would be AWESOME if Lionel came out with a matching calf for these the same way they did with the LCCA NW2. Just a few catalogs ago there was a scale switcher shown, but then cancelled. I wonder if this unit came up and that lead to the decision to cancel the scale switcher?

 

To answer some questions....

yes, it has a die cast frame. 

Yes, the tread in the frame is crisper than the PW cousin. It does look like Lionel cleaned up this frame. Note the rough grinder-looking rough in the side of the casting on the PW version, but the whole frame is smooth and crisp on this new one.

I think Lionel closed off some of the hood doors on the shell during the MPC era. I'm thinking of the Rock logo and maybe other fitting on that side square near the end of the short hood. It's too bad Lionel didn't put these details back in.

 

 

The wipers on both sides of the cab do look to be add on details. I'm not brave enough to try to bend or remove them to see for sure.

The later plastic horn on the cab is clunkier looking compared to the metal PW version, but that doesn't bother me at all.

 

As for where I got it, I lucked into this. I got it from Lionel.com. I've received gift certificates here and there over the years from family. There was never a decent selection there until recently. I called last week to redeem all of these at once, and the person I spoke with said these just came in.

Im playing hookie from work today to play with this! Here's a short video for Chessie. The smoke output seems suddenly better (more) when running after this video was made.

 

I wonder why they put AAR type B road trucks on this model - those aren't the right trucks for a switch engine.  They should have AAR type A sideframes...

I think the Burlington scheme looks great on those NW2's. Congrats on the new engine, it looks very nice!

It's better than using the Blomberg trucks from the F-units.

 

From what I understand the original tooling for the side frames was damaged/destroyed a long time ago...

 

Rusty

Are the gears plastic or metal?

I wonder why they put AAR type B road trucks on this model - those aren't the right trucks for a switch engine.  They should have AAR type A sideframes...

 

From what I understand the original tooling for the side frames was damaged/destroyed a long time ago...

 

Rusty

SO? for the amount of locos that use this type of side frame, Lionel should have invested in new tooling! They are being a penny wise yet a dollar short!

I couldn't care less what type of trucks are on it nor would I know the difference! Looks like a great improvement over the post war or MPC version.  If they make it in a Boston road name I'll pull the trigger. 

Where are the smoke, remote, and sound switches? Under the cab?

Lionel must have found there way out of the jungle. This is one of the nicest semi-scales locos I have ever seen.

My question is, if they have the tooling for AAR Type B sideframes, why the heck are they putting Blomberg sideframes under their LC+ RS-3's? Sometimes I wonder about these guys, it seems like they really go out of their way to make errors!

 

Bill in FtL

When I saw them first in the catalog, I thought "boy, I hope they also do a TMCC version".  Now that I've seen your video, I've doubled my hope for a TMCC version.  Do a lot of road names and I'll bet Lionel would sell a bundle.

Any sign of the B&O ???

Ordered one after seeing it at York
Thx

Charlie Nassau just posted the other day that the B&O's, among some other items, have shipped from Lionel. Most of the dealers are showing an early August arrival on the next group of NW-2s.

TMCC? do you mean Legacy? I'm hoping nothing new will ever have TMCC. What a waste that would be.

My local hobby shop says my BN 546 should be in next week. I am still blown away by the video.

Looks like the next round of the Lion Chief Plus NW-2s (B&O livery, etc.) are arriving at dealers. Charles Ro has them in and assume others will soon.

Received My BN and B&O today.  I will post pictures shortly.  WOW this has got to be one of Lionel's finest offerings IMO across the line.  The build quality and eye appeal are 1000% perfect.  It will be these products that ensure Lionel's success into the future.

This is great to hear. Can't wait for mine to arrive.

Here is the Southern NW2.  It smokes up a storm.

 

Neal Jeter

Here are some pics.  

 

Thanks for the pictures. Very nice. Ours came in today. 

My BN NW2 arrived today! Wow, just wow it is an amazing little engine.

Very nice NW2 engine!

What is the multi color stripe in a box represent?

I received my B&O NW-2 and my C&O GP-30 yesterday from Ro. I'm happy with both but the only minor thing that I wish was different with the NW-2 is the frosted windows. To me for some reason the frosted windows make it look a little cheap you can barely see the crew inside. Other then that I love it, my dad's only diesel was the Seaboard 6250 so the NW-2's have a place in my heart.

 

I sure hope no one else's drops dead for no reason while running.