Potentially Dumb Question Re: LionChief

Nope. 

I don't like the answer, but I very much appreciate your fast reply.  Thanks, Marty.

Art 

it wasn't made to be run by the Legacy or TMCC controllers. As of now there are no plans that I know of to build an interface. 

Depending on what you are trying to do, varying the track voltage with the LC remote up full might work. But even then you'll just get movement in the direction the LC remote is set on. 

I understand that TMCC and Legacy (I run conventional only at the moment) are more expensive than LionChief and have more features.

I am happy that the American Flyer Polar Express will have a switch that allows conventional operation. Going backwards to free yourself from the remote (in case the dog eats it) is better than no option. Perhaps LionChief will eventually get this FlyerChief feature as well.

Lionchief Plus has that feature

Chugman, There are no stupid questions. I had the opportunity at York to talk to Mr. Hitchcock from Lionel concerning this issue. Lionel's best control system having the capability of running all remote controllable trains such as lionchief. Personally, I found

his answer to be short sided. We will leave it at that.

IMHO, the lionchief system should have be designed with the thought of some wanting to use legacy to run these engines, Via direct control or a add on box.

We have all purchased product over the years, that really didn't fit our "scale". The cute or history factor coming into play. Lionel needs to address this issue. It is a "STUPID"marketing decision. IMHO. I sure after talking to Alfred Hitchcock-they don't think it is.

What do you think?

Lion Chief was designed as an entry level system for first time buyers and also to try and get more people into the hobby at the entry level. Ease of use and low cost were big considerations. If they added all the capabilities to Lion Chief to make it operate with TMCC/Legacy the price would go up accordingly and Lion Chief would no longer be an entry level system, it would be a TMCC/Legacy system, same as the more expensive ones they currently have. These are two totally different systems with two totally different markets in mind as buyers. I would love to have TMCC/Legacy control at Lion Chief prices myself, but I really don't think it is going to happen.

Personally, I think it would be a wise choice to make Lionchief (+) compatible with TMCC and Legacy. It would broaden the market. I get the whole entry level thought process. But I can't help but think that having upward compatibility would open up a broader market to higher end purchasers as well as the entry level crowd.

I for one would love to have that option open. There are some diesels in the Lionchief+ line (RS3's for one) which would work nice in my layout scheme.

even though the Lionchief+ line doesn't have all the bells and whistles (pardon the pun) of legacy, providing the capability to control these locomotives under the legacy/TMCC systems would be a great option.

with the spiraling prices of the higher end locomotives, those with limited funds are getting squeezed out of the hobby.

imo the reason the lionchief+ will not ever work with legacy is because each lionchief+ only runs that engine line.  lionel would have had to make a legacy remote talk to every different lionchief+ engine line.

how would that go over with us who have had a legacy remote for years?

maybe with the release of the legacy code someone can break the lionchief+ code and build a, universal remote.

just a thought.

The LC or LC+ is not going to be running on your Legacy system any time soon, like never!  The two systems are totally different in concept and execution.

Gentlemen,

   I have to agree with guns on this one, IMO Lionel engineered them differently on purpose, for people who want to invest in the hobby at differing expense levels.

I do not think this was a Lionel engineering mistake at all, I believe this was set up for 2 different kinds of market sales, making it impossible to combine the engineering was no mistake on Lionel's part.

PCRR/Dave

Bingo! I bought an LC+ engine because A) I didn't have the $$$ to spend on a Legacy system and engine and B) Most Legacy engines are not things I'm interested it. Would I like to have Legacy? No (although it would be nice). I have DCS but run my layout conventional with transformers. I got fed up with signal issues, this and that and don't want that any more. No BS, just run trains. However, I like the ability to use a remote. LC+ hits home plate in every ball park. Remote? Yep. "Legacy" sound, speed control and features such as remote uncoupling and fan smoke? Yep! In addition, I can run without the remote if I want. No worry about signal strength or this or that. Just give it power and go. Can't ask for much more. If Lionel wanted LC/LC+ to be compatible with Legacy, they probably wouldn't even bother with LC. If I wanted Legacy, I'd buy it. 

I don't know why you would say never?  I would think at some point a box could be made that can communicate with LC engines and translate TMCC or Legacy commands to address a specific engine.

I don't know what specific protocol LC is using, but the remote internals aren't very elaborate.

I think the whole issue evolves around marketing.  G

GGG ,,  since the lc+ ISNT elaborate,  would there be a way to hack the remote so it could run 2 or 3 engines from the same remote ?  just a thought.

I don't think it's a question of technical ability to make any of these scenarios work.  At issue here is how Lionel perceives the two product lines.  I think it was a conscious effort on their part to separate the two product lines.  As George says, this is most likely a marketing decision, not a technical one.

I don't know.  Again I am not sure of the protocol they are using.  Frankly this gets into the CAB-1/L realm.  This was my concern with LC and LC+.  They are great for one or 2 trains, but once a train hobbyist starts to collect more, they won't want to deal with the multiple remotes.   The old CAB-1 at the $99 mark fit this perfectly.

Instead of a new electronic package on a new philosophy, they should have just upgraded the electronics to TMCC/L like they did with the CAB-1 and moved forward with moderate priced engines.  Leave LC+ to the starter sets.   G

So my grandson buys a starter set with LC 0r LC+ and wants to run his new engine on grandpa's layout.  Sorry, can't do it as you made the mistake of buying a cheap starter set.  IF you want to run trains together, throw your starter set away and buy a "real" Lionel train?

Art

Should Lionel warn new buyers about this?  Some think that if they buy an engine and cars it will work because it is Lionel.

Art

No. LC has to have the remote. Give it 18 volts and use the remote and you can run it wherever you want with Legacy, DCS, etc engines/systems on the track.

LC+ is the same - give it 18 volts and away you go. I've run my LC+ engine with less than 10 volts but not sure of long term effects, if any. Runs fine with Legacy and TMCC. LC+ has a switch so you can run via transformer handle or remote.

I ran my LC+ Mikado at a recent National Capital Tracker display. It ran great with no problems running with Postwar engines, DCS and Legacy engines.  

If you want to run your "big boy" stuff and Jr. wants to run his LC engine, just give 18 volts and away you go. 

The only thing I would do differently is make LC a remote/transformer capable product such as LC+. I think Lionel dropped the ball on that part but otherwise, LC/LC+ is a smash hit in my book. 

I think you'll see the LC product go away and all of the future products will be the LC+.  I think Lionel saw the wisdom of making that change.

you are mistaken in your post.

we run LC and LC+ on our command layout at the cub all the time.

He can run it on your TMCC/Legacy/DCS when ever and all he wants, he just has to use the LC or LC+ remote that it came with to control it. You can still run all your trains at the same time using the your remotes. LC & LC+ is fully compatible with all the command control systems, TMCC/Legacy/DCS. Put 18 volts on the track and fire up the remote and you are ready to go.