Eric like you I have legacy and dcs. Just picked up a lionchief plus N+W rectifier. Got it at a blowout from trainworld. Total price $175.I just love it. These engines are fantasic and the cuise feature makes these very appealing. As you stated these are incredibly simple and a blast to run. I now want to get a lot more. These will be great for my show display layout and for those times I just want to run my layout with out all the legacy/dcs hassel. Just trouble free and easy. I will get the universal remote as well. These are so much fun and bullet proof and can't be overstated very affordable. Thanks for reviewing these btw. Great job as always!!!
This is definitely the easiest engine to run. Also, the 2 railroads that had the most orders of the GP7 were the Santa Fe (244 A units, plus 5 B units), and the Missouri & Pacific Railroad (208 A units)
Another great video, thanks for sharing. Now, I absolutely love the GP-7 and GP-9 but in my opinion Lionel completely failed on this offering. I realize it’s just semi-scale but the way they mounted the steps on the trucks is just unacceptable. I would never spend my money on such a fail. Roy Auburn, WA
Another great video eric! As a side note the real L&N 405 is still around today. Its preserved at the Tennessee Central Railroad Museum (TCRM) in Nashville TN.
I like how you diversify the trains you buy, and that it’s not just high end stuff. It’s fair to say that these Ion Chief Plus trains are made pretty well, and sound great too! Keep these song with your other ones, are fun to watch. I saw your building in the background!
I have some older engines or locomotives whatever you call them you'll understand more once I say that I just getting into it I got a ton of stuff cheap that will start me out don't even have the track set up nothing new at this so any pointers love to hear them
When you flipped it over, I wish you spoke about the gears. I have the Lionchief 2.0 version of this same loco model. I think the gears are plastic! How is that going to work out for durability, especially when pulling cars?
A scale model is built to scale. So for o-scale the models are built to 1:48 scale. A semi-scale model is close to being scale, but not quite. Traditional o-gauge trains like the classic ones Lionel made back in the day and this model are not quite built to scale. They are compressed down to help them run on tighter curves associated with smaller layouts.
Nice review and beautiful loco. You´re right, I´ve got two LC+ engines (SP 4-6-2 Pacific & Conrail E33) and the more I use them the more I like playing with them. I hope to buy one of these locos equipped with bluetooth soon because I think it must be an amazing experience. Thanks for sharing.
Great video Eric, very informative. Lion Chief plus may be my go too locomotives, simple to operate plus the smoke, couplers and sound give it that extra to use when operating a point to point switching layout. 👍🏼
Nice review Eric - You hit all the positives of the LC+ line. What a great idea Lionel thought of. Now if only the LC+ can work a lash-up then Lionel will have a real gem. Thanks for sharing.. Ron//
Eric, great review and another show of your promotion of this hobby. It was a nice touch to add the scene with Clint Eastwood. You must be a fan to have been reminded, by the engine, the sounds of that movie. Would be interesting to find out if Lionel "stole" that sound from that movie.
The LC+ engines from earlier 2017 use they instructions in the manual. They don't have the shift key either. They use quick double tap of the whistle or bell button. The late 2017- new 2018 remote is cool and looks to be much easier to use to fire the couplers and to adjust the volume!
I can't advise against a single pickup roller per truck (motor) design enough. I have a Lionel C-420 Monon with this design and it loses power over switch tracks unless you're moving at a very decent speed, in which case it'll still cut for a millisecond but not lose railsounds or get stuck. Forget about using it on a layout with switches (or at least O-31 switches). So disappointing. Didn't realize this when I bought it when I was 14.
I have an older lionchief plus gp7 and the volume instructions were correct in my manual. They've also upgraded the sound and replaced the horrible horn on the earlier ones
ericstrains, at 1:16, my dad had the Alaska RR Pacific loco. The smoke unit and sound system were defective under normal operations after a short in the sound system with a surge protected socket for the layout. Lionel is going to replace it but sadly not idiot proof. Just bought this loco that you are reviewing today. Got it because your review was amazing on it!!!
Hi Eric, another great video, always fun to watch. I agree those LionChief Plus engines are a home run for Lionel, but I am a MTH fan. I like the idea of Proto 3.0, the same operating system for all there engines.....Frank
Hi Eric. I'm Nolan, and I'm a big fan of your channel. I watch you. Many people are amazed about what I know about trains because I'm only 12 years old. Great review! They should totally make Pennsylvania, Conrail, and Chessie system variations of this model! If they did, me and my friend would definitely buy 1 or 2. Only problem I have is the horn. Very few if not any GP7's ever had single chime horns. It would have been much more realistic if Lionel had given it a 2 chime horn. Otherwise, great model! I will defiantly try to buy one!
You said exactly what I was thinking, on the Clint Eastwood old West movie! At least, it wasn't the whip sound from Rawhide the old cowboy television show he played the role of Rowdy in before a lot of his success in the movies!
I have a scale GP9 that does O27 fine. So a semi scale GP7 should have no problem, but it clearly says O31 minimum. I designed a small 4X6 layout based on an industrial yard. A LionChief engine with remote operated front and rear couplers would be ideal for it.
I don't know if i'm supposed to or not, but I have four LionChief Plus engines (a GP20, 2 RS3s, and an NW2) and they are running fine on my O/27 layout.
Nice review, Eric. I have always enjoyed your videos. I’ve downloaded the LionChief app in case I were to get a LionChief or LionChief Plus engine equipped with Bluetooth. I have two LionChief engines in my collection (Polar Express 1225 and C&NW 1155). I’m gonna invest my tax money (when I get it) on one of Lionel’s new LionChief Plus Berkshires. I’m planning on getting the Lionel Lines version because it has the same exact tooling as Lionel’s postwar 726 and 736 Berkshires. Also, I’ve wanted a Lionel 726 Berkshire since I was a kid.
Hay eric I love your videos and and in my opinion I think you're the best TH-camr on TH-cam and sometime do a review on the Lionel g scale Polar Express
Hey Eric, can you try to count how much rolling stock and passenger cars you have, like what you did for episode 53 on your “ericstrains” series, maybe a tutorial on how to weather the cars
Hi Eric! Very nice video I like so much LionChief Plus I have two those and one LionChief SET Well, My collection has, in majority, trains of postwar era. So, the LionChiefs are specials to me. Well, do you know if the Legacy Station sell to Brazil?
Hey Eric, any chance of you reviewing the Vision Line Santa Fe 3000 2-10-10-2? I browsed the lionel shop, saw that and went "Wait wait wait, this thing cant be real, It is completely ludicrous." Curious to see the Pulling power if nothing else.
I work at a Railway Museum with that real locomotive. One of our members spent 9 years restoring her from the ground up. Visit the website to take a look at her and our other engines and rolling stock. tcry.org/
Hey Eric! IM SO Happy You Did This Review Because I Got This SAME EXACT Locomotive For Christmas 2017. Also Thank You For Teaching Me How To Make The Volume Louder And Quiet! Thx So Much Great Vid! Keep Up The Great Work!!!
Well Eric, the Niagara is the name given to the 4-8-4s built by ALCO for the New York Central. They were some of the most technology advanced steam locomotives ever built.
Cool video
Great analogy with a Clint Eastwood movie.
I!love trains
L&N 405 that you have here is actually is excursion service today for the Tennessee Central Railway Museum.
Awesome Eric you are lit
That wonderful train has a wonderful paint job
Eric like you I have legacy and dcs. Just picked up a lionchief plus N+W rectifier. Got it at a blowout from trainworld. Total price $175.I just love it. These engines are fantasic and the cuise feature makes these very appealing. As you stated these are incredibly simple and a blast to run. I now want to get a lot more. These will be great for my show display layout and for those times I just want to run my layout with out all the legacy/dcs hassel. Just trouble free and easy. I will get the universal remote as well. These are so much fun and bullet proof and can't be overstated very affordable. Thanks for reviewing these btw. Great job as always!!!
This is definitely the easiest engine to run. Also, the 2 railroads that had the most orders of the GP7 were the Santa Fe (244 A units, plus 5 B units), and the Missouri & Pacific Railroad (208 A units)
Eric, thanks for sharing your videos. It blows my mind how you have such a fleet and know so much about these different models you share.
Cyberjjc Thabk you!
OUTSTANDING commentary and Reporting. 🚂🇺🇸🚂🇺🇸🚂🇺🇸🐢
Another great video, thanks for sharing. Now, I absolutely love the GP-7 and GP-9 but in my opinion Lionel completely failed on this offering. I realize it’s just semi-scale but the way they mounted the steps on the trucks is just unacceptable. I would never spend my money on such a fail.
Roy
Auburn, WA
Yep, Lionel definitely has a winner with the LionChief Plus line of engines! AWESOME review as always bro! Thanks!
Another great video eric! As a side note the real L&N 405 is still around today. Its preserved at the Tennessee Central Railroad Museum (TCRM) in Nashville TN.
You're right, and it's still in operation pulling excursion trains between Nashville and Waterton.
I work on the real version of this locomotive! It is absolutely fantastic runner!
It is a beautiful engine in real life too! Love those Gyra Lights on the real one! You sir, have an awesome job.
I like how you diversify the trains you buy, and that it’s not just high end stuff. It’s fair to say that these Ion Chief Plus trains are made pretty well, and sound great too! Keep these song with your other ones, are fun to watch. I saw your building in the background!
I have some older engines or locomotives whatever you call them you'll understand more once I say that I just getting into it I got a ton of stuff cheap that will start me out don't even have the track set up nothing new at this so any pointers love to hear them
I wish lionel would make a lionchief plus hi-railer pickup truck.
On your phone it looked like there was a microphone or speaker setting is that true?
Can you talk through the locomotive?
What a great model for beginners, great video!
Nice review good to see you back in action! I have the Santa Fe Lionchief Plus GP7.
Cool!
ericstrains Thanks yeah having the classic GP7 postwar body with modern electronics is cool.
Wow very cool unit
When you flipped it over, I wish you spoke about the gears. I have the Lionchief 2.0 version of this same loco model. I think the gears are plastic! How is that going to work out for durability, especially when pulling cars?
I don’t think these have plastic gears
Great review! The movie reference made me laugh. I wish they would give those horn and bell options in Legacy locomotives!
Why are you using 3-rail when 2-rail is available? Wouldn't it look more typical?
Looks Gorgeous!
That was a GREAT review! I'm hooked on the LionChief Plus engines. I own four now and plan on purchasing more in the near future.
I've seen this very same locomotive running at the Tennessee Central Railroad Mueseum in Nashville,Tn. Great review and very beautiful engine.
Not too bad if you can overlook how high the locomotive sits on the trucks, or the fact that these things idle in the 8th notch.
Awesome video Eric! Love the paint scheme!!!
LOVE THE PAINT SCHEME AND THE L&N
What exactly does semi-scale mean
A scale model is built to scale. So for o-scale the models are built to 1:48 scale. A semi-scale model is close to being scale, but not quite. Traditional o-gauge trains like the classic ones Lionel made back in the day and this model are not quite built to scale. They are compressed down to help them run on tighter curves associated with smaller layouts.
I love the paint job I might have to get one
Cool engine. Looking forward to the SD60M review. I have the Legacy version.
Is Lionel's LionChief Plus GP7 worth it???
Nice review and beautiful loco. You´re right, I´ve got two LC+ engines (SP 4-6-2 Pacific & Conrail E33) and the more I use them the more I like playing with them. I hope to buy one of these locos equipped with bluetooth soon because I think it must be an amazing experience. Thanks for sharing.
That is one sweet engine, great video!
Can you run these engines on Lionels Legacy system?
No
This road number is still in operation here in Nashville at the Tennessee Central Railway Museum
Great video Eric, very informative.
Lion Chief plus may be my go too locomotives, simple to operate plus the smoke, couplers and sound give it that extra to use when operating a point to point switching layout. 👍🏼
Thanks
railking vs lioncheif?
Nice review Eric - You hit all the positives of the LC+ line. What a great idea Lionel thought of. Now if only the LC+ can work a lash-up then Lionel will have a real gem. Thanks for sharing.. Ron//
I got 3 of these and love the hell out of them they are great locos
great review
Eric, great review and another show of your promotion of this hobby. It was a nice touch to add the scene with Clint Eastwood. You must be a fan to have been reminded, by the engine, the sounds of that movie. Would be interesting to find out if Lionel "stole" that sound from that movie.
The LC+ engines from earlier 2017 use they instructions in the manual. They don't have the shift key either. They use quick double tap of the whistle or bell button. The late 2017- new 2018 remote is cool and looks to be much easier to use to fire the couplers and to adjust the volume!
I really like the bluetooth control. I can't wait until I get those Legacy tunnel motors with the app control
I can't advise against a single pickup roller per truck (motor) design enough. I have a Lionel C-420 Monon with this design and it loses power over switch tracks unless you're moving at a very decent speed, in which case it'll still cut for a millisecond but not lose railsounds or get stuck. Forget about using it on a layout with switches (or at least O-31 switches). So disappointing. Didn't realize this when I bought it when I was 14.
Great video , looking forward to LionChief Plus sd60 review.
HES ALIVE
he is alive
Russian Vodka ikr
ikr
That would have been a good horn for the old lionchief plus RS-3.
Leslie A200.
Great review Eric!!!!
Thanks!
Your welcome!
As always one nice review. It is a good looking engine for the price. Greetings Nick from new Jersey
I have an older lionchief plus gp7 and the volume instructions were correct in my manual. They've also upgraded the sound and replaced the horrible horn on the earlier ones
ericstrains, at 1:16, my dad had the Alaska RR Pacific loco. The smoke unit and sound system were defective under normal operations after a short in the sound system with a surge protected socket for the layout. Lionel is going to replace it but sadly not idiot proof. Just bought this loco that you are reviewing today. Got it because your review was amazing on it!!!
Hi Eric, another great video, always fun to watch. I agree those LionChief Plus engines are a home run for Lionel, but I am a MTH fan. I like the idea of Proto 3.0, the same operating system for all there engines.....Frank
Hi Eric. I'm Nolan, and I'm a big fan of your channel. I watch you. Many people are amazed about what I know about trains because I'm only 12 years old. Great review! They should totally make Pennsylvania, Conrail, and Chessie system variations of this model! If they did, me and my friend would definitely buy 1 or 2. Only problem I have is the horn. Very few if not any GP7's ever had single chime horns. It would have been much more realistic if Lionel had given it a 2 chime horn. Otherwise, great model! I will defiantly try to buy one!
You said exactly what I was thinking, on the Clint Eastwood old West movie!
At least, it wasn't the whip sound from Rawhide the old cowboy television show he played the role of Rowdy in before a lot of his success in the movies!
Can’t wait for the sd60 review. I’ve been thinking about getting one. I was thinking either that or the new CSX intermodal train set
Saw this within the new 2018 Volume 1 catalog.
Yes L&N
I wish they would make these for O27 curves.
I wouldn't be surprised if it could work on O27
I have a scale GP9 that does O27 fine. So a semi scale GP7 should have no problem, but it clearly says O31 minimum. I designed a small 4X6 layout based on an industrial yard. A LionChief engine with remote operated front and rear couplers would be ideal for it.
I don't know if i'm supposed to or not, but I have four LionChief Plus engines (a GP20, 2 RS3s, and an NW2) and they are running fine on my O/27 layout.
SmokeStack684 Thanks for letting me know that. And they have no problem with O27 switches?
No! Not any different from their transformer controlled brothers.
Ok. Thanks. Nice vid. Just wondering if I should get it
Nice review, Eric. I have always enjoyed your videos. I’ve downloaded the LionChief app in case I were to get a LionChief or LionChief Plus engine equipped with Bluetooth. I have two LionChief engines in my collection (Polar Express 1225 and C&NW 1155). I’m gonna invest my tax money (when I get it) on one of Lionel’s new LionChief Plus Berkshires. I’m planning on getting the Lionel Lines version because it has the same exact tooling as Lionel’s postwar 726 and 736 Berkshires. Also, I’ve wanted a Lionel 726 Berkshire since I was a kid.
Ive climbed on the walkway of the real thing!
Nice!
Well done!
I run post war stuff and none of them look as bizarre as these engines with the huge gap between the pilot and the chassis.
I saw the actual L&N 405 just last week.
Hay eric I love your videos and and in my opinion I think you're the best TH-camr on TH-cam and sometime do a review on the Lionel g scale Polar Express
The man with no name
Did anyone else notice the ericstrains building in the background when he was running the engine
Very nice indeed! 😉👍
Have you ever thought of getting a Hiawatha streamlined Hudson? Not asking you to buy it, just wondering if you ever considered it
Yes
Hi eric
Hey Eric, can you try to count how much rolling stock and passenger cars you have, like what you did for episode 53 on your “ericstrains” series, maybe a tutorial on how to weather the cars
I tried working on mine the other day, the internals are way worse than any legacy locomotive I've seen people open up
6️⃣0️⃣3️⃣🚂😎. Koolest
These could also appeal to those who want a more traditional layout but with a more modern twist if that makes sense
There is excited diesel that has that paint scene it's in parish, Florida it is Florida gulf coast!
That was so funny when you showed a clip from A FistFul of Dollars.
Hi Eric! Very nice video
I like so much LionChief Plus I have two those and one LionChief SET
Well, My collection has, in majority, trains of postwar era.
So, the LionChiefs are specials to me.
Well, do you know if the Legacy Station sell to Brazil?
Hey Eric, any chance of you reviewing the Vision Line Santa Fe 3000 2-10-10-2? I browsed the lionel shop, saw that and went "Wait wait wait, this thing cant be real, It is completely ludicrous." Curious to see the Pulling power if nothing else.
You mean the vision line 2-10-10-2 from 8 or 9 years ago? Those are hard to find. Where did you see one?
Eric I saw a real L&N gp9 in Florida at the Florida railroad museum
What material did you use for the road seen in the beginning of the video
I work at a Railway Museum with that real locomotive. One of our members spent 9 years restoring her from the ground up. Visit the website to take a look at her and our other engines and rolling stock. tcry.org/
great thanks!
Hey Eric! IM SO Happy You Did This Review Because I Got This SAME EXACT Locomotive For Christmas 2017. Also Thank You For Teaching Me How To Make The Volume Louder And Quiet! Thx So Much Great Vid! Keep Up The Great Work!!!
Thanks!
Well I Love You And Your Videos Because I Think Its The Best Most Fun Hobby (Also It May Not Seem Like I Have That But I Do And Its Awsome.
Do a cc203 lokomotif from indonesia
Forwhat Real Eric sticks to American railroads. Although, he does have a few European engines made by MTH.
Cool
I bought a western pacific gp7 and even though I should’ve gotten a L&N because I live in that city; they were sold out.
Have you ever done a video where you stick the camera on a train car for a POV tour of your layout?
Eric... didn't think I would see a video from you for some time. Thought you where moving.
Eric, where did you get that awesome looking dispatch tower? It kind of reminds me of a Airport Tower.
Are you aware of the new Vision Line NYC Niagara? You need to get one.
Jake andZack What’s a Niagara? ;)
Well Eric, the Niagara is the name given to the 4-8-4s built by ALCO for the New York Central. They were some of the most technology advanced steam locomotives ever built.
to ericstrains You don't know what a Niagara is? I've been looking forward to getting one all year.
Bradford Whitney Like Niagara Falls?
Correct. That's what the New York Central named their 4-8-4s.
I’ve got the bnsf gp20
Did Lionel ever make any Maine Central engines?
Prankster Batman There is a new a new Legacy SW7 with a Maine Central paint.
Hi Eric review the pier Marquette 1225 from Lionel
ted's drone time he reviewed 765. Bout the same really.
The Bellcaptain it is not
He recently got a Pere Marquette 1225 from Lionel. He also got the Polar Express engine.
I wish Lionel would make Frisco 1522. :(
Union Pacific 4423 or Frisco 1630
Lionel is offering the Atlanta & West Point #290 in their 2018 catalog.
Get the nyc flyer
I did the measurements and this locomotive is actually extremely close to scale
Eric, what brand of track you use
Do you guys know what the UP Wasatch is
Great video as always. I love the marine transport car. Where did you get that one?