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General Lionel & Model Train Discussion => General Lionel Model Train Discussion => Topic started by: bonzillou on December 18, 2014, 06:54:17 am

Title: Re: LionChief vs LionChief Plus
Post by: bonzillou on December 19, 2014, 05:23:11 am

Thanks a lot Larry, kids will be happy!

your replies have been really helpful

Title: Re: LionChief vs LionChief Plus
Post by: TrainLarry on December 19, 2014, 05:09:47 am

The different engines in the Thomas series all run on different frequencies, so a Thomas can be run with a Percy for instance.
All the same engines run on the same frequency, so you cannot run 2 Thomas engines or 2 Percy engines at the same time.

Enjoy your trains!

Larry

Title: Re: LionChief vs LionChief Plus
Post by: bonzillou on December 19, 2014, 02:32:04 am

Thanks Larry for your answer.

I've read somewhere (may be here on the forum) that concerning the Thomas the Tank Engine line, all engines (Thomas, Perry, Diesel,...) work on the same frequency, hence you can have only one at a time on the same layout to work properly.

Is it true?

Cheers

Pascal

Title: Re: LionChief vs LionChief Plus
Post by: TrainLarry on December 18, 2014, 07:49:31 pm

Welcome to the forum!
You can run both LionChief and LionChief Plus trains on the same layout, as both systems rely on a constant 18 volts on the track to operate.

As you have seen, running conventional powered trains along with LionChief/Plus on the same track does not work properly.
With LionChief/Plus and also Legacy/TMCC systems, a constant 18 volts is used to power the trains, and speed is regulated electronically inside the locomotive.

Conventionally operated trains vary the track voltage to regulate speed.
When operating conventional and any remote system together on the same track, regulating transformer voltage for conventional locomotives affects the electronics in the remote engines, because they are fighting a varying track voltage when they expect a fixed voltage.

Larry

Title: LionChief vs LionChief Plus
Post by: bonzillou on December 18, 2014, 06:54:17 am

Hi

I'm Pascal and this is my first post on the forum.

I currently several "classic" Lionel engines on a big fastrack layout powered by an MTH Z1000.

I've just bought the LionChief Polar Express and it works well on the layout, and kids love it as they can easily handle the remote while working with the switches.

Now as I have 2 kids I'd like to let them play with 2 trains at same moment on the same layout. We tried this with lionchief + normal powered train. It worked but it is not smooth.

the Lionchief Plus brochure says that you can several trains on the same layout. Ok. Is it possible to run 2 lionchief together or 1 lionchief and a Lionchief Plus?
Or will I have to buy all Lionchief Plus?

Cheers

Pascal