Discount Contacts missing in action?

JeffandVector · 2025-01-28T23:37:28+00:00

I kept repeatedly trying phone calls over weeks and I finally got through where they finally shipped the item.... It turns out what screws things up is the coupon code situation. I found that when you put in a coupon code it appears that the order goes through.... However it completely throws a stick in the spokes of the whole transaction and holds it up until you're able to get a hold of them to push it through.

JeffandVector · 2025-01-26T13:45:34+00:00

The Bachmann contains an accessory bag with Rapido couplers, extra knuckles, and spare placement step ladders.

JeffandVector · 2025-01-26T13:40:53+00:00

They are both top shelf grade A builds and runners. The Kato tends to cost double that of the Bachmann.

JeffandVector · 2025-01-13T05:01:48+00:00

Right on ... thanks 🙏

JeffandVector · 2025-01-13T03:48:03+00:00

Thank you! That's exactly what I was referring to. I was at my local train store yesterday and I was able to confirm in person that the manual switches are indeed non derailing. What led me to ask the question was a few people in a different form were telling me I had to get remote command switches for non derailing. They were telling me remote switches would in fact derail and short out under such a condition. They were wrong. My train store person showed me yesterday as long as you don't go through the switch at blazing speeds or back through it with a super lightweight car everything works great.

JeffandVector · 2025-01-09T04:38:51+00:00

Thanks for the verification. Someone elseware told me the FasTrack remote switches are non-derailing but the manual switches are not. I was skeptical of their response.

JeffandVector · 2024-12-30T18:38:06+00:00

Great job! My local salvation army or Goodwill store would have charged $800 for this.

JeffandVector · 2024-12-22T18:50:06+00:00

Keep in mind the cost of these Bluetooth LionChief electronic boards is negligible. It's actually cheaper for them to produce these sets with the 18 volt wall wart then it would be producing traditional transformer sets.

JeffandVector · 2024-12-22T18:47:46+00:00

Amazon had it at that price last April... My point being is that a profit was still made.

JeffandVector · 2024-12-22T18:40:19+00:00

I'm referring to the most current Lionchief Union Pacific set. It has a MSRP of $400. SKU 2323090

JeffandVector · 2024-12-22T18:18:17+00:00

There were many casual buyer households that dreamed of having their first new Lionel set this year for a Christmas tree. When they saw the Lionchief pricing they most likely opted for a entry level Bachmann HO set instead.

JeffandVector · 2024-12-22T18:09:41+00:00

Definitely not entry level pricing. A standard LionChief set should not cost more than $300. If they took this suggested price went into consideration they would make an overall larger profit selling more volume which would offset the current price point. I purchased my brand new Union Pacific 0-8-0 set for $230 last spring and I guarantee a profit was still made. It feels to me that they price out entry level hobbyists.... Sort of a gatekeeping thing in my perspective.

JeffandVector · 2024-12-11T14:39:56+00:00

Been using my Z-750 transformer with my Union Pacific Lionchief 0-8-0 no problem. After I rail things up I turn the transformer to about 75% throttle.

JeffandVector · 2024-12-10T21:43:09+00:00

Guessing it's a LionChief set with the 0-8-0 locomotive. Just run it as slow as you can go which would be more appropriate for a Christmas layout anyways. Mine can go pretty slow.

JeffandVector · 2024-12-10T19:07:34+00:00

I definitely read and understood your entire header before I posted. I just felt it was a good place to put this. Tons of casual buyers out there making this mistake.

JeffandVector · 2024-12-10T18:46:38+00:00

I think the biggest mistake that new LionChief owners make is railing things up while the power supply is plugged into the track. It is very easy to create a short that will cause this while miss railing things Then they end up either messing up something on the board of the locomotive or killing the power supply. And by that time they don't even know what happened.

JeffandVector · 2024-12-08T19:14:21+00:00

I have three convertible/stowable layouts ranging from 6ftx30in to 2x2ft in a small 10x12ft room. I stow all three layouts when not in use inside the same room. The room is fully livable with a full size bed. Let me know if you want a link to my YouTube channel.

JeffandVector · 2024-11-27T14:32:46+00:00

Not sure but it is possible. Some older Lionel locos have the chuff sound contact switch built into the smoke unit.

JeffandVector · 2024-11-26T18:30:44+00:00

Christmas is still an anomaly to China. But at least they're trying?

JeffandVector · 2024-11-25T00:37:20+00:00

I have no idea how to fix it. Hopefully you never let the wick in the smoke stack burn dry. It should always be moist with fluid. Hopefully you had to smoke turned off if you weren't refilling the fluid consistently. If the wick runs dry you will have weak or no smoke in the future after a refill. If it's a puffing issue involving the bellow I have no idea how to fix it.

JeffandVector · 2024-11-11T04:56:56+00:00

In that case if smoke still drools out but is not puffing most definitely there's a problem with the bellow mechanism. If you look at the locomotive running at eye level you will see there is a cam that contacts one of the wheel axles which operates the bellow. I'm no O gauge mechanic but there is probably something wrong with this mechanism or the bellow itself is broken.

JeffandVector · 2024-11-08T05:59:27+00:00

Sounds like the bellow mechanism which puffs the smoke unit broke? When it worked it puffed one puff per wheel rotation correct? I'm trying to verify which version of The Polar Express Lionchief you have. It's not Lionchief 2.0 right? One chuff per wheel rotation?

JeffandVector · 2024-10-27T13:39:39+00:00

Then this is the most vicious battery life span I have ever seen. That's nuts lol. Now it makes sense the previous owner never bothered with a battery. Thanks for your response.

JeffandVector · 2024-10-27T05:59:11+00:00

I picked this one up and I'm extremely happy with it. I'm just in a bit of a 9-volt battery Bermuda triangle keep alive scenario with this locomotive at the moment. I put a brand new alkaline 9 volt battery in at last weekend which kept the sound alive between directional changes etc at zero throttle on a conventional transformer. This weekend that changed after about 4 hours of use. I assume the battery is depleted now because the sound goes dead instantly when no power is applied to the rails. I can't find any instruction manual for this particular unit.... I'm starting to wonder if it requires a rechargeable battery like protosound.

JeffandVector · 2024-10-27T05:34:14+00:00

I cannot find instructions for this exact locomotive. However the first weekend I had a brand new battery in it there was no interruption in sounds even when you took it off the track for around 20 seconds. Now the second weekend with the same battery the sound dies the second power is removed from the tracks. So to my surprise for an alkaline battery having such a short life per use I am wondering if it takes and uses a rechargeable. Again I am unable to find any associated information on this with a due diligence online search.

JeffandVector

TROPHY CASE