Lionel LionChief

I just purchased the new Polar express 5.0 with the new record feature. Lionel has failed again with this app not performing to what they advertise. For those that don't know this feature allows you to record 3 one minute recordings. But does it work properly,NO!!!. Any of the recordings I have done more than once plays back from low volume to distorted volume to hearing nothing! Called Lionel and they are pathetic when it comes to customer service! class action! selling inferior products!

The app works as expected. It is a bit confusing how to get the train to conect. Maybe I should have read the manual. Lol I prefer the physical controller, however, the phone is fine too use as there is a bit more options on it.

We bought our train May 24th 2021 and set the train up and the app worked great and then suddenly wouldn't connect anymore. It was stuck with the chug sound on. Couldn't turn it off through the app because it wouldn't connect. The sound is nice but I like it to run without the sound. 3 weeks went by and my husband started playing around on his phone. He searched for older apps and found one that works. It is currently working. But, the question is, for how long will it work for?

Last year this worked great!!! Now i ho to use it and it does not. I cant't change volume or change smoke settings. Im just glad i had the volumes mid range and left the smoke on otherwise i'd be in trouble! I have been buying track and cars for my polar express all year looking forward to this season, and to not have the bluetooth patt work os very frustrating. It looks like it connects to the engine, then it immediately goes back to trying to connect and it disconnects.

This has not been fixed. When we first set up the train the app on my phone worked for one day. Just long enough for one of the kids to turn the volume up so loud on the train it's annoying. Now the app won't stay connected to the train and I can't control it or turn it down. Trains are supposed to be fun, not annoying. Why doesn't the remote have volume control??!! Ugh

90% of the time it will not connect and the app is the only way to control the sound volume. The worst app on the planet. Why build and advertise something you know doesn't work! This needs to be fixed or the controller needs to be replaced with one that has all the available options so one way or the other you can use it. If you manage to log in and turn the volume down make sure you turn it back up before you loose connection.

This app was installed a year ago and worked fine. Then it quit. The latest version (2.6.30) appears to have fixed what was wrong - my locomotive works great now. Give it a try; I think you will be happy now.

Worked again after the bugs were corrected and while running it suddenly loses the locomotive and says it is connecting when you search for one. Change to screen to run train and is not connected. Keeps saying searching for bluetooth. Worked a week ago. Today it crashes every time you start it. Have restarted phone, Uninstalled app and restarted again then reinstalled with same results. Total junk!

Worked perfect last year. Barely used the remote it came with because the app was better. Got out the train for Christmas and now the app won't connect to my train after the update. I can't adjust the volume anymore and the sounds are still set to last years settings when we opened presents which was very low volume! Very disappointing to have a $500 train set not working properly unless I buy an expensive remote!

I've bought Winter Wonderland train 3 years ago and everything was working fine (all sounds and everything that was control via Bluetooth). Now I update the app., and everything is out. No sounds what's so ever. It does not even connect. Can you please do something to fix your screw up.. it took the joy of showing off your train and enjoying it with family and friends.

We set the Polar Express up but couldn't get the app to stay open, it crashed every time it was opened. Installed the update yesterday and success, the app connected and worked fine. Today the app connected once but now it will only connect for a few seconds at a time. The worst part us the volume was turned down while it was working and now we can't turn it back up, the 4 yr old isn't happy! The app worked great last year hope it gets fixed.

The app runs both my locomotives and connects flawlessly. The downside is they loose connection easily. The app has to be running on the foreground or it will lose connection. Also, you can only run one locomotive at a time with the app. The competition's app can run 3 locomotives at a time on the free version. Lastly, there is a bug that if my throttle is at 3 or 4 bars, the locomotive goes to max power. These issues need addressed.

Works great with my LionelChief 4520 Union Pacific engine. The app is a little clunky, but once you get going it's nice. I particularly like the speed governor (for the grandkids!), the momentum setting, and fine tuning the individual sound effect volumes. There are some features that only apply to specific engines or remote controls, so sorting all of that out requires being familiar with the Lionel product line (e.g. the "universal remote" is not the one that comes with train starter sets).

Use app with Pennsylvania engine. Love the experience of the train overall but could use some improvements. For one, if the app isn't running the train stops moving. Need to have a hold feature as to let the train keep running without draining cell phone battery and without having to keep the app in the foreground. Also the voices the conductor says is very limited. The app should allow for more sayings.

If I could give zero stars I would. This app does not connect to the train. It will connect for 2 seconds and I'll hit one button and it'll disconnect. Thanks for nothing. Oh and also when you down load the app; the remote they give you for the train stops working entirely. Even after you've deleted the app off your phone or tablet.

Lots of people seem to have issues with the app not working... I did too untill I read that not only do you need to allow location permission for the app BUT also make sure your location function on the phone itself is enabled. Once I did both, the app worked as advertised. Before I turned the location mode on my phone on, the app would not pair with the train.

This app used to be really great, especially for having more control over the speed and volume of a train, now it needs all sorts of weird information, likes access to my files, recording audio, and my location. Meanwhile, after granting access to all those things, I couldn't even pair the train without the app completely crashing. What the hell happened?

2021 will not connect to the train. Got a o gage winter wonderland express for my son. Used the app all of 202 without a problem. Can not get the train to connect. Tried resetting the Bluetooth module (hold down all buttons and turning the remote off and on) Reset worked fine. Still can't get the app to work. It act like it connects as the chugs start to sound. But then just disconnects. Please fix!!

App not working after working just fine last year. Wouldn't be a huge issue if there weren't settings tied to the app like sound volume. E-mailed App developer, "It may take some time to figure out the issue, but it should be fixed before too long and before Christmas." That's a good pretty ambiguous statement 🤦🏻‍♂️. We'll see 👀🤷🏻‍♂️.

This app has a very simple job and it completely fails. It doesn't stay connected. Also the app disconnects when you cgeck a text or something that requires switching what you're working in on your phone. The app should seemlessly transition the locomotive from phone to radio and it doesn't. I havent been able to change the volume on my train because the app doesnt connect at all

Works. However if you lose communication with the locomotive ( for me, had a truck derail on a car and caused an interruption in power) the app locked up searching for the locomotive. Had to force stop the app from settings to get it working. Have had this happen 4 times so far. Otherwise it seems to be ok. Would like to see an emergency stop button like the MTH wifi app has. Useful when supervising kids. Have seen them so focused on the loco, they don't even notice when a car decouples.

This worked great last year but this year same phone same train the app crashes every time I try to connect to my train . Really disappointing. It was some much fun to control with my phone wish the would work . Now I want to access to my pictures and my microphone not sure what that's about seems a little invasive. Can you make last year's version available because it actually worked.

Down loaded the Lionchief App early this year on my Samsung A20 cell phone and everything functioned properly. Tried to activate the app recently; and every time I launched the app, it crashes. Uninstalled the app and then reinstalled it, It crashes again. I have tried everything feasible or plausible and the outcome is the same. I don't believe the Lionchief app is compatible with my A20 cell phone. However, it loads and operates fine on my Samsung Tab A tablet. Thank God for Legacy.

App works fine for me. Wish it would control more options on the lionchief plus2.0. Been using it since December 2021 with no problems.

App took 10 minutes to find my train but then would not connect. We'll just have to use the remote that came with it

I downloaded this app last fall to run my new christmas train, and it worked great. I then purchased another passenger train and it worked great for a couple of months. Now after letting the train sit for awhile, it connects and then disconnects over and over. I can't run my train from this app anymore. I Uninstalled then reinstalled the app but it still does not work. I'm using a Samsung A10e android phone. Perhaps I need an update but there doesn't appear to be one. Can you help with this?

My New H-10 goes all of about 5 feet before disconnecting. I have tried to uninstall and reinstall without any luck. I dont have another engine with Bluetooth so my review is based solely on the aforementioned Locomotive and a bone stock Google Pixel 2 XL. I like the app and the ability to run trains without any special remotes BUT IT HAS TO WORK!! P.s. Others have experienced the same issue as me on a forum I follow so its definitely not user error.

This app used to work fine. Now it connects to the engine for a few seconds and disconnects. Then reconnects and disconnects again. It just keeps doing this making it useless. You'd think with how much Lionel charges for their stuff it would work a little better.

Does the job but the there's so much more potential for an app like this. For example there could be some random options where the train will whistle at random times, speed up a bit, slow down, stop and a wait for a bit, etc. Just to add some variety.

After the latest update, the app won't stay connected to any locomotive (legacy or lionchief) longer than 10 seconds. Was never great at staying connected for more than a few minutes at a time, but now it is worthless.