Lionel Winter Wonderland LionChief Set Review: A $329 Holiday Steam Set (Remote Not Included)

The Lionel Winter Wonderland LionChief Set with Bluetooth 5.0 (Lionel item 2623140, $329.99 MSRP) is a holiday steam set built to sit under the tree or along the mantel: a silver, red and green 0-8-0 with smoke and sound, three matching cars, and a loop of white FasTrack that reads as snow. It has one quirk buyers need to know about before checkout. Here is what is in the box, how it runs and who it suits.

Verdict: 4.2 out of 5. One of the best-looking holiday sets in Lionel's line, with smoke and sound at a fair price. The missing remote keeps it from a higher score.

What Comes in the Box

Lionel lists the set contents as:

• Winter Wonderland 0-8-0 steam locomotive and tender
• Sleigh Bells & Co. boxcar
• Whimsical Winter Mix tank car
• Winter Wonderland caboose
• Eight O36 curved FasTrack sections, in white
• Three 10-inch straight FasTrack sections
• One LionChief FasTrack terminal section
• Wall pack power supply

What is not in the box: a remote. Lionel lists the LionChief Universal Remote (6-83071) as sold separately. Out of the box, you run the train from the Lionel Cab3 app on a phone or tablet, or in Continuous Run Mode (below). If you are buying it as a gift for someone without a smartphone handy, add the Universal Remote to the order.

The train is 45 inches long and rated for O31 minimum curves, so it runs on any standard FasTrack layout. Our FasTrack assembly guide covers setup. Lionel rates the set for ages 14 and up.

The Locomotive

The 0-8-0 wears a silver boiler with red and green trim and the number 1225, a nod to Christmas Day. Its features:

• Puffing smoke with an on/off switch, so you can run it clean around the tree.
• RailSounds RC with steam chuffing, background sounds, whistle, bell and announcements.
• Operating headlight, operating couplers and a maintenance-free motor.
• Continuous Run Mode: flip a switch and the engine runs forward on its own at a fixed speed, cycling through its sounds, with no remote or phone needed. It is ideal for a set-it-and-forget-it holiday display.

In the Cab3 app you get speed and momentum settings, volume, whistle and bell pitch, smoke control and Lionel Voice Control, so you can run the train by speaking commands into your phone. If pairing gives you trouble, our LionChief Bluetooth guide has the fixes.

The Cars

The three cars carry the theme all the way back: a red and green Sleigh Bells & Co. boxcar with opening doors, a green Whimsical Winter Mix three-dome tank car, and a white North Pole caboose with snowflake graphics. Lionel lists operating couplers on the locomotive and boxcar. Lionel does not list lighted cars, so the glow at night comes from the headlight.

Who Should Buy It

• Holiday decorators: the white track and silver engine look great under a tree, and Continuous Run Mode keeps it going without anyone at the controls.
• Families with smartphones: the Cab3 app is free and covers everything a remote would.
• Collectors of Lionel holiday sets: it is a distinctive look next to the usual red-and-green Christmas trains.

If you want a remote in the box and a year-round road name, our Union Pacific Flyer set review covers a similar 0-8-0 steam set that includes one. For more holiday options, see best Christmas train sets for around the tree and best Lionel Christmas sets under $300.

Is It Worth $329.99?

For a holiday display, yes. Smoke, sound, Bluetooth, Continuous Run Mode and that white FasTrack make it one of the most giftable sets in Lionel's line. Budget for the Universal Remote if the recipient will not use the app. Lionel's listed ship date was August 2026, so it is shipping now; check dealer stock and holiday pricing too.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the Lionel Winter Wonderland set come with a remote?
No. Lionel lists the LionChief Universal Remote (6-83071) as sold separately. You can run the train from the free Lionel Cab3 app or in Continuous Run Mode without a remote.

What is Continuous Run Mode?
A switch on the locomotive that makes it run forward automatically at a fixed speed, cycling through its sounds, with no remote or phone required.

Does the Winter Wonderland train smoke?
Yes. The 0-8-0 has puffing smoke with an on/off switch.

What comes with the Winter Wonderland set?
An 0-8-0 locomotive and tender, a boxcar, tank car and caboose, eight white O36 curves, three straights, a terminal section and a wall pack power supply.

How much is the Lionel Winter Wonderland set?
Lionel lists it at $329.99.