QUOTE (Richard Johnson @ 8 Jan 2009, 02:43)
<{POST_SNAPBACK}>*** Thats a strange conclusion Charles - Athearns choice of MRC decoders is a total disaster when compared to the BLI which once the initial confusion as to how to programme the things to gt going is a far better sound and given a good choice of loco control decoder they run like a dream.... My UP modelling friends rate the BLI as far superior to the Trix and most like it better than the Athearn.
I actually have two Big Boys after santa claus' december visit
(Although ironically no actual layout as I'm in the midst of a house move)
I have a PCM one, which I have had for a while, it has a loksound decoder I beleive, and a smoke unit. very nice model, excellent runner, although despite the inference they will run around 22" curves, you want 30" minimum in my view.
Sound I have always found very good, once the initial factory set volume was toned down a bit.
December saw the arrival of the blueline model, which was, incidentally, half the cost.
Same nice model, I suspect they are from the same moulds, doesnt have a smoke system, but the sound is , I have to say, better than the loksound version.
I wouldnt hesitate in saying, this side of custom brass, you wont find a nicer model than the Blueline Big Boy, if, of course, you can find one. Sadly I beleive the big boy moulds were some of the ones embroiled in the MTH lawsuit, so likely as not you wont see a broadway one manufactured again for a while.
On the subject of the blueline decoder thing, I purchased four seperate blueline locos last month, including the big boy, a couple of F units and a FA/B set.
I use lenz DCC, and despite that being one of the awkward ones for blueline, as you cant change addresses programming on the main, I have had zero isses with getting them going.
Literally 5 minutes each.
Simply put the engine on a programming track and punch in the desired address on the sound decoder. Programme the motor decoder tothe same address in another loco, install the motor decoder. done.
I used lenz silvers in all of them, and I have to say, the F units are better runners than my genesis units, although the sound is a bit limited (only 3 notches) compared to the qsi revolution and tsunami aftermarket examples I have in those models.
They are excellent value for money workhorse layout locomotives.