Steam... - Printable Version

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+--- Thread: Steam... (/showthread.php?tid=294)

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Re: Steam... - Russ Bellinis - 01-09-2009

The MTH 4449 would be much more correct for the Pacific northwest since it is kept in Portland, Or. and used quite a few times a year for excursions in in the area. The paint on that version of the 4449 is wrong for current prototype operation, but that may be a compromise that you want to make for your preferences. To my knowledge it has been painted in the red & orange "Daylight" scheme since it was decommissioned, except in 1976 when it was painted in red, white, & blue as one section of the American Freedom Train.

Re: Steam... - nkp_174 - 01-09-2009

Russ Bellinis Wrote:To my knowledge it has been painted in the red & orange "Daylight" scheme since it was decommissioned, except in 1976 when it was painted in red, white, & blue as one section of the American Freedom Train.

That paint scheme is correct...same sort of thing as the 2765 in the mid-1990s.

Re: Steam... - COMBAT - 01-09-2009

Thanks.... anyone else?

Re: Steam... - nkp_174 - 01-09-2009

How about checking reviews? Have they been reviewed in MR/MRC or any others recently?
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I recall reading the review of the K-4 and viewed it as taking the position that if you had a better than 12V power source...and didn't mind the extra cost, it as probably the best K-4 on the market. Someone else on the old forum insisted that it was bad...he had one, plus BLIs and Spectrums...but didn't explain why it was inferior...other than he though MR's review was critical of it. I felt that MR's venom was mostly over the voltage issue and the DCS system. I loved the fact that the K-4 came with a steel driver set which gave it an impressive 2.2lb draw bar force (or something else that was awesome...I haven't read a review recently enough to recall what was good)...and a 10lb draw bar force with the rubber tire which was on an extra axle that could be dropped into place.

On the other hand, BLIs includes their proprietary DC sound system and you'll have to get a decoder separate. It sounds like the GS-4 is probably the engine...price aside...so long as the voltage thing isn't an issue.

Oh, one other thing, MTH has done some top secret things for acquiring whistle and exhaust sounds. I am not at liberty to say what, but by association I know what they did and when...and unless BLI did the same thing...their is no way that their sound could be as good (unless they have higher quality electronics) as MTH's.

I'd probably go with the BLI engine due to the price...but I don't care about the smoke...I don't care for the paint scheme...and I don't model either's stomping grounds. I've been very pleased in my dealings with BLI...and I've been very impressed about what I've heard from people whom have dealt with MTH on the non-consumer side (btw, MTH helped raise a bunch of money for at least one steam locomotive's restoration).

Re: Steam... - Fluesheet - 01-10-2009

COMBAT Wrote:So, I have narrowed it down to these two..
Video:
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What say YOU? 35

I just got around to watching this, and while I'm not a fan of smoke (and this hasn't changed my mind), I'll have to admit that MTH has done a nice job with this implementation. The exhaust sound and smoke synchronization is well done. Thumbsup

Re: Steam... - COMBAT - 01-11-2009

nkp_174 Wrote:How about checking reviews? Have they been reviewed in MR/MRC or any others recently?
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.trains.com/mrr/default.aspx?c=a&id=2632">http://www.trains.com/mrr/default.aspx?c=a&id=2632</a><!-- m -->
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://ogaugerr.infopop.cc/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/57660482/m/44410021">http://ogaugerr.infopop.cc/eve/forums/a ... m/44410021</a><!-- m -->
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.trains.com/mrr/default.aspx?c=a&id=2602">http://www.trains.com/mrr/default.aspx?c=a&id=2602</a><!-- m -->

I tried to look at those but I have to be logged in to read the reviews and I am not a member. Sad

At this point I am going to wait a little longer. I have two MTH engines on order that should come in next month, assuming MTH doesnt miss its delivery date that is. <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.railking1gauge.com/detail.asp?item=80-2003-1">http://www.railking1gauge.com/detail.asp?item=80-2003-1</a><!-- m -->
These have the sound and dcc ready in them and I will compare them to the two Broadway limited engines I just recieved last week.
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I figure by looking at two brands side by side and seeing the details and listening to the sound systems first hand it will give me just that last little bit of information I need to make my purchase. I am VERY impressed by the BLI engines. For what I paid I expected less and I got more then I even hoped for. I realize that these are not steam engines but it still gives me something to compare besides a picture. Smile

If anyone has any other feed back, feel free to do so. Thumbsup

Re: Steam... - nkp_174 - 01-11-2009

Excellent solution!

I can't read the reviews either (I only have a subscription to the Narrow Gauge & Short Line Gazette...which for some reason doesn't have reviews of HO 4-8-4s Icon_lol )

The diesels are not always the best indicators of the same manufacturer's steam (such as the first Athearn Genesis steam being produced by Samhongsa and iirc, Roco being heavily involved in the first P2K steam)...but I bet it'll tell you more about these...specifically how they function with your DCC system and their sound performance. If your local library has an MR subscription (they frequently do), you can probably get the product reviews that way.

Re: Steam... - COMBAT - 01-18-2009

I have made a choice. I didn't wait like I thought I was going to. I had to order some other stuff and I was affraid the offer that I saw would expire or would sell out. So, what did I purchase? The only difference is I purchased a different road numberthen what you see below.

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The level of detail this engine had over the Day Light, the sound I heard from my two other broadway limited engines I just purchased made me have faith in this engines sound, recommended minimum radius 18 in which is less then the Day Lights 22 recommened, the ability to select the smoke stacks and change it, I can add a smoke system later if I really have to have it and the deal I got just made it to good to pass up. The fact that it has been converted to oil use was another reason it met the requirements and was the chosen one.
Icon_lol

Will I be happy with it? I think I will. I was very pleased with the other two Broadway Limited Engines I purchased. I was actually surprised with what I got for the money.

It should be here maybe this week or next week. If I am not out of town on business I will post pictures of it. Maybe even a lame little You Tube video for those interested.

I want to thank everyone for the advice they gave, the knowledge they shared and the experinces you have with your own engines. It made the choice easier and I was much more informed. Did this engine ever run in the area I am modeling, dont think it did. Does that bother me? Not at all.

Re: Steam... - deckroid - 01-18-2009

You know, there have been some great suggestions here. I have been looking for steam for Northern Pacific for a while and have decided that if I really want NP steam, I am going to have to either pay through the nose for it, or buy non-numbered engines and do them up myself.

I have decided to go with the latter. I have 3 steam engines now and I have done all but 1 of them in NP. The sticker sheets are not that expensive and if you take your time, they look really good.

When I finish my new 2-6-6-2 from MicroMark, I will post pics here.

Re: Steam... - COMBAT - 01-18-2009

Cool, Id love to see it!

Re: Steam... - Tom - 01-18-2009

GREAT choice, I am confident you will get many years of enjoyment out of it.

Re: Steam... - COMBAT - 01-24-2009

Today UPS brought my first HO scale Steam Engine. The Broadway Limited Blueline 4-8-4. <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.broadway-limited.com/catalog/AT_SF_4_8_4_HO-1852-1.html">http://www.broadway-limited.com/catalog ... 852-1.html</a><!-- m -->

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I installed the DCC chip.... took me longer to figure out how to open the tender then to do the install, then I added the parts that dont come preinstalled. I tried to change the smoke stack but couldnt figure out how to do it. Anyone have one of these and know how??? There is also this item that goes next to the stack... I dont know what it is and it is not installed on the pictures. Can someone tell me what it is and which way it faces before I glue it in place? Wallbang


Took it out and fired it up on the layout. Sounds good... it was pretty loud and I may have to adjust that in the settings.

The roof hatches do open and the bell swings freely. The detail is very good, at least for me and overall I was happy. The biggest disappointment, the number boards do not light up... :cry:

I will try to take a video of it and post it on youtube if anyone is interested. Let me know.

Comments welcome. 790_smiley_picking_a_fight

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Re: Steam... - Tom - 01-24-2009

VERY cool machine. I think the part you are asking about is a smoke deflector that some ATSF 4-8-4's had, but not the 3751, at least it hasn't since she was restored. That is the part with the elbowed hood right? If it is the scissors lift looking part, that would be a smoke lifter, not sure how it works, someone else here knows though I'm sure.

Re: Steam... - Squidbait - 02-02-2009

I just skimmed the thread, so forgive me if I missed someone else posting it.

You don't have to just run tourist trains with a steamer on a modern railroad. Iowa Interstate has two Chinese-built QJ 2-10-2's that they use for mostly tourist operations, but in the fall they ran flood relief trains hauling freight for charity:
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Re: Steam... - Russ Bellinis - 02-06-2009

Do the item's that go next to the stack look like scissor jacks? The Santa Fe had a telescoping stack, and the "scissor jacks" were called stack lifters. Raising the stack sent the smoke up above the cab so the crew in the cab has less smoke to breathe, but they didn't have enough clearance in the tunnels so they could lower them when they came to a tunnel or bridge with too low a clearance to fit the lifted stack under.