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Post by bigblow69 on Nov 24, 2014 9:02:10 GMT -8
I was thinking about something different and buying an MTH HO Big Boy. I was wondering if there is anyone who has one and overall what their experience has been. I'm reading conflicting reviews/reports on these. I plan this for heavy usage, 40 or so cars, hours of running what my Katos or Athearns do and to be as reliable. I will not "babY" a locomotive I pay $529 for.
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Post by WP 257 on Nov 24, 2014 9:19:23 GMT -8
I owned an MTH Challenger a couple years ago, before my one son tired of steam power. It ran great and consistently did everything they say it will do, without any hassles, and as I recall, without some of the poor power pickup issues that result from track dirt buildup on tender wheels with some other brands.
The Athearn Genesis Big Boy also runs very well. I had one of the factory heavily weathered versions, and probably should have kept it. Being lighter in weight, idk if it will pull 40 car freight trains.
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Post by bnsf971 on Nov 24, 2014 9:22:30 GMT -8
The MTH Big Boy is the old PCM/BLI Big Boy, with some minor modifications.
One of our club members has the PCM version, and it does not operate reliably on our club layout. Part of it is the engine, part of it is the trackwork.
I have an MTH Challenger, which is the old Lionel Challenger. It does operate reliably on our club layout.
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Post by bigblow69 on Nov 24, 2014 10:10:35 GMT -8
The MTH Big Boy is the old PCM/BLI Big Boy, with some minor modifications. One of our club members has the PCM version, and it does not operate reliably on our club layout. Part of it is the engine, part of it is the trackwork. I have an MTH Challenger, which is the old Lionel Challenger. It does operate reliably on our club layout. My Hobby Shop warned me about the BLI one, so I take it the improvements weren't enough to overcome its initial deficiencies. A real pity. I have all these trix, atlas and athearn steam era cars that need to be pulled by something. |
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Post by bnsf971 on Nov 24, 2014 11:59:09 GMT -8
You can always use a Challenger.
I had a Trix Big Boy that ran very well. Getting parts was a concern, I eventually got rid of it.
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Post by atsfan on Nov 24, 2014 12:37:34 GMT -8
The trix big boy is the best of the lot.
I would go Athearn of the currently available versions
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Post by calzephyr on Nov 24, 2014 17:25:03 GMT -8
The trix big boy is the best of the lot. I would go Athearn of the currently available versions The Trix has the small drivers, 64" but is nice. I have the PCM's and the Trix. Larry |
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Post by atsfan on Nov 24, 2014 17:27:08 GMT -8
The trix big boy is the best of the lot. I would go Athearn of the currently available versions The Trix has the small drivers, 64" but is nice. I have the PCM's and the Trix. Larry It runs well and is well detailed and looks non plastic. I wish someone would re release it; the tooling is out there somewhere. |
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Post by sd80mac on Nov 25, 2014 22:08:16 GMT -8
I love my Trix Big Boy! Heavy as heck and silent running. I do wish they would do another run.
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Post by bigblow69 on Nov 26, 2014 11:32:46 GMT -8
I will wait for a TRIX one. I have the 20 car set and a bunch of Atlas hoppers. Thanks everyone for the input.
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