Where can I find a BLI Paragon 4 I1sa?

[prr 4467]

Hi folks--

They are very hard to find.  I think I got the very last factory refurbished one they are going to have for the foreseeable future (I've emailed BLI and checked), but I could use more.

If anyone of you knows where I may find an HO BLI Paragon 4 I1sa available to buy, please send me a pm.  Thank you very much!

Best Regards to all.

[prr 4467]

Thank you to all the folks who read this so far.

I was not able to find any more Paragon 4 I1sa's (the sound is much better than the earlier versions, which are out there, but some of them may have split gears, due to their age.  BLI switched gear materials at a point in time).  BLI is also aware that they and the J-1's are nearly unobtainium.

Looking at things as objectively as possible, and regardless of my roadname preferences, I decided to order more brass hybrid steamers.  This may read oddly, but some of the guys I used to hang out with (now gone), who ran most roadnames east of Chicago on their layouts, would have really liked a few of the brass hybrids available today.  So, I choose to remember those guys with one that I just got.  They loved the "classic" C&O Elesco fwh with flying pumps look, while back in the day I was always somebody who preferred the Worthington BL and BL-2 fwh and clean smokebox fronts instead (think N&W class Y-3)...whatever, I did get a C&O K-2 mikado in lieu of the PRR steamers that I could not find.  What an exceptionally interesting and detailed model!

My dad would say "tastes like more". 

All my diesels have now been replaced by steam.  They're still here on the property, just out of service and getting ready to list on ebay.  Not implying that anyone else should do that or do anything that I do.  The keep alive capacitors are making a huge difference from years ago when I attempted to run steam with less-than-ideal results, so only now can I do what I wanted to do then.  May sound trivial but it is the truth.

As always ymmv your mileage may vary.

If you read this far, thank you, again.

[edwardsutorik]

I did. And thanks for the post.

There are a lot of interesting steam locomotives out there. I used to make lists of the top 12 or top 20 of steam engine models that I'd like to get, just for fun. It's REALLY hard to limit oneself. That's where the "20" came from.

Or, put another way: old PFM catalogs used to have a two page spread of Tenshodo's Crown articulateds. Wanted them ALL!


Ed

[prr 4467]

Only a few years back did I actually get and read the PFM catalogs. Somebody gave me some of them. They way they were illustrated was really remarkably good for that era. I can't help but get sucked into the layout scenes which feature the locos, so I completely understand your comments, Ed. Some of the layouts were fantastic especially considering that day and what was available to the average modeler.

I was never able to focus on just one railroad, despite having tried many times.

My favorite locos of all time, if I could have anything I wanted regardless of price, would include these (some I did have in the past, most I never had):

1. Western Pacific 2-8-8-2
2. Western Pacific 4-6-6-4
3. Rio Grande L-107 (USRA Copy) 2-8-8-2
4. Rio Grande Z1a (ex-N&W) 2-6-6-2
5. N&W Y-3 2-8-8-2
6. Rio Grande 4-8-2 (any of them but especially the ones with Worthington BL fwh, and the late M-78)
7. Texas & Pacific 4-8-2
8. Texas & Pacific 2-10-4 (one just ordered through local store where I can put it on layaway)
9. PRR J1/J1a 2-10-4
10. C&O T-1 2-10-4
11. C&O K-2 2-8-2 (I have one now.)
12. PRR Q-2 (#6199, the last one built, is pre-ordered, due fall)
13. C&O 2-6-6-2 final version (#1309)
14. NKP original S class 2-8-4 (it looks better to me)
15. Erie original version 2-8-4

[edwardsutorik]

Why, that's not at all similar to MY list:

1. UP 4-12-2 (Did get a Key version--gotta put DCC/sound in someday!!!)
2. PRR Q1 (deskirted)
3. typical cab forward--already have an Intermountain
4. C&O 2-6-6-6
5. ATSF 2-10-4
6. Big Boy (OK, OK--I give up. Even though EVERYONE loves it, I will too)
7. the B&A A-1
8. ATSF 4-4-6-2
9. GN R-2 2-8-8-2
10. Erie 2-8-8-8-2T (no, the MTH is not acceptable)


Ah, well. It's a start. Gotta get back to reality.


Ed

[prr 4467]

Hi Ed--

Well, I like the Santa Fe 2-10-4 too. It's an engine that doesn't get enough respect because it was a little bit slippery. In Lloyd Stagner's books for Morning Sun, he consistently understates the horsepower of the Santa Fe locos, badly enough that I don't trust any numbers he ever gives, and I don't read his books anymore. S. Kip Farrington was actually there when Santa Fe did the dynamometer tests of drawbar horsepower and published much of the actual test data in his book "The Santa Fe's Big Three". The Santa Fe 2-10-4 was solidly above 4000 drawbar horsepower between 40 and 70 mph, with a peak of either 5600 or 6500 (it's been too long since I had that book). Either way, astounding loco performance in actual service.

Also, I just got the old New Jersey International book about the PRR Q-2, and in it, the author states that in 1945 PRR tested the J-1 2-10-4 in Juniata, just like they tested the Q-2, and the J-1 produced 7000 indicated horsepower at the cylinders, with 7987 indicated horsepower for the Q-2. Once PRR decided to dieselize, it was more cost effective to scrap the Q-2's in 1953 and to keep the lower operating cost J-1's in operation awhile longer. So with Indicated horsepower of 7000 for the PRR J-1, I believe it might have been possible to get 6000 at the drawbar out of a Santa Fe loco...

The Hallmark/Samhongsa Super Crown ATSF 2-10-4 is a wonderful model that can still be found at the same price point as 20 years ago. I should have kept mine. I should also have kept the one BLI hybrid UP 4-12-2 that I had...but in a weak moment I went all diesel instead.

Your list is full of interesting locos.

[jbilbrey]

May 29, 2024 7:40:08 GMT -8 prr 4467 said:

Only a few years back did I actually get and read the PFM catalogs. Somebody gave me some of them. They way they were illustrated was really remarkably good for that era. I can't help but get sucked into the layout scenes which feature the locos, so I completely understand your comments, Ed. Some of the layouts were fantastic especially considering that day and what was available to the average modeler.

I was never able to focus on just one railroad, despite having tried many times.

My favorite locos of all time, if I could have anything I wanted regardless of price, would include these (some I did have in the past, most I never had):

1. Western Pacific 2-8-8-2
2. Western Pacific 4-6-6-4
3. Rio Grande L-107 (USRA Copy) 2-8-8-2
4. Rio Grande Z1a (ex-N&W) 2-6-6-2
5. N&W Y-3 2-8-8-2
6. Rio Grande 4-8-2 (any of them but especially the ones with Worthington BL fwh, and the late M-78)
7. Texas & Pacific 4-8-2
8. Texas & Pacific 2-10-4 (one just ordered through local store where I can put it on layaway)
9. PRR J1/J1a 2-10-4
10. C&O T-1 2-10-4
11. C&O K-2 2-8-2 (I have one now.)
12. PRR Q-2 (#6199, the last one built, is pre-ordered, due fall)
13. C&O 2-6-6-2 final version (#1309)
14. NKP original S class 2-8-4 (it looks better to me)
15. Erie original version 2-8-4

Somewhat connected to your list, this popped up on my FB feed this morning:



Cardinal River Models


This is the first time I have heard of the company, and I am in no way connected with them.

[prr 4467]

Interesting news indeed about the Berkshire.

Unfortunately, I am pre-ordered out right now...

Been bad lately:  I couldn't find the PRR steamers I want, at least not with Paragon 4 sound/dcc, so instead I now have two BLI Texas & Pacific 2-10-4's (in service version with light green boiler) on layaway at the local train store.  They have been in the country for more than a year, and the distributors are very nearly entirely sold out (Emery has only the one road number remaining, which I now also have the very same number on layaway).  A few dealers do have a couple left at blowout prices, but I had to do a layaway at this time to be able to get them.  I'm thrilled because they are just fantastic when seen in person, and we are literally down to the last few remaining brand new anywhere.

John

[blhs569]

May 12, 2024 15:31:51 GMT -8 prr 4467 said:

Hi folks--

They are very hard to find.  I think I got the very last factory refurbished one they are going to have for the foreseeable future (I've emailed BLI and checked), but I could use more.

If anyone of you knows where I may find an HO BLI Paragon 4 I1sa available to buy, please send me a pm.  Thank you very much!

Best Regards to all.

There is a couple being offered on www.trainz.com

[lvrr325]

I learned with the limited run SD45s the magic number at least for a loco with existing tooling is 50 units. It's probably higher for these steam engines, since they need unique tooling, but I wouldn't be shocked if it's as low as 300-500.

[prr 4467]

It appears that if Trainz had any Paragon 4 editions recently, they are now gone (just checked). The Paragon 4 sound is way better than earlier versions.

Not saying that I'm planning to sell any locos off, but it has been suggested to me that I should stick with actual brass or brass hybrid steam locos because in most cases they will hold their value and sometimes even appreciate in value, while plastic generally will not.

So I just went in a different direction and am buying more of the brass hybrids (1 C&O and 2 Texas & Pacific).

Thank you for your replies, anyway. 

Oh--regarding production numbers of steam locomotives--BLI is actually producing much larger quantities than one might have thought.  They have made at least 4,200 PRR Q-2 brass hybrids over 3 or 4 product runs to date with another product run due this fall.  So for a limited edition, high end loco at now $900 MSRP, they have done quite well with them.  When people advertise that they are "rare" that is merely advertising hyperbole, because they are pretty easy to find.  brasstrains has a bunch in stock.

The PRR I1sa 2-10-0 just is one of their most popular sellers, and they know that.  I have no idea how many plastic I1sa's have been produced.