Hello All,
I am looking to get one of these beasts as the next locomotive for my collection. As I understand it, there are several different models, each ranging in cost from about $700 up to $1700 for the super top end.
I am wondering if people have differing experiences between the basic models such as the MTH RailKing Big Boys which you can get on eBay for about $800 for the set with the 4-Car Reefers with Caboose, up to the JLC Big Boy which costs about $1700. I am leaning toward the MTH Railking model simply for cost and space purposes (I don't have the space to run 0-72 curves), but would like to know what would I be missing out on if I got the less expensive model... From what I can see, detail-wise, there isn't "much" difference between the two..
All comments and advice are welcome!
Thanks,
Tom
If you cant have 0-72 on your layout it is basically a no-brainer. The JLC BB barely deals with 0-72.
That being said it is an awesome piece. Definately the most intricate ever done by Lionel. Due to its comlexity and level of detail, I dont see it being eclipsed as the top dog of lionel for some time.
I have an earlier MTH RailKing BigBoy, not the set version, I don't know if there are any differences, or if these are the same locomotives reissued. I also have the Lionel LionMaster BigBoy, and it is a much better detailed model than the MTH RailKing model. In MY OPINION, the Lionel LionMaster is the winner hands down, it will handle 0-31 curves, but make sure that you have VERY GENEROUS track spacing on curves. I have some 0-42 curves inside of some 0-54 curves with 5 1/2 " center to center spacing, running the BigBoy on the inside and some 18" passenger cars on the outside, the 5 1/2" spacing is the ABSOLUTE MINIMUM, I wouldn't want to get even SCALE size fingers between them. The LionMaster BigBoy is out of production, and would have to be found on ebay or on a dealers shelf, but if you find one, that would be MY choice.
A word of caution with the MTH locomotives, if you get ANY MTH locomotive with sound, DO NOT LET THE BATTERY GET WEAK, it can/will cause you all kinds of grief. Some say it is just a PROTO SOUND (sometimes referred to as PROTO SOUND 1, or PS1) Problem, and others have said it is just a PROTO SOUND 2 (PS2) issue, I have had trouble with BOTH. A weak battery can scramble the control chip's programming. There is a repair kit for this, but I have not used it, so I can't comment on it. If this happens your other choice is to send it back to MTH for repair, mine was there for 7-9 MONTHS.
Enjoy whatever you find,
Doug
May your flanges always stay BETWEEN the rails
God bless TCA 05-58541 Benefactor Member of the NRA, Member of the American Legion, Retired Boss Hog of Roseyville , KC&D Qualified
I can think of a couple more options which you didn't mention.
The first is the Lionmaster version, which is a few years old. If you can find one, it should be around $600-800. The Lionmaster version should be about comparable in size to the Railking, but I believe the detail is better on it.
The other option is the K-line Big Boy. Rather than selectively compressing, like Lionel and MTH did with their Lionmaster and Railking models, K-line made a model in full 1/64 scale and stuck it on O gauge trucks. It's really a fairly nice model, although it looks sort of squat. It's the least expensive of the Big Boys, with, as I recall, a price of about $500 when fully loaded. You would need to look for this one on the second-hand market as well.
"No childhood should be without a train!"
I have a Lionmaster BB I bought used at a TCA meet. It looks great as a display piece but I really cannot run it on my layout. I have run it on a friend's larger layout and found that it had problems on the switches; either goes into "neutral" or the front trucks derail. In fairness to the locomotive, that was on old fashioned tublar track.
A couple of years ago I found a Rail King Challenger locomotive on ebay that runs very well on smaller curves. It looks impressive as long as it dosen't sit side by side with Lion Master BB.
Just a couple of weeks ago, I purchased a scale brass Williams Big Boy #4020 in like new condition for around $640.00 on Ebay. Rather bare bones to today's technology, it lacks all of the bells and whistles (pardon the pun), but it's still a very impressive model. Just a front headlight, a backup light on the tender, 2 sleuthe smoke units, transformer controlled forward, neutral and reverse. This unit also runs an a minimum radius of 072 curves.
I just can't see in spending $1700.00 on just an engine, so this one definately fits my quest for another giant steamer and easier on the bank account.
The first time I saw a Railking Big Boy, I thought it was the Premier version (until I saw the two side by side). I've also heard that the Railking version, while less detailed than the Lionmaster version, is the better runner on tight curves. I probably would buy the scale version, but given the high cost I think I could 'get by' with the older TMCC I version (cheaper too).
Geno
Thank you to all of you for the useful replies. As I said, I don't see myself having the space for 072 curves for some years yet, but that's no reason why I can't have fun now. I have looked at the MTH Railking BB Set with consist included, and in fairness, for the money it's pretty good.
Maybe 10 years down the line when I can afford $1700 on a locomotive, I'll go for the JLC (if it exists or if I can find one).
Does anyone out there happen to have a photo or video of the Railking BB running so I can see it a little better.
Thanks!
I have what was an early Railking big boy, modified for O27. The applied hatch covers on the top of the boiler started coming apart from zinc pest after a few years. I sent the boiler casting to MTH. Rather than repair it, they offered me the casting from a newer model. I like it better than the original, since its cab number (4017) is appropriate for the radiators in the pilot handrails. The original number (4020) was one of the five built during the war, which never had the radiators. It also has an engineer and a fireman, and a red window over the firebox door, which I tell myself I'll put a lamp behind some day.
If you can stand the overhang (I can), this locomotive is well adapted mechanically to sharp curves. Both engines swivel; and there's nothing but wheels below the boiler. So the working parts snake around the curves, while the boiler and cab clear the tops of even Lionel O27 turnouts.
Bob Nelson
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