I have at least 10 Blueline engines and have been happy with them. I still run DC . Most were purchased for around $100.00 or less new with shipping.
I purchased an Sd40-2 high hood and PRR T-1 with Paragon 2 of course the price was higher. Not as happy with running on DC . The Blueline and QSI run a lot better and smother on DC. Have tried 4 cotrollers and spent hours setting CV"s to get smooth running in mid range.
I sent a email to Broadway about more Blueline offerings and reply stated they had no plans for any more. Bad news. I quess i will have to stick to older models or look at QSI.
Bob
I paid under $200 for my BlueLine Niagara and have been very happy with it. The only issue I had was a bad light board that BLI sent me a replacement for FREE.
Tom
https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling
Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.
cudaken If BLI does not sell a lot of Blue Line I personally think it is because of 2 things. 1Cost has really shoot up. When I bought my first Blue Line GE AC 6000 I only paid $119.99 at my LHS. I got my RSD 15 on sale from BLI for $99.99 plus shipping. Last time I saw them they where $167.00 or so. Add $25.00 for a decoder you are at the same prices as a Paragon II. 2 While it not that hard to program (remember it was my fault forgetting how to used the SEB) people have read post like mine and would have been scared them off. But I will full admit with out the savings I saw when they came out, I would have never bought one. Ken
If BLI does not sell a lot of Blue Line I personally think it is because of 2 things.
1Cost has really shoot up. When I bought my first Blue Line GE AC 6000 I only paid $119.99 at my LHS. I got my RSD 15 on sale from BLI for $99.99 plus shipping. Last time I saw them they where $167.00 or so. Add $25.00 for a decoder you are at the same prices as a Paragon II.
2 While it not that hard to program (remember it was my fault forgetting how to used the SEB) people have read post like mine and would have been scared them off. But I will full admit with out the savings I saw when they came out, I would have never bought one.
Ken
Interesting points, Ken.
I own two pair of Blue Line diesels, ATSF Warbonnbet F7A/B units. The A unit is powered and the B unit is a dummy. I only bought them to get Warbonnets with sound at a relatively inexpensive price. I paid $179.99 for each pair.
Rich
Alton Junction
I hate Rust
Randy, I suspect you are right.
My sense is that since DC guys don't want it anyway, Blue Line didn't sell that well.
That makes more sense than to say that Blue Line and Paragon II cost the same to manufacture.
Sound for those not convinced of the usefulnes of DCC. But it still hs the same unavoidable problem as every othr soudn decoder runnign under DC, the large dead band on the throttle until the voltage is high enough to rut he sound electronics without moving the loco. And if it doesn;t cost much more ot just include the motor control part as well, then it's sort of pointless to make the sound only ones. The die-hard DC guys don't want it anyway, they'd prefer the loco be pure DC. I suspect Bachmann may find the same thing, although they've priced the locos so low it might not matter to people to buy the loco then rip the board out.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
cudaken On a side note, BLI is more than likely not going to make any more Blue Lines. I spoke with Larry at BLI few weeks ago and he told me there new Paragon II cost the same to make as Blue Line. More than likely the ax will fall. Ken
On a side note, BLI is more than likely not going to make any more Blue Lines. I spoke with Larry at BLI few weeks ago and he told me there new Paragon II cost the same to make as Blue Line. More than likely the ax will fall.
Interesting.
So, what was the point of making the Blue Line in the first place?
Thanks, Rich. Understood...
tstage richhotrain: Ken, I feel for you. Sorry to hear that you are having so many problems. You may ultimately yank out both decoders and replace them with a Tsumani or TCS decoder. Rich Rich, I've never had an issue with my BlueLine Niagara addressing properly and wish more manufacturers offered sound with the option of installing your own motor decoder. I couldn't be happier with either the full sound or the low-speed response from the Lenz Silver-MP decoder I installed in the Niagara. The behemoth roars like a lion and will crawl at <0.5 sMPH. Tom
richhotrain: Ken, I feel for you. Sorry to hear that you are having so many problems. You may ultimately yank out both decoders and replace them with a Tsumani or TCS decoder. Rich
Ken, I feel for you. Sorry to hear that you are having so many problems. You may ultimately yank out both decoders and replace them with a Tsumani or TCS decoder.
Rich,
I've never had an issue with my BlueLine Niagara addressing properly and wish more manufacturers offered sound with the option of installing your own motor decoder. I couldn't be happier with either the full sound or the low-speed response from the Lenz Silver-MP decoder I installed in the Niagara. The behemoth roars like a lion and will crawl at <0.5 sMPH.
Tom,
Like you, I am more than happy with my Blue Line diesels.
I was merely musing that Ken may wind up yanking out the dual decoder set up on his Blue Line if his problems persist.
richhotrain Ken, I feel for you. Sorry to hear that you are having so many problems. You may ultimately yank out both decoders and replace them with a Tsumani or TCS decoder. Rich
rrinker Yes it does. You can dial it back to CV1. That AD2/AD4 though, that also sets CV1, and the proper value of CV29 so you don't have to figure that stuff out for yourself. Just pick AD2 and set the short address, or AD4 if you want to use an address above 127. After hitting enter it will prompt you AD2=on? or AD4=on, dependign on which you are using, Press Y to enable that mode. --Randy
Yes it does. You can dial it back to CV1. That AD2/AD4 though, that also sets CV1, and the proper value of CV29 so you don't have to figure that stuff out for yourself. Just pick AD2 and set the short address, or AD4 if you want to use an address above 127. After hitting enter it will prompt you AD2=on? or AD4=on, dependign on which you are using, Press Y to enable that mode.
Randy, the prompt never did pop up, but I got her going! What was confusing me is I never program using the Pd mode, I all wise uses Po. I know I have to turn the track power back on, did not know I had to reselect the cab number.
Rich, while the Blue Line can be a pain sometimes, in this case it was using SEB to do the programing. (users error ) My RSD 15 sounds great and runs very well. No need to change decoders.
Ken Again
OK, still messing with my RSD 15 Blue Line. I did get the factory default set and the motor sounds come on when I use address 3. I have tried and tried to set the address using my SEB using CV 2. I have tried most programing setting. I all so have the DCC decoder out and not using the jumper that came with the engine.
I final broke out the book that came with the engine. On page 15 it stated CV1 is Primary Address, Then DCC Address.
But my SEB does not have a CV 1?
Help?