BLI Niagra... Anyone get their's yet?

[gmpullman]

I've long anticipated the Broadway's NYC Niagra. Has anyone gotten their hands on one yet? I hope its as good as other BLI issues.
Did they use the horn or whistle for the sound effect? It's my understanding that the Niagra had both but I believe the horn was more frequently used. I think it was a Leslie Tyfon type horn similar to that used on the GG-1...
ED

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by gmpullman

I've long anticipated the Broadway's NYC Niagra. Has anyone gotten their hands on one yet? I hope its as good as other BLI issues.
Did they use the horn or whistle for the sound effect? It's my understanding that the Niagra had both but I believe the horn was more frequently used. I think it was a Leslie Tyfon type horn similar to that used on the GG-1...
ED

ED, I'll bet money that they'll do the steam whistle instead of the air horn. When BLI came out with they're AC-4/5 Cab Forwards, I was sad to see that they had steam whistles instead of the "fading elephant" air horns. Oh well, all we can do is hope.........

[gmpullman]

I recieved 2 NYC Niagras today and just gave them the once-over... First, they Are impressive models! I double-headed them (not that you'd need to with all that horsepower) and there's almost 32" of locomotive there.
As in most BLI steam locomotives, they SQUEAK like a rusty gypsy wagon. I hope a little graphite on the crank pins quiets this down. They did provide the correct double connecting rods from 2-3 drivers! I'm happy to see that they chose to do the number board/ NYC oval in black instead of the less common blue (they didn't stay blue very long anyway!)... on the down-side, the quantum sound has the same whistle used on the Hudson and NOT the fog horn sound of the Leslie horn used on the S-1s. The "firebox light" shines down around the trailing truck in an un-prototypical fashion and for all that trouble, you can hardly see the light through the firebox door anyway.
The locomotives track VERY well! I had no problems through #8 crossovers and double-slips! Another plus is that there are Genuine Kadee couplers on both the tender AND the pilot!!! Thank you BLI... sorry, but I've had nothing but headaches with the imitation knuckle couplers from other manufacturers.
Overall, BLI has a winner here and I'm satisfied with my pair! Now for a little side rod lube and weathering...

[mdtell]

I agree with GMPullman. I got my Niagara and its a winner. A little oil stopped the squeeking and the engine runs like a charm. The new sound chip now allows you to program the background sounds volume in DC- a very nice touch. The engine is a good puller and I, for one, prefer the whistle sound to having a horn sound on a steam locomotive.

[selector]

My BLI Hudson, an older model, needed lubrication on all sliding and rotating surfaces visible to the eye, and the Manual stated as much. They don't ship them lubed so that the loco is presented with as much visual appeal as possible...leaking and smudged suraces are not very sightly.

In a way, the requirement for the new owner to lube them first is akin to an engineer doing his walkaround with grease and oilcan to assure himself that the loco was ready to rumble..just like in modern aircraft.

[Anonymous]

My PRR M1a was quite the "squeaker" on the test track, now having been lubed it runs effortless.

How many cars can you do with the Niagra?

[gmpullman]

Well, I've had 11 Rivarossi lightweight cars behind the Niagra up a 2.5 % grade with no hesitation or wheel slip. BLI says they did NOT include a traction tire because they felt the drawbar pull was adequate. I would agree. The tender is almost as heavy as the locomotive and with the centipede wheels, that's a good thing for tracking.
I'm going to try dry graphite on the side rods first cause when I go to do the weathering I'd rather not have too much oil on the running gear. I have some "moly-lube" that is a dry molybdenum powder that I use on Kadee couplers and it works great for metal to metal friction points. Kadee's "greas-em" seems a little coarse for model use.