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I own a undecorated 2-8-2 Heavy Mike. A friend also has a 2-8-2 BLI Heavy Mike. His is first run, mine is second run. Both engines exhibit a ability to haul 15 cars (Accurail, Atlas, Athearn etc etc) up a 3% Grade around 24" and 22" radius without too much trouble. They can haul more on the flat. Specifically for me the ability to stop and restart 15 cars on a 3% grade is the "standard" I expect of HO steamers. The Life Like 2-8-4 will handle 15 cars up that 3% until it gets to the 24" curve on the top and the increased drag will stop it. The BLI 2-8-2 will maintain speed around this curve after climbing the grade with the bulk of the cars still on grade. I also own a BLI M1a PRR 4-8-2. Both engines are very similar on uphill performance. When double heading I can go from 15 cars to about 30 only that we dont have the room to swing any more cars. The biggest problem with the BLI engines is the lack of Operating Kaydee front couplers. I still get kind of mad when I see those dummy plastic couplers on the front. A $300 dollar engine ought to afford a $1.50 front kaydee coupler. The sound is all I could want in HO. In fact, I am saving my pennies for a Life Like 2-8-8-2 also with QSI sound. Simply the reputation of the QSI's good performance on BLI steamers is enough for me to order one of the LL's engines unseen and unheard 9 months ago. I am also influenced by the fact that there was a deadline for orders and you had to either order that time or risk waiting years for a OOP Item to show up somewhere. There are other sound products on the market and some do work really well. But it does not exhibit the "Consistency" I have come to expect from BLI. In short, this engine is capable of performing to a 3% grade with 15 cars which I consider good performance for a freight engine on the main.
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