More important to me is how much slower the Bluelines operate than the Paragons. This primarily has to do with the separate sound and motion decoders in the Blueline series.
The low-speed response from the QSI decoder in my BLI 2-8-2 Mike is okay - even after upgrading the chip and tweaking CV2. The sound is also decent. However, the sound in my Blueline 4-8-4 Niagara is quite impressive because of the larger speaker. And the low-speed response is excellent because I've installed a Lenz Silver MP decoder into it.
Personally, I'd rather buy a locomotive with separate sound and motion decoders anyhow. Sound is fun but...I'd much prefer a locomotive start out at a prototypical 1 sMPH (or less) than have all the literal bells and whistles that come with some sound decoders.
Tom
https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling
Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.
I have one of each a Paragon 2-10-2 a Blueline 4-8-4 and the new Paragon2 2-8-8-2 and while i really enjoy the sound of all three I would say I enjoy the Paragon2 and Blueline the most with the older Paragon a slight bit less but all are to my thinking the best factory installation's for the money.
Also have on of the older Tsunami equipted Bachmann Russian Decapods ,again a really nice sound system for your money though I would rate it 4th of my 4 sound equited steamers.
Having just taken delivery of the N&W Y6b this weekend heres a short video of it shoving a long string of freightcars....outstanding slow speed operation is a hallmark of BLIs locomotives....judge for yourselves.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NLlRlasCR1g
Has anyone noticed the drastic difference between them and the paragons? They also have more of an HO version of Lionel's O gauge "DynaChuff" sound system (labored chuff and drift dependant on slight twist of the throttle) Which I think is amazing for a blue line locomotive.
Anyway, more/less prototypical? Who cares, its a lot more fun. Thats what this hobby should be about.