I own a N&W Class J 611 from the paragon series and it is a great engine. Good sound great details, reliable and a great puller. I love it, it is my favorite engine in my fleet. A guy I used to be in a club with has a Blue Line version and except for the QSI decoder the engine is the same. He updated the engine with a QSI decoder some time later and it sounds just like mine does. The class A in the Paragon line has been duscontinued for a while now, I was trying to get myself one back in 05 when I got my 611. No Joy. I would get the blue line if you can just to get the engine then if you want or need the sound there are several options for ya.
I also have a BLI SD40-2 in the Paragon series that is a great engine. souds good pulls great. I would love to own more BLI engines but they are just a few too many $$$s involved with them.
Massey
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Fellows,
My thanks for two good responses. I think I'll wait until I can acquire one of the Blueline models as it seems to be the better of the two concerning electronics and running gear.
Alvie
Alvie,
I'm going to take the other side of the coin and suggest the Blueline. I personally like the separate decoders because I can then put in whatever motor decoder I want.
I installed a Lenz Silver MP decoder in my Blueline Niagara and that puppy crawls as well as - if not better than - my diesel switchers - i.e. <1 sMPH. The Silver MP was on BLI's "recommended" list of decoders for the Blueline Series and it had the best BEMF. And I didn't have any issues programming it with the Blueline sound decoder.
My one Paragon locomotive (a Light Mike) is good but it doesn't have near the low-speed response that my Blueline Niagara has. I also like the Blueline Series better than the Paragon2 decoders.
Tom
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I would go with the Paragon. The 2 lines are basically the same with the decoder being the main difference. It's well worth not having to mess around with 2 decoders when programming.
I've had 3 Bluelines (Still have 2), and have 2 paragons. They were both steamers and Diesels.
Springfield PA
Hi all,
So I'd like to add an N&W A to my collection, 1218 of course. A fellow in my club has a Paragon model for a really good price, but after reading a string on the BLI forums, can't find it, it seems like the Blueline model may have been better done mechanically and electronically.
For those that have owned both, which do you recommend? While I'm not opposed to swapping sound systems on either model, if one run may have have potential design flaws I'd like to know about that.
Thank you in advance,