Broadway announces all locomotives without sound/DCC!

[Anonymous]

What do you guys think about this? I notice lots of threads stating that locomitves that come with sound/DCC are more of a bargin than just coming DCC ready and adding your own decoders.
I am one of the people who welcome this. I view sound as a bonus and if I can get the engine I want without paying an extra $150 for features I don't want, then I'm a happy camper.
How many modelers are intrested in BLI locos without sound? Sound is the "big thing" of this decade, but I'll bet some people still don't care for it.
I hope they're still offering non-sound steamers when that AC-9 comes out!

[Anonymous]

Yeah, so far it's only the new K4. It's too bad the loco is still really expensive....

[Anonymous]

I think it is great! Everyone does not need sound. Why pay extra for something you do not want, or in my case cannot use? If you are wondering about my wording on that question, I am totally deaf. And I am sure ther are others in the hobby also who are without hearing.

[dinwitty]

do the engines still come DCC/Sound ready?

we should identify good DCC/sound resources to match the engines.

I believe a lot of the work is customized for the locomotive, which is a good deal,
but if its not available direct in the model, is it available elsewhere?

[Anonymous]

I will support this for those who are totally deaf or too hard of hearing to make out the sounds properly.

I am hearing impaired and I can enjoy the BLI engines with the sound as loud as they are. What sounds a bit too quiet for me may be "steaming" the spouse out of the house.. who wants to hear the engines going chug chug, hisss, pump pump... for hours at a time? Spouse does support my love of Model Railroading but sometimes we keep a quiet house for study, rest etc.

I personally want factory installed QSI in both steam and desiel. I am just very happy that Broadway has made the no-sound option availible.

[Anonymous]

I simply haven't been bitten by the sound bug so I opted to continue to use the DCC throttles with only F1 through F4 available. That way I can use the lighting effects if I choose, but didn't have to replace throttles with the newer ones with all the effects keys. I would welcome some BLI product without sound, but would be just as happy if it came with a 128 step decoder installed.

[Virginian]

I want the BLI 'J' WITH sound. I WANT that whistle. I could probably live without sound on anything else, but I gotta have that.

[Anonymous]

Virginian, I must comment that I felt, not heard the whistle on the UP Challenger 3985 when she came down to visit Arkansas. It was so loud left no doubt this is a big engine and means business.

I used to have a old .45 record with sounds from the Southern Railroad's Cresent Limited and that whistle was the greatest. But it is the Mallet y-6b on another recording that just says it all. The BLI's class A whistle was the closest I can think of to that sound.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by BoRockhard

What do you guys think about this? I notice lots of threads stating that locomitves that come with sound/DCC are more of a bargin than just coming DCC ready and adding your own decoders.
I am one of the people who welcome this. I view sound as a bonus and if I can get the engine I want without paying an extra $150 for features I don't want, then I'm a happy camper.
How many modelers are intrested in BLI locos without sound? Sound is the "big thing" of this decade, but I'll bet some people still don't care for it.
I hope they're still offering non-sound steamers when that AC-9 comes out!

It will make the new models available to more people and take less time to build them without all the extras, so BLI should be able to increase their sales and please more customers. I too hope they build an AC9, but don't count on it. Have you sent in a wish list to BLI?

I believe the sound on most of the BLI models is worth the price, even if some of the sound modules are incorrect in some ways. They did correct the chuffing on the Santa Fe Northern and the PRR J1. Both were incorrect and they sent out chips to correct the problem after many customers complained. I have found their service department to be very good at fixing problems like I mentioned and will continue to purchase models with sound.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Virginian

I want the BLI 'J' WITH sound. I WANT that whistle. I could probably live without sound on anything else, but I gotta have that.

I agree with your statement completely. That whistle is great and I hope BLI does it correctly. We will be waiting.

[Anonymous]

I disagree. BLI got my money because of the sound. I Hope they do Sound/DCC no Sound/DCC. instead of making Every engine without sound.

[tcf511]

I have two BLI steam locomotives and an order placed for the J. I only bought them because of the sound. There are plenty of other quality locos out there without sound but DCC ready. I understand the thought process of producing both but if they did away with sound, I probably wouldn't buy them.

[twhite]

I like the sound, but if BLI were to offer, say, a Missabe 2-8-8-4 WITHOUT sound, I'd bite anyway, because their locomotives are such good runners. But what attracted me to BLI in the first place was their sound, and I get a kick out of it. So do my neighbors, for that matter, especially the neighborhood dogs. Something about the shrieking whistle on tht Santa Fe northern----
Tom

[Anonymous]

I like the option of having BOTH types available. Sound and DCC, or no sound, nor DCC decoders. I like sound, but I'm also one who probably wouldn't want a whole fleet equipped with sound.
Alvie.

[trolleyboy]

I think it is good that they are thinking of doing both,i've not been bitten by the sound or DCC bug yet but the detailing on their models is great but the extra features I don't want has made me not purchase any of their products yet. So heres to their attempt at keeping all of us happy. TB

[AggroJones]

I love it. With the few BLI steamers I own, I barely run them with sound on.
If the Missabe Yelloestones come out with the option of sound/DCC and just DCC ready, I'll have to go with "just DCC ready". Chop off that extra $150. Sound is a bonus, but I don't believe it warrants that much additional cost to the basic locomotive.

An AC-9 wouldn't be bad either. I'll take one of those too. : )

[AntonioFP45]

This is rather strange though.

Broadway Limited's theme when it splashed onto the scene 3 years ago was SOUND EQUIPPED LOCOMOTIVES.

I think I understand what's going on though. Since QSI is now providing sound for Atlas and LifeLike P2K locomotives BLI, while still the top kid on the block, has dropped down a few notches so apparently the decision was made to market standard locomotives.

While it may have been a "sound" business decision (pun), it does take away from its original theme. There steamers look great and will likely sell without sound, but their diesels? They look decent but are still "out detailed" by Proto 2000 units. I would buy an undec. BLI E7 without sound only because it has the large box shaped number boards. The P2K E7s only come with the small number boards. The prototypes came in both versions.

I hope BLI continues to do well.

[Anonymous]

Is BLI really going to release SP AC-9s and Missabbe 2-8-8-4s?

[AggroJones]

QUOTE: Originally posted by 4884bigboy

Is BLI really going to release SP AC-9s and Missabbe 2-8-8-4s?

Here's hoping.

Its sad that the Yellowstone type doesn't get much play. Its is like the only major wheel arrangement not of freakish nature (aside from the 4-8-0) that has no member made in plastic. Hopefully BLI breaks this. AC-9, M-3/4. Its all good.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by 4884bigboy

Is BLI really going to release SP AC-9s and Missabbe 2-8-8-4s?

As far as I know, it is not on a future list from BLI, but some of us keep sending in our wish lists to BLI and others importers, and who knows, they just might do it. I believe there is a market for most of the items we keep talking about. I do have the AC9 by PSC, but would sell it and buy a BLI if they bring it in.

Email does not cost anything and they usually respond with a thank you or some kind of kind response. I emailed Atlas occasionally for years about a dash8 both the wide cab and normal cab, and guess what, they offered them recently. We will never know if our emails helped, but they could not hurt our chances of getting the model we want.

[dinwitty]

the missabe 2-8-8-4 is just awesome, if I don't find a brass version, if someone makes a plastic, I'll get it.

as far as sound goes, I have the BLI 2-6-6-4. roxors, major N&W fan and so glad this engine got made.

I tinkered with sound adding sound to my rivarossi 2-8-8-2 double chuffing it...heh.
if you get sound, you will like it. yep, if you heard O Winston Links stuff , you know how cool it is.

If your looking for just the model ok, but I look for the effect as well, the sound adds to it.

I am still working on my layout, no real running stuff yet, I got Bachmann's ez DCC and placed my 2-8-8-4 on a test track and just played with all the features....

how much fun can you have with an engine just sitting....8-D

[grayfox1119]

I prefer sound and everything else that adds to realism. Whether or not we choose to use everything is a personal preference. I think it adds so much more to a layout, with the loco coming through a pass in the mountains, puffing smoke and whistle blowing.

[AggroJones]

And if they continue this no-sound option, that Santa Fe 3800 class is coming to me much cheaper than I planned!