Well, that's pretty funny, considering FEC NEVER had SD40-2's
Snagletooth,
Where have you been for the past six or seven years?
Units 701-720 are all ex-UP SD40-2s, #714 is an ex-CNW SD40-2. They were aquired two at a time from a go-between leasing company begining in either 2000 or 2001. Believe me, when they started pounding the rails here in South Florida, every railfan around took notice.
Ted M.
got trains?™
See my photos at: http://tedmarshall.rrpicturearchives.net/
davidmbedard wrote: fire5506 wrote: The FEC paint job is horrible. The blue on the lettering is too light, it looks like a digital pic that was taken with a flash as the lettering is reflective. It is much darker when viewed. The numbers on the side of the cab don't even match each other plus the numbers on the number boards are a different font than the FEC uses. I was interested in buying one or two until I saw the lettering, now I'll pass. Richard looking at MP 242 while working for the FEC Have you tried painting your own units? David B
fire5506 wrote: The FEC paint job is horrible. The blue on the lettering is too light, it looks like a digital pic that was taken with a flash as the lettering is reflective. It is much darker when viewed. The numbers on the side of the cab don't even match each other plus the numbers on the number boards are a different font than the FEC uses. I was interested in buying one or two until I saw the lettering, now I'll pass. Richard looking at MP 242 while working for the FEC
The FEC paint job is horrible. The blue on the lettering is too light, it looks like a digital pic that was taken with a flash as the lettering is reflective. It is much darker when viewed.
The numbers on the side of the cab don't even match each other plus the numbers on the number boards are a different font than the FEC uses.
I was interested in buying one or two until I saw the lettering, now I'll pass.
Richard looking at MP 242 while working for the FEC
Have you tried painting your own units?
David B
I don't know if it's the engine or BLI's recording, but ...
when the horn blows, the engine's (sounds) cut out.
(the horn sounds louder - because there is no competition?).
My Blueline SD40-2s arrived yesterday. Here are a couple of pictures:
The tooling looks almost identical to the original SD40-2 Quantum series units. I noticed, after the pictures were taken, that the front handrail on 1649 got bent in shipping. A drop of CA fixed it nicely.
Here's a picture of an original Quantum Series BLI:
Some better lighting might have helped on these pictures. I weighed both units and the Blue line was .4 oz lighter than the original. I suspect giving up some weight for the sound system but pulling power should be very similar.
Engineer Jeff NS Nut Visit my layout at: http://www.thebinks.com/trains/
MilwaukeeRoad wrote: Could you explain a dual decoder arrangment.. My computer isn't letting me view it because I don't have Adobe or something.Sorry for the troubles.
Could you explain a dual decoder arrangment.. My computer isn't letting me view it because I don't have Adobe or something.
Sorry for the troubles.
You can download Adobe Acrobat Reader for free.
I use Adobe 5 from one of my game disks to keep it just with a reader, none of that fancy internet version 8 or 9 stuff that I find distracting.
Version 5 http://www.oldversion.com/download.php?idlong=f49c06c56d7dd18c1fad93da6b74a0be
Old Versions Website http://www.oldversion.com/program.php?n=acrobat
Now.. the video is up on the MR website under product reviews of the engine. My ears are not the best but didnt that horn sound like something out of a toy factory? Real engines shake the ground when they hoot.
I did like the apparent good detail work on the engine...
IMHO,
I don't much care for the Blueline logic.
So does anyone here have a Blueline they have converted to DCC ? If so I assume the function keys still work for the horn, lights, bell etc ? I see that some of the delaers now have them in stock across many roadnames. From the pictures it looks like a Digitrax DN143IP is a drop in decoder. Anyone know for sure ?
I read on the Atlas Forum BLI recommends a N gauge decoder.
http://forum.atlasrr.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=38657
I guess there are some other issues, too.
I THINK THE ABOVE POST GOT MESSED WITH (SOMEHOW). I'VE TRYED TO RECREATE THE ORIGINAL, BUT I DOUBT IF I CAN PUT IT BACK ON PAGE 2.
I PREDICT THAT BLUELINE AND IT'S BUDDY THE "DC ***" IS GOING TO MUCK UP THE WORKS FOR THE NEXT FIVE YEARS BEFORE BLI FINALLY GOES BELLY UP. YOU WATCH.
A dual decoder means you have two decoders with the same address. One controls the motor and lights (this is he one you install yourself) and the other controls the sound (this is the one that comes with the locomotive.) So, yes, you have control over the sound. I'll see how easy this is to program. Mine should arrive tomorrow and hopefully I'll have some time over the weekend to test one.
MilwaukeeRoad wrote: Will these all let me to control the sound?NOTE- dumb question.
Will these all let me to control the sound?
NOTE- dumb question.
This is a dual decoder arrangement. Here's the Blueline manual.
http://www.broadway-limited.com/support/BlueLineDieselManual.pdf
MilwaukeeRoad wrote:What decoder would be a good one to put in the engine?
The BLI manual lists:
jbinkley60 wrote: I broke down and bought 2 SD40-2s from Factory Direct for $119 ea. I'd prefer to get them from my LHS but they get no markup at these prices. I also picked up 2 DN143IP decoders. I already have 2 BLI SD40-2s with the original chipset. I'll compare the Bluelines with them, once the Bluelines arrive.
I broke down and bought 2 SD40-2s from Factory Direct for $119 ea. I'd prefer to get them from my LHS but they get no markup at these prices. I also picked up 2 DN143IP decoders. I already have 2 BLI SD40-2s with the original chipset. I'll compare the Bluelines with them, once the Bluelines arrive.
I am most interested in the outcome of your comparison. Blueline vs QSI. Pulling power, slow speed performance and sound quality.
I too prefer to get my items from the Hobby Shop, they keep the hobby strong where I am. But the subject of the markup is a topic not really open to discussion anymore. It just makes everyone upset.
Despite the model not being perfect to some standards, I know my son and I are having a lot of fun running it over the layout. To me the fun factor is very important. Compared to non-sound units I purchased a few years ago, I still think it is a great deal. Sure, it is no Lexus, but it is a nice Toyota in my opinon.
Blue Line SD40-2 sound isn't bad. The sound is pretty decent considering it's their first proprietary sound system but QSI equipped Paragon Series still sounds much better.
Consider this, Paragon SD40-2's run about $30 more than Blue-Lines on Factory Direct Trains.com ($119.99 vs $149.99) both with sound. Other places, the difference can be $50 or so. Never pay MSRP.
QSI offers sound chip upgrades.
Paragons come DCC equipped, Blue-Lines do not. They're DCC ready. A decoder, if needed, will cost you $25 or more.
Paragons run great on DC with a Quantum Engineer as do all other QSI equipped brands.
Also, The shells are interchangeable between Paragon Series and Blue-Line Series SD40-2's.
I was going to buy one. But after listening to the sound compared to my three Paragon SD40-2's, I'll gladly fork over the extra 30 to 50 dollars for another Paragon. If it's a particular roadname that I'm looking for, I'll order a shell.
Ted Marshall
"does anyone else notice that all other sounds stop when the horn is being blown?" That was the first thing I heard. Then a few pages of bercking about sound it final came out. Does it do it in real life, how about the control box, same thing?
As far as the racket, I am with Brakie with that to a point. When I come home from work and start to unwind I run the DC with no sound first. Later I kick on the DCC side. Sometimes I all so mute the sound or just turn down the sound F-5 on my BLI Steamers.
Far as racket, trying running a body shop for 25 years!
Far as dropping a lot of Cash for a DCC system, people turely under rate the Bachmann E-Z. New on E-bay $55.00. Cheap way to get started and mine does 70% of what I want it to do. I will add my M1a and Heavy Mike BLi's are pulling 60 rolling stock with no problems.
I have high hopes for the Blue line. Like another M1a and 24 more Big Boys. Plus some oil Burners as well.
Cuda Ken
I hate Rust
Thommo wrote: Tnx!Do you maybe know which steam engines have this DC sound?
Tnx!
Do you maybe know which steam engines have this DC sound?
Well,I will suggest BLI's Blue line of steamers even though locomotives with QSI sound can be used in DC mode by buying the Quantum Engineer from BLI or Atlas.
http://precisioncraftmodels.com/Quantum-Engineer---QARC-Enabled-28-Button-Activator-c3474.html
Larry
Conductor.
Summerset Ry.
"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt Safety First!"
I am interested in purchasing a blueline SD40-2, for running on the San Diego Model Railroad
Club layout. How well does the blueline SD40-2 run on club layouts? I would like to hear
from members of model railroad clubs that run the blueline SD40-2s.
BRAKIE wrote: Antonio, check your pm box please..I promise no bombs! LOL!
Antonio, check your pm box please..
I promise no bombs! LOL!
Thanks
"I like my Pullman Standards & Budds in Stainless Steel flavors, thank you!"
Thommo wrote: Can somebody explain how this no-DCC sound works?What happens when engine is not moving - 0 Volts on the DC track - I'd think, no sound can be heard?
Can somebody explain how this no-DCC sound works?
What happens when engine is not moving - 0 Volts on the DC track - I'd think, no sound can be heard?
Sure..I saw this done this past weekend and was impress.
The engine stops moving at/about 1/2 throttle but,the locomotive is now "idling".Shut the power completely off and the sound turns off.Simple operation.And no the motor does not pick up power while in the idle mode thanks to the whiz bang(for the want of the correct term) electronics in the sound decoder.
A cool thing-and yes I was VERY IMPRESS with the sound of a "panting" steam locomotive including safety valve lifting and air pump..
I simply love the N&W "hooter" whistle on BLI's 1218.
Heh. I dont think so either. DC Voltage zero = no go. No workie etc.
I recall this as an annoyance having to find the voltage at which one engine starts the sounds but before moving.