One ... I just recently bought it .... and it is my first HO steam engine of any kind: Light Mikado, Paragon 3.
I bought it undecorated .... have to decal it up.
After much break-in time, it definately does not have the smoothness at very low speed of my Atlas diesels. Which is a bummer to me. Is that to be expected with steamers?
It handles my track and turnouts well, and it sounds great. Looks good, too.
I just wanted to add one steam engine to make my transition era railroad a bit more authentic. So, its my last.
Jim,
Are the drivers binding at all? That is, does it hesitate slightly then lunge forward then hesitate slightly, etc? Did you try lubing the drivers and gears? That would be the first thing to try.
Two of the three BLI that I sent back did bind some - even after lubing and breaking them in - so I sent them into BLI and they repaired them. And, no, it is NOT the norm for steamers. My BLI 4-8-4 Niagara crawls quite smoothly at 0.3sMPH. I also have some Proto 2000 and Trix steamers that are terrific runners.
Move moving parts means that more things need to line up properly in order to work in-sync iwith one another. Another reason why diesel locomotives made such a quick and lasting transition into the railroads because they were less maintenance than steam locomotives.
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 4 BLI steam locos: USRA 2-8-2 kitbashed into a C&O K-8, runs like a charm; USRA 4-6-2 refurb loco kitbashed into a C&O F-20, runs very well; a C&O 2-10-4 a semi-basket case, not the best runner and needs some work; a C&O L-1 a beautiful loco and runs very nicely.
Rick G.
I have a BLI Pennsylvania T-1 Duplex
It runs pretty well I just have a little trouble on the layout at by club.
I also have the Alco RSD-15 in Austin & Texas Central paint.
Steve
If everything seems under control, you're not going fast enough!
I have three, but none purchased recently. First was a first (or very early) run NYC J-1 Hudson, one of the ones issued before the MTH court case. Also have a GN Heavy Mikado and C&O 2-10-4 (undec, decalled for my free lance iron ore railroad). I also have a couple of the NW-2 diesels.
So far, all run great. The Hudson is about 15 years old now, still going strong. (I did do the chip update on it a few years ago.)
I'm hoping to get a Milwaukee Road #261 4-8-4 in the not-too-distant future. I'm a member of the "Friends of 261" and have the MILW cars ready to go for it.