Looking to Start Buying Some Engines

[kenben]

Is Broadway Limited a good brand and sourse for trains? For my first DCC/Sound engine, is this a good buy?

https://www.factorydirecttrains.com/BLI5360EMDSD40-2ATSF5049BlueandYellowParagon3Sound/DC/DCCHO.aspx

 

[ricktrains4824]

BLI is a decent brand, I have 2 of their units myself.

For diesel with sound, I prefer Loksound decoders, but BLI has some nice equipment.

Yes, these are my opinions, and you might get others, but, you were asking for our opinions.

[BigDaddy]

My sense from the forum is BLI are reliable, but were less so in the early days.  Nevertheless people were happy with their customer support.

I think it's a good price for a quality loco

 

[NWP SWP]

The diesels are very good, but there's a bit of unreliability with their steam, I have one and a member at the club has one they can be "finicky" being that they sometimes short out and derail, but other wise are exellent models.

[Big Four Lines]

kenben

Is Broadway Limited a good brand and source for trains? For my first DCC/Sound engine, is this a good buy?

I have nearly 80 BLI locomotives. All are Paragon 2 or 3 sound equipped DCC locomotives. I have had no issues with any of them. I highly recommend BLI and they stand by their innovative products.

Ricky

[tstage]

It depends on the steam locomotive and layout.  I have five BLI steamers - a 2-8-2, two 4-6-4s, and two 4-8-2s - and none of them have any shorting issues.  Steam locomotives are more complicated beasts so any linkage or track discrepancies are more likely show up with them than with diesels.

Tom

[floridaflyer]

What Tom said. My BLI steamers have never experienced shorting or derailing( assuming I don't screw up the throw on the turnout). Only have 5 but they are excellent runners. My T-1's are workhorses.

[PC101]

EDIT: I posted good info. here and it showed up blank, nothing showed up. Nothing like doing something twice. Just not now!

[dti406]

Your picture is of a SD40-2, if you want the best SD40-2, then you want to get either the Scaletrains EMD version or the Bowser GMDD version. The rest are substandard to these two manufacturers.

Rick Jesionowski

[EMDSD40]

I have a mix of BLI steam and diesel locomotives with good performance to date. My layout is DC powered with MRC Controlmaster 20 power supplies using both BLI Quantum Engineer and DC Master devices wired through rotary switches to select the proper device paired to the locomotive. My experience has been positive with their products. No experience with Paragon 3 sound to date and no possibility going to DCC.

[angelob6660]

I have a BLI Amtrak E8. It's very nice detailed locomotive, I didn't know it had grab rails in N Scale. My model arrived with bent handrails with chipping paint on them. 

I love my BLI locomotive sense I can run on DC track without worrying about burning out the motor.

I'm one of those people who don't like extra details on a diesel locomotives. 

I did buy some FVM GP60 SP/SSW units but I'm not going to install those little detail parts.

[selector]

I have perhaps 20 BLI steamers.  I have had minor problems with a very few of them, maybe four of them, but they were all rectified by BLI shortly after they received them for repair...which was always a positive experience.

The fact is, those surviving importers/manufacturers active today in the HO hobby are doing a very good job of trying to keep their share of the market or to grow it.  They ALL stand behind what they produce.  The customers almost, not always, but almost always get satisfaction, even if in the end they can't have a replacement new one and must accept another new locomotive of a different type.

If you would like to save some cash, and are not as impatient as most who have the hobby bug, watch the refurbished supply on BLI's website.  They often have repaired locomotives for 30-40% off, full warranty.  Of course, the choice will be very limited, and you may have to wait up to two years to get what you want.

[kenben]

Thanks for all the feedback.

How does the Paragon3 sound compair to something like the LokSound?

[mobilman44]

You will LOVE the sound!   I have several steam and diesel and they are terrific.  And I'm a long time Model Railroader that can be very picky!

[BigDaddy]

kenben

How does the Paragon3 sound compair to something like the LokSound?

The Paragon 3 with Rolling Thunder can use a separate subwoofer.  I've never heard one in person, only on youtube and that isn't an adequate platform to demonstrate that.  I would imagine a subwoofer would sound fabulous, but it also seems a bit over the top to me. 

 

[selector]

The sound quality of the installations and decoder are very good, as good as any other decoder I have heard.  However, compared to the QSI sound files on the original Paragon series, I would have to say I am not very happy with the sound files in some cases on the Paragon 2 series.  The Niagara S1b and the Pennsy horns don't sound alike at all, and that is disappointing.  But, as far as sound quality, the Paragon 2 is very good...you won't be disappointed.  One sound I think I prefer on the P2 series is the air pumps...very nice.

[DigitalGriffin]

I love BLI.  But they are one of the few companies brave enough to sell steam.  And they are extremely well waited.

Their decoders though are questionable.  And sometimes the quality can be a little hit or miss.  Their service department is excellent though.

For steam, BLI is at the top of my list.  For Diesels, there are plenty of competing equal brands, each with plus and minuses.  So you get to pick your poison.

Stewart/Bowser make some of the most smooth reliable drives.

Atlas is another good reliable brand

Athearn GENSIS is easy to maintain and get parts for and a good bang for the buck.  Maybe a little less detailed than a Trix/Proto 2000, or Intermountain.  The handrails are delicate, and the bulbs burn out easy.  But they are  a bargain.

Intermountain is highly regarded, but I don't own one.

Trix is well loved too by many.  But you pay through the nose for it. 

Walthers Proto series is highly detailed, and delicate.  They use Soundtraxx which is easy to program.  But many people complain about Soundtraxx's horn selection as "weak"

[sktrains]

I have a couple SD40’s one Broadway and one intermountain there both great, I like the sound slightly more on the intermountain but the Broadway is heavier and pulls a little better, overall I like the BLI better  

STEVE   

[ATSFGuy]

If you want, add at least one brass locomotive if you can afford it. Just one won't hurt.

[Ironstef70]

I agree with Steve: sound is not perfect, but their diesels are heavy and smooth pullers, and they are dependable products.