I'm new to model railroading. I'm planning a steam layout, and got a chance at buying a new Trix Big Boy and want opinions on the quality of the Trix Big Boy!
Thanks
The Trix Big Boy is a fine loco, however, there are some pros & cons to it.
A pro is certainly the quality of it and the ability to negotiate tighter curves, even though it is a hefty beast. Running characteristic is superb and it pulls like an elephant.
Cons are its price and drivers, with are a tiny bit to small to compensate for the European style deeper flanges. If you are interested in buying one, make sure it is equipped with RP 25 wheelsets.
They are very good quality, probably the best. They are also quite rare. They used to retail for something like $600USD
As Ulrich rightly points out, Trix engineered their HO scale engines to be used on the often smaller layout spaces and their tighter curves in Europe. Nothing wrong with that, except that in order to do that, they had to reduce the diameter of the drivers quite substantially, enough that sticklers sometimes turned their noses up at the Trix engines. The flange outer diameters are greater in comparison to the diameter of the tires on those drivers than the RP-25 of the NMRA suggests, whereas other manufacturers do widely follow the RP-25 values. Accordingly, you may find that the Trix engine will just barely run on Code 83 tracks, especially if you leave grit and ballast material up around the plastic spikes on flextrack.
Otherwise, in terms of materials and engineering, and quality of assembly and running, it is almost impossible to beat without paying a great deal more.
-Crandell
Thanks for the info!
I'm actually looking at a Big Boy set which has 5 cars, a caboose, and enough C-track to make up about a half mile in HO scale. The ad says the set is good for NEM standards!
Price $1300.00 canadian.
Being new to this hobby, I'm not sure if this is a good way to go to get myself a Big Boy, and get started with some track? I don't plan on anything European, so I don't know what to think of the NEM standards! I'm a little confused and don't know the difference between the European and North American standards!
Any advice would be greatly appreciated!
Sheldon
Only the european 3-rail Big Boy (sold under the Marklin name) comes with large flanges. The 2-rail DC Big Boy sold under the Trix name has always come with RP-25 flanges.
As far as quality goes, the Marklin/Trix Big Boy is one of the best non-brass Big Boys ever made. The only negative comment I've ever heard about them is the 63" drive wheels (proper diameter is 69"). Other than that, the level of detail is about equal to the Athearn and BLI/MTH Big Boys, and I've heard that the running qualities are fantastic. So if you've found a good deal and can live with under-sized drive wheels, then by all means go ahead and get it!
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I just now saw the post you made right before mine. The C-track and NEM standards means that it's the 3-rail version with large flanges. As far as I know, it's not compatible with any north american products, and you'd be pretty much restricted to one brand.
Since that's the case (and you said you don't plan on modeling european), I would pass on this one and look for another Big Boy. I just saw one of the MTH (former BLI) Big Boys at my local hobby store today, and it's a very nice looking unit. And, it runs on 2-rail DC and is made to american NMRA standards!
As for other Big Boys, Athearn makes a very nice one (although they're only offering it with heavy weathering right now) with great detail and a smooth running drive, although the earlier ones had a very average sound and DCC system. You may also find BLI/PCM Big Boys (now made by MTH), which are all metal and are a step above Athearn. There are also a lot of Big Boys out there (mostly older ones) made by Rivarossi (AHM). The older ones with large flanges and a motor in the cab are nice, but they usually require some adjustment to work properly. The newest ones are good runners, but they have poor electrical pickup.
Darth Santa Fe I just now saw the post you made right before mine. The C-track and NEM standards means that it's the 3-rail version with large flanges. As far as I know, it's not compatible with any north american products, and you'd be pretty much restricted to one brand.
I am sorry, but that is not correct at all. If it is sold under the label of Trix, it is 2-rail DC/DCC and if it is according to NEM standard, you can definitively run it on code 100 track. Trix is also selling 2-rail C-track, but it is not recommendable.
Ah, I didn't realize Trix had 2-rail C-track. I've only heard of the Marklin 3-rail stuff. It's confusing when they give two different products the same name.
It looks like Trix does have an "Exclusiv" version made to NEM standards, with Code 100 flanges and Marklin couplers. http://www.trixtrains.com/bigboy01.html (scroll down a little) The one talked about here may be like that one, since they mentioned NEM standards.
Just for info - other than having NEM coupler pockets, Marklin 3-rail AC is more or less completely outside of NEM standards. As the European market leader (purely out of tradition) they can afford to do their own thing. When Trix and Fleischmann ventured into N scale (both were independent companies in those days), Marklin put Z scale into the market, just to be different again.
With the acquisition of Trix some years ago, Marklin did not only take over the excellent product development and research department of Trix, but also opened up the 2-rail DC market for "their" products. Both parties gained from the deal, the brand Trix was saved and Marklin made a step-up improvement in the detailing of their locos.
Back to the OP´s question:
When you buy a Trix Big Boy, you get a high quality product, which will give you a lot of joy operating on your layout. However, I cannot recommend to buy the set, as the track that comes with it, is "crap". 1.300 Can-$ does not sound like a good deal, either.