I'm in the process of shipping my C&O T-1 back to the BLI service department for the THIRD TIME! The other two BLI engines I own, the Reading T-1, and the PRR J-1 have been back for repairs seven times between them. I figure I've spent over $200.00 on postage and repair fees including repairs done under warranty. Now, I truly admire the concept behind BLI locomotive offerings, especially the steamers BUT I really think they must absolutely develop more robust and reliable mechanisms! I've experienced electrical glitches, mashed gears, a burnt out motherboard and just now gears grinding with the engine stalling while the sound system goes on chuffing as the engine sits motionless. My PRR "J" suffers from intermittent sound and light action but I don't dare try and have it fixed because at least it's running well for now. I've seen BLI engines put on impressive displays of power and systems performance at train shows but I really believe that the money we spend on these locos should result in MUCH BETTER reliability than mere "luck of the draw"!
Jim.
It is too bad you seem to have a few lemons. My Blueline J1 came with a broken idler gear. BLI service sent the gears to me and I replaced them and has run without issues since. One of my I1sa from the first PCM run has broken the axle gear and a wire from the rear tender truck to the decoder was pinched between the decoder and frame. I fixed that also. Then recently a wire from the tether in the tender to the loco broke. I had a spare tether from an earlier part order. That has been the brunt of the failures for me. My T1 does not run much and had no problems so far and my Paragon 2 I1sa has been great also. My Blueline series M1b has run flawlessly for hundreds of hours. One day it ran for 8 straight hours without stopping at a train show. Out of seven BLI steam locos I feel lucky that only 2 have had issues. I can also repair them myself so I don't have to ship them off to Florida.
Good luck and don't be too disappointed. BLI service has been good to me so far.
Pete
I pray every day I break even, Cause I can really use the money!
I started with nothing and still have most of it left!
Jim, it sounds dreadful. I would write a formal letter to them and ask them for some compensation. It's not like you are demanding money in addition to a warranty repair for the sake of inconvenience or for 'pain and suffering'. A locomotive returned more than twice is a fault of theirs, not yours. Why should you continue to pay for their mistakes!!?
Apart from that disappointment, I have had excellent repair service from BLI. I had two that were my fault done for free early on in my hobby time, but those that I had to pay for were also done well with no further problems once I began to run them after receipt. Out of 16 purchases, whether from BLI's refurbished department (4) or from etailers, I have had five (5) locos go back. Only two were their fault: a Stealth DC J Class into which I have a Tsnami placed, and my new Q2's light wouldn't work. The J's drive was lurching. It was a broken gear. I messed with my first loco, a Hudson 4-6-4's wiper tines and broke one. I dropped my prized Y6b Mallet (WaaaaaAAAHHHH!!), and I switched around an axle on reassembling my Niagara's tender and fried the decoder. I have not had to return a loco for a second repair.
I can absolutely understand how steamed you are.
-Crandell
I have but two BLI locomotives and have never had an issue with either of them. My Mikado was purchased in 2004 and the Hudson in 2005. Both have put in hundreds of hours on the layout and survived some rough handling from my grandsons as well.
I guess I've been lucky, but then again with just two locomotives, I haven't pushed up against the odds.
Sorry for your troubles, but when they are operating right, I don't think there is a better steam/sound locomotive produced anywhere.
Remember its your railroad
Allan
Track to the BRVRR Website: http://www.brvrr.com/
Why are you paying postage?
In the two instances where I had to return a loco for repair, BLI assigned an RMA to it and they paid the postage.
Rich
Alton Junction
I've had good ones and bad ones. My older cab forward and my J1e Pacific both lost their chuffs early on. I intended sending them in while still under warrantee but a friend was going to do the job and never did. So... BLI sent me replacement chuff sensors with instructions and I'll get it done eventually.
My Mikes (one their original series with QSI and a Blueline Heavy Mike with their own sound system (pre-Paragon 2) have both behaved flawlessly and are my most dependable steam locos. The newer P2 version of the cab forward has been fine.
I was really "lusting" after a Santa Fe 4-8-4 but I've seen SO many reviews and youtube videos/reviews that have shown this particular model to be having many issues (mostly, it seems decoder based) that I just didn't want to bother, considering the money involved. Maybe down the road sometime with a model I can see running. I do not have the luxury of a LHS in our area so would have to order.
So...even though there is an element of risk involved, I have to say that BLI and Factory Direct Trains have both bent over backwards to talk over an issue and offer to repair it or send free parts to (try) to do it myself. Overall I really like their products and selection, but DEFINITELY agree quality control needs to be vastly improved before I feel safe pulling the trigger on another purchase.
To be fair ALL manufacturers have their lemons from time to time, but BLI seems to be having more in the last couple of years. (The Dreyfus Hudson, Daylight 4-8-4, etc.
Jim
Raised on the Erie Lackawanna Mainline- Supt. of the Black River Transfer & Terminal R.R.