Who still wants to add a UP 4-8-8-4 Big Boy to their collection ?...

[Tracklayer]

Though my train buying is going to be shut down for a full year because of the stupid New Years resolution I made for 07, I'm going to return in 08 with a vengence!... The first item on my list is going to be a UP 4-8-8-4 Big Boy. Right now the largest loco I own is a 2-8-8-2 Mallet, and when I first got it I thought it was big.

Tracklayer

[simon1966]

Since your resolution is not in effect yet for 4 weeks get it now and still keep the resolution.

Besides. with limited production runs, the liklihood of any of the current crop still being available in 12 months is small.

[Leon Silverman]

Besides. with limited production runs, the liklihood of any of the current crop still being available in 12 months is small.

      I seriously wonder if this is true of the Big Boy since it is offered by at least three different manufacturers (BLI, Athearn, and Hornby).  Now, if you were interested in a protypically specific piece of rolling stock that is offered by Westerfield in resin,  these are trully limited run.  The worst that is likely to happen is that a particular version of a version of the Big Boy is temporarily out of stock until a new run is produced.   The train hobby market is such that there is not enough demand for any one model to remain in constant production.  Instead, particular models are produced in batches, stopped, and started up again using the same components but decorated for a different railroad.  This is how companied by Athearn, Bowser, BLI, and Walthers, toname a few, are able to offer such a large varity of roadnames.    

[Anonymous]

No real need for one.  I think the only arty that would probably drop everything for is a DM&IR Yellowstone.

[selector]

I already have the UP Challenger from Lionel on my rather small 9' X 14' freelanced layout, the largest by quite a margin.  I don't think a Big Boy would add greatly to the overall theme or appearance.  If I ever got a hankering for one, I would probably place it on a plinth under glass and display it more often than I would have it on the layout.  So, nope...

Now, when BLI ever gets around to Round II of their PRR Duplexes....

[Texas Zepher]

No real need for one.  I think the only arty that would probably drop everything for is a DM&IR Yellowstone.

I don't want a Big Boy,  I've already got a Yellowstone, so what I want is an NP Z6.

[Master of Big Sky Blue]

I do, however since I model the Great Northern RR and a fully operating Big Boy would be a huge out lay of funds. I have decided to go the economical Static Monogram/Con-Cor/Revell model.

James

[coborn35]

No real need for one.  I think the only arty that would probably drop everything for is a DM&IR Yellowstone.

YOU SIR ARE A GREAT MAN!!

Same here.

[gear-jammer]

Is your 2-8-8-2 Mallet a Proto 2000?  That is my favorite in our collection right now.  I am dreaming of a Challenger, but have not found one that will match NP.

Have fun dreaming. 

Sue

[SteamFreak]

No real need for one.  I think the only arty that would probably drop everything for is a DM&IR Yellowstone.

YOU SIR ARE A GREAT MAN!!

Same here.

Big Boy? Already gots wun! I throw my vote in for a Yellowstone as well. Gorgeous engine!

Nelson

[TrainFreak409]

I would add a Big Boy to my collection if I could...But there isn't an N scale one available...

So it looks like I'll have to settle for an Athearn Challenger when I have the money to drop down on one!

[techmike]

I'm just starting to get back into model railroading and need a engine for my old Lionel HO set. The Big Boy always caught my eye. The problem is the price range varies so much I don't know what features are needed or just fluff. Can anyone recommend a good tech sauce ?

[tstage]

Not me.  For two reasons:

1. NYC didn't have one in their roster
2. It wouldn't look good negotiating my 22" radius curves.  (Let alone even make it through my Snap turnouts.

IMO, there needs to be a moratorium on manufacturing Big Boys for a few years.  Produce some less often produced models on the market for a change.  (I know, I know.  The manufacturers primary reason for making locomotives is to "make money" for the investors.)

Personally, I'd like to see a 4-8-2 L1 or L2 Mohawk produced in plastic.  My other choice would be an ALCO HH600.

Tom 

[AggroJones]

I finally broke down and bought the Genesis BB. Though it does have many flaws, it looks great and runs okay. Problem is that is so friggin BIG. So much overhang. Snagging and smashing into stuff far way from the curved track. I need to either tear apart some areas of scenery to accomedate him, or just have it so the monster can only run on certain tracks on the SP&E.

[Tracklayer]

Is your 2-8-8-2 Mallet a Proto 2000?  That is my favorite in our collection right now.  I am dreaming of a Challenger, but have not found one that will match NP.

Have fun dreaming. 

Sue

Hi Sue. Yes, as a matter of fact it is a Proto 2000.

Tracklayer 

 

[SteamFreak]

I finally broke down and bought the Genesis BB. Though it does have many flaws, it looks great and runs okay. Problem is that is so friggin BIG. So much overhang. Snagging and smashing into stuff far way from the curved track. I need to either tear apart some areas of scenery to accomedate him, or just have it so the monster can only run on certain tracks on the SP&E.

That's the whole point of a Big Boy. It isn't worth it if you can't take out some trees or a row of telegraph poles.

What are the flaws you mentioned? Anything significant?

Nelson

BTW, anyone else notice how many Big Boy threads are cropping up the closer we get to Christmas?

[Anonymous]

I probably will not, I did view the recent PCM Big Boy vs Genesis Big Boy videos on this website and I gotta tell ya, that PCM BIG BOY has what it takes. But not at 3000 dollars. I see the discount at the LHS minus the sales tax and the result is still over one year's total hobby expenditure. Repeat after me: D I V O R C E LOL. =)

 I have the Proto QSI Y-3 duplicating the old Western Maryland #917 back when she was operating and it's plenty big enough for me. My problem is what to do with the engine if she is not serving as a helper or lugging coal down from the mine.

[navygunner]

Nope, no Big Boy for me, saving my pennies for another N Scale Yellowstone.  Everytime I get near the layout, I have to put the one I have on the tracks!  There's nothing better than watching it slowly pull 40 cars up a 2% grade with no slipping or stalling!

[BRVRR]

I would love to have one, but the NYC didn't have any. Even with modeler's license, it would probably be too big for the BRVRR.

I did buy an Athearn Challenger for my grandson's Christmas present. It is a little big, but it navigates the whole BRVRR, 18" radius curves, snap-switches and all.

I did think about the Bachmann 2-6-6-2 for the BRVRR in NYC. They had a couple of them, but I think they were switchers.

In any case, I would like to have a BB, even if I could only look at it.

[Anonymous]

I probably will not, I did view the recent PCM Big Boy vs Genesis Big Boy videos on this website and I gotta tell ya, that PCM BIG BOY has what it takes. But not at 3000 dollars. I see the discount at the LHS minus the sales tax and the result is still over one year's total hobby expenditure. Repeat after me: D I V O R C E LOL. =)

 I have the Proto QSI Y-3 duplicating the old Western Maryland #917 back when she was operating and it's plenty big enough for me. My problem is what to do with the engine if she is not serving as a helper or lugging coal down from the mine.

The MSRP on the PCM Big Boy is around $500, not $3000..... still expensive though! Perhaps you saw the price tag on the brass PCM Big Boy?

[Noah Hofrichter]

No real need for one.  I think the only arty that would probably drop everything for is a DM&IR Yellowstone.

Chris, you mean you didn't try to buy Max's (or at least I thought that's what he had)? I bet you could have gotten it real cheap.....

Noah

[Anonymous]

I probably will not, I did view the recent PCM Big Boy vs Genesis Big Boy videos on this website and I gotta tell ya, that PCM BIG BOY has what it takes. But not at 3000 dollars. I see the discount at the LHS minus the sales tax and the result is still over one year's total hobby expenditure. Repeat after me: D I V O R C E LOL. =)

 I have the Proto QSI Y-3 duplicating the old Western Maryland #917 back when she was operating and it's plenty big enough for me. My problem is what to do with the engine if she is not serving as a helper or lugging coal down from the mine.

The MSRP on the PCM Big Boy is around $500, not $3000..... still expensive though! Perhaps you saw the price tag on the brass PCM Big Boy?

Oh they had it in plastic? Hmm... All I saw was the brass in all it's piped glory on the PCM webpage LOL.

[1shado1]

I probably will not, I did view the recent PCM Big Boy vs Genesis Big Boy videos on this website and I gotta tell ya, that PCM BIG BOY has what it takes. But not at 3000 dollars. I see the discount at the LHS minus the sales tax and the result is still over one year's total hobby expenditure. Repeat after me: D I V O R C E LOL. =)

 I have the Proto QSI Y-3 duplicating the old Western Maryland #917 back when she was operating and it's plenty big enough for me. My problem is what to do with the engine if she is not serving as a helper or lugging coal down from the mine.

The MSRP on the PCM Big Boy is around $500, not $3000..... still expensive though! Perhaps you saw the price tag on the brass PCM Big Boy?

Actually, the PCM Big Boy lists for $650 for the non sound & DCC version.  Sound & DCC equipped lists for $750.

 

Jeff