Just bought one on Ebay, sound equipped and all. How heavy are these sound units? Will they pull 30 cars on level track? I'm very anxious to get it because regardless of the pulling power I confident that it is going to be a hit on my layout this Christmas. It will be pulling a freight train comprising of mainly P2K rolling stock. These car roll really well so I'm confident that I can build up a train of at least 20 cars. Who has anything similar to this? Feel free to post some pics here. verse
Very heavy....... I do not have the mikado in stock but the other BLI steamers are like 4 lbs in the box and really hurt with $5.00 flat rate shipping to USA. I have not bought one and I have not test run one but I think it will be very nice and pull very well. Let us know how it is.
Happy to hear that they are heavy, I'm new to BLI products. My heaviest loco was a P2K SD60 until the BLI AC6000CW (SP) arrived. Man are they heavy. I love everything about that loco except pulling it apart. I was so impressed with BLI that I went and purchase a SD40-2 (MP), that too will be here in time for the Christmas show. I definately will be posting some pics of this loco on the layout, videos too. I would love to see what the Mikados look like in action though. BTW gentle men feel free to add some photos or vids of your BLI steamers not just the Mikados. verse
I've got the Class A 2-6-6-4, and she's a real work of art. Very heavy, very strong puller, very nice sound (once I turned down the volume control knob to a dull roar), and she never fails to bring a smile to non-railroading visitors when those wheels start spinnin, and the pistons start chuffing.
I have a pair of them - Just weighted one on the digital scale - 21 oz each. And yes, they pull very well! Jim Bernier
I also have become a fan of the BLI locomotives. I currently own three units one SD40-2 and two C30-7. I also have a Atlas Gold unit a Dash 8-40B. All the units I have so far with sound run and sound great.
Thanks for the replies gentlemen. I was a little misguided when I first started out buying locomotives. I wanted details and bought a whole lot of brass locos. I'm not saying that I regret buying brass it's that I would've had about thirty plus excellent performing locos with sound and pulling power and not have to go through the trouble of remotoring etc. As they say everything is for a reason and doing these repairs have taugh me a lot about model trains. Now I'm not afraid to take a engine apart in order to correct a problem (if that's the case). Keith or anyone else do you know where I can the appropriate sound unit for the BLI AC6000CW unfortunately mine is DC. BTW, I won two P2K SD60s w/dcc (no sound) on the weekend. Yeah Me!!! verse
Thanks Keith. I'm going to buy an undecorated version with sound and swap the shell. In the near future (after I get back form visiting my mother) I'll paint & decal the undec unit and add a generic sound decoder to it. I've listened to the sounds of the AC6000CW on the BLI website and I'm very impressed by it. I hope the SD40-2 is on the same level. As a matter of fact it should get to me on Friday. “I can't wait”. I also have a heavy Mikado on the way. verse
The heavy mike needs a bit of work doing to the front end to get the coupler replaced for a working one Nice runner though Jon
Thanks Jon. How is it on the tight curves after this modification? Do you have any video of this beauty in action? I would love to see it. I was watching a video with one the other day leading a P2k Mallet but the sound of the Mikado was drowned out by that of the Mallet, I must say that the video was still impressive though. verse2damax
Verse, Your welcome. Sorry it wasn't very helpful. Let us know how you like the SD40-2. Jon, Nice job!
Broadway Limited Locomotives I have three BLI locomotives, One is the 2-8-2 heavy Mike. My layout is all grade ~ 1% and she will handle 22 40' Athearns with metal wheels plus caboose with some difficulty and wheel spin. This is without traction tires which I am sure will add 3-5 or more cars plus stop the wheel spin. Second is my 4-8-4 Northern which is slippery on 2% grades, but pulls well on 1% track, 15 or so cars. The box has a set of traction tires that I will install when I get around to it. The third is an RSD15 which has not been load tested. Problems with BLI? 1- Plastic couplers on an expensive locomotive does not make sense to me. 2- The RSD15 had a bad speaker and BLI wanted to send me a new speaker instead of me sending it it. They claimed 6-8 week turn around and it always takes 3-4 emails to get to them, never got a return phone call. I like to never figured out how to get the shell off, then trying to get it back on was equally difficult. A couple of little detail parts are yet to be replaced. Not a happy camper with their service. 3- The 4-8-4 has tender wheels out of gauge. They sent new ones. My experience with my 6 P2K Locomotives is a similar story.
No problem Keith. Along with the BLI Mopac SD40-2 I'll also be picking up a P2K FA1 & FB1 set also MP. I will let you know what I think of them as soon as I get a chance to test them. verse
