BLI UP Challenger reveal...

[MRLX1020]

So this quietly popped up today...

https://broadway-limited.com/collections/up-late-challenger-run1-2025

[reinhardtjh]

Interesting.  It's not in the Delivery Schedule page yet, but I have noticed that's how BLI works.  A new loco/run shows up first in the product page, then sometimes disappears for a little while, then shows up in the Delivery Schedule and product pages.

Notice based on the links, the Challenger *might* have been destined for 2025 but got pushed up?

Current links:
P4: https://broadway-limited.com/collections/up-late-challenger-run1-2025 - MSRP: $549
Stealth: https://broadway-limited.com/collections/stealth-up-late-challenger-run-1-2024 - MSRP: $449

I guess the Big Boy did well enough to warrant a similar era running mate. I wonder how Athearn feels?

I also noticed in this latest Delivery Schedule (6/29/23) that the Reading T-1 has been pushed to December 2023 even though the tooling is complete.

[mike_lawyer]

Well, I guess that must be the new steamer BLI was teasing.  I was hoping we would get a PRR steamer in there.  I guess we will just have to wait some more....

[thomasjmdavis]

I wonder how Athearn feels?

Athearn probably feels like a company with competitors, which is a good thing for us. Note that the Athearn versions are shown as in stock, with a lower MSRP. ($399 dcc ready, $499 w/wound -Tsunami2)
https://www.athearn.com/product/n-4-6-6-4-with-dcc-and-sound-up-3985-modern/ATH25741.html

I can't afford either of them right now (just paid for the new roof to keep the layout and furniture and carpeting, etc, dry)- and don't need them for my modeling purposes. And I'll leave it up to the experts here to determine which brand's Challenger is qualitatively better in terms of operation and detail.

[wmcbride]

Interesting.  It's not in the Delivery Schedule page yet, but I have noticed that's how BLI works.  A new loco/run shows up first in the product page, then sometimes disappears for a little while, then shows up in the Delivery Schedule and product pages.

Notice based on the links, the Challenger *might* have been destined for 2025 but got pushed up?

Current links:
P4: https://broadway-limited.com/collections/up-late-challenger-run1-2025 - MSRP: $549
Stealth: https://broadway-limited.com/collections/stealth-up-late-challenger-run-1-2024 - MSRP: $449

I guess the Big Boy did well enough to warrant a similar era running mate. I wonder how Athearn feels?

I also noticed in this latest Delivery Schedule (6/29/23) that the Reading T-1 has been pushed to December 2023 even though the tooling is complete.

I was under the impression from posts on here that the BLI Big Boy was plagued with problems. Were they, in fact, okay?

[reinhardtjh]

I was under the impression from posts on here that the BLI Big Boy was plagued with problems. Were they, in fact, okay?

Mark (Spookshow) had a lot of trouble with his and sent it back.  Other than that I don't recall much talk about them.  On various N-Scale Facebook groups they were generally liked but again, nothing overwhelming either way.  The N&W Y6b was very well liked, however.

I just did a search here and can't find much talk about performance.  Before release there was a lot about what details they should have and such but little else.  Unless I just totally missed it.

[nscaler711]

I'm not sure, but I vaguely remember saying something somewhere that I actually preferred the BLI Big Boy over the Kato... Which is odd since I am extremely biased towards Kato.
I'm so far in BLIs camp on this locomotive I don't think I could ever run steam in N w/o the silly smoke again. They nailed it... It runs smoothly, sounds decent even for Paragon granted I'm sure the Soundtraxx equipped Kato's sound better.
But it weighs 8.8oz which means it would likely pull the paint of your walls. I ran out of track doing a test of mixed freight. 

I want to mention that I do have Kato's version, and I like it as well, the fact that it has dual motors is nice as hell, watching the engines go in and out of sync is pretty cool. I'd love to pick one up with sound, but I've done blown my budget on both 4014s and a G scale 40-2... And... A certain bicentennial unit... Thanks Athearn for that surprise 

Im not a UP fan, but I'd probably consider 3985 as it was running around in the 90s if I'm not mistaken... Hopefully it gets the smokey treatment too; And no I don't care if you think it's too Lionel like.   

[wmcbride]

I have never been a steam guy but have picked up a few BLI steamers on sale or refurbished (Mikados, PRR T-1, and the Y6B). They all ran and sounded so much better than my earlier experience with BLI diesels -- like PAs and E8s. I pulled the Paragon out of the PAs and added Loksound per John Colombo's guide.

I shall keep an eye peeled for the BLI Big Boy since it appears that it might be more than OK despite Spookshow's bad experience with his.

[dem34]

Longshot, but I hope it does well enough they consider doing a D&H version. Only one I can internally justify unfortunately. 

[peteski]

I want to mention that I do have Kato's version, and I like it as well, the fact that it has dual motors is nice as hell, watching the engines go in and out of sync is pretty cool. I'd love to pick one up with sound, but I've done blown my budget on both 4014s and a G scale 40-2... And... A certain bicentennial unit... Thanks Athearn for that surprise 

How do you get them to go out of sync?  Both engines have very sticky traction tires, so there should not be any slippage, even under load.

Actually "out of sync" is not a very accurate description.  Most of the time the engines would be out of sync. It would be more like "changing degree of sync".  Only time the engines would be in-sync would be if the siderods were visually in identical position of both engines.  Then you would expect to hear only 4-chuffs per driver revolution. Otherwise, you get 8-chuffs per revolution, with varying degree of uneven chuff spacing.

Of course even if they do go out of sync, this would not result in the chuffs of a sound-equipped model to also change sync, since both motors are driven by a single motor driver (and combined BEMF is sensed).  Even if chuff cams were to be used on each engine, the decoders themselves  are not equipped for dual cams.  Maybe if 2 separate decoders were used (one for each motor) the effect would be audible.

[draskouasshat]

this is really getting old. how many of the same F-ing locomotive do we need?

Drasko

[dem34]

this is really getting old. how many of the same F-ing locomotive do we need?

Drasko

If thats what the market wants. MFGs need to put food on the table, and certain locomotives will always have a base demand.

[draskouasshat]

If thats what the market wants. MFGs need to put food on the table, and certain locomotives will always have a base demand.

Yet they could be cornering a market on other models they 5 other manufacturers haven't produced yet....

[peteski]

Yet they could be cornering a market on other models they 5 other manufacturers haven't produced yet....

We are all just making semi-educated guesses (at best). I wish we knew what goes on at the manufacturer's marketing and R&D departments when they select which new models to produce. 

[bigdawgks]

If thats what the market wants. MFGs need to put food on the table, and certain locomotives will always have a base demand.

But it makes you wonder why is there a large demand for a model from more than one manufacturer? You should think one of them would be the superior version and therefore have the most demand. Maybe it's just playing off of peoples' brand loyalty? I wish I had the luxury of choice for models I want. In any case the stagnation is concerning. Manufacturers need to make money for sure but they should at least show some innovation with that revenue.