I wish I could make up my mind. As I posted I going to buy a new Articulated engine. I had my mind set on a Bachmann H-4. Then I stumbled on a Blue Line Big Boy, and it got me thinking about another one again.
I can a Blue Line for $300.00 or the new Athearn for $340.00 so cost is pretty much the same. I have a motor decoder for the Blue Line so that is a none factor.
Sound quality is the most important thing to me. I have a PCM Big Boy with a Loksound 3.5 decoder and love it.
A member here has stated he has Blue Line, PCM, Athearn and Trix Big Boys, I would love there advices!
I lean toward the Paragon’s rather then the Blue line’s I have heard of a few guys I know had some issues with the Blue-Line’s if I’m not mistaken the complaints were all sound related.
Look at you tube there are some big boys videos there, like Athearn maybe a blue line and also there is my Trix big boy there that i had Steve Gill from Ulrich model trains install the Qsi revolution U decoder in. I have a Athearn big boy with sound that has the mrc decoder in and i think I’m going to put the revolution U in that also.
Its a tough call. The blue line has marker lights on the tender, which I love. The athearn doesn’t have lit markers, but on the other hand has outstanding illuminated number boards, which the blue line seems to lack.
Athearn’s headlight looks a little greenish, and the construction of the loco is plastic, whereas the blue line is mostly metal I think.
Have not actually seen a Blueline BB ,just a strong BLI fan , have seen a Athearn BB and was not impressed with its sound also while the lighted number boards are a nice touch felt they were way too bright…overpowering as it were.