I am looking into BLI’s Hi-Rails and was wondering if anyone has had any experience with them. I’ve searched high and low, but cannot seem to find any reviews.
Does anyone have any input/advice on them? How well they run, any problems or idiosyncrasies they have? Are they worth the $?
Thanks!
I have the Southern Pacific Hi-Rail car which I believe they called the Superintendent’s Rail Inspection Vehicle – an older model Ford sedan. It has a custom NCE decoder installed and runs well for its size and light weight, but they require absolutely squeeky clean track.
Because of its small size only the rear axle is powered. In my opinion it’s worth the price I paid Factory Direct Trains but purely as a novelty item, not something you’ll be running every day.
I have the CB&Q version of the same thing, and I echo all the comments so far.
BLI is having a sale on them and I bought the SP early Ford unit as a novelty item. Waiting for its arrival.
Is this the unit you are talking about?
Those are the Trackmobiles. These are the Hi-railers:
Those trackmobilew look really cool.
But I about fell out of my chair when I saw the spec sheet:
Who is running 10" radius HO curves? I would like to see that in action!!!
Wow, the DCC version of the early Fords seems to have sold out but for one model. Glad I got in when I did. I did not think they would go that fast.
yeah, those hit right before Dad started sliding downhill. Glad you got your when you did, cause I didn’t. Harumph. /sarcasm
One of the little gags he and I were gonna do with those was to get a PRR and a RR police, strip off the police markings for stright black, and cover the other one in Police figures hanging off the side, A la the Keystone Kops. I may snatch the SP just so I have one.
Thank you, that is just the kind of info I was looking for! I never thought seriously about getting one, but with the sale going on I figured I’d give it a second look. It is just too bad they didn’t utilize some kind of USP power module with these, that would be ideal.
The trackmobiles are awesome! I’ve had one on my want list for a while but couldn’t justify the price. Now that they are on sale though, they are out of the road name I wanted. [:(]
If you watch the video on Factory direct Trains web site they never run it over any switch tracks. I have one of there Trackmobiles DCC version. All my frogs are live and it seems to run pretty good. I will be ordering one of the high railers as soon as I am done here. Novelty or not It is at a very cool price right now I think the DCC version is only $35.00 ready to run. The decoder would cost us that much and all the work of installing is already done. What a deal.
I received my early Ford Southern Pacific track inspection car today. Nice looking and excellent shipping on Factory Directs part. Only problem is it is in DC. I ordered the DCC version and was billed for that amount. Anyways sent off an email to factory direct to see what they say. I hope they held some back as they show it as being sold out. If they cannot come up with the correct one I will have to make a decision. One option would be to sell it here on the board as I cannot use the DC version anymore.
WPAllen, that is just torture! Waiting for it to arrive and when it finally does, you can’t even do anything with it. [sigh] I hope they get things straightened out for you, and in a timely manner too.
You guys have been very helpful and quite convincing, you should be receiving your commission checks from FDT soon, because I finally placed my order for one. I am pretty excited now, I’ll update when it arrives. [:)]
I might be ordering one of those trackmobiles later this week. Hopefully it runs ok on insulfrog switches.
They offered to take it back but they to not have a DCC one to exhange it for. Plus I would have to pay for the postage. I think I will just keep it for now. Just one of those things in life.
the DCC version you’ll need to toggle the CVs in to draw a little more power, and you may need to help it occasionally, but mine did pretty well.
Will the DC version not run on DCC at all then? (too much power or not enough?)
I bought a Conrail one this weekend - last DCC one they had in stock at the Tampa show. Now I have a question - has anyone tried to remove the shell to repaint it? It works well but I am terrified that I will destroy the delicate mechanism trying to repaint and weather it!
Its too bad they dont look even remotely prototypical.
One of the children at youth in model railroading had one they were running at the December & February shows. I was impressed, unfortunately all sold out from everywhere I could find.
By chance I found one on eBay a week ago. Arrived in the main Tuesday. Can’t wait to try it out. To bad I don’t have a layout.
Actually, they aren’t bad for a Ford truck. I’m not a Ford guy, but when I painted it that’s what the Front end screamed for. So I did the silver grill and dabbed a little blue in the center oval.