I read on TrainOrders that the new MR has a review of the PCM and Genesis Big Boy. Since I don’t have the new MR as of today, I was hoping someone would give details of the review if you have the new MR.
Thanks
It’s basically two independent reviews with very little comparison between the two. By that I mean they don’t go to any trouble to really compare features and say why one was better than the other. Since the Athearn has an MRC sound decoder, I was hoping to see a little more in-depth critical review of that system, as compared to the QSI (?) (edit: it’s a LokSound decoder, as pointed out by cacole below) one in the PCM model. They did make a comment in the Athearn writeup about the cylinder piston and crossheads being plastic, then a corresponding comment in the PCM writeup about the same components being metal. Overall the comments were pretty generic and somewhat positive for both models.
The summary at the end stated that they are both great models and the deciding factors would be whether you wanted a plastic shell or die-cast shell, and one other insignificant criteria (IMHO) I can’t remember (edit: I believe the other criteria was traction tires on Athearn vs. no traction tires on PCM). However, I believe the major deciding factor for most everyone would be [i]cost[/i], since the PCM model costs about 2x as much as the Athearn.
Also, it would have been nice if they could have expanded the article to include a few more of the Big Boy models that are out there from other manufacturers. Seems like everyone makes a version of the Big Boy.
One really nice thing about the article is they had a great two-page spread side-by-side comparison photo of both models. Personally, I like the look of the PCM model because the silver on the smokebox and firebox is more subdued, and I don’t really care for the silver “hubcaps” on the Athearn tender wheels.
I was disappointed to read that the Athearn Genesis model is still going to have an MRC Vibranta sound system despite all of the bad things users have been saying about other models with this decoder. It appeared to me that the MR review was going more on outward appearance alone and not on any prolonged operational testing of either model.
The Athearn Genesis model is going to be cheaper because it’s plastic instead of die cast, and it has the MRC sound decoder as opposed to the ESU LokSound decoder in the Precision Craft model. The review indicates that the Athearn engine weighs 41 ounces and the PCM version is 55 ounces. Despite being heavier, Athearn’s drawbar pull was measured as more than PCM’s, probably because it has traction tires and the PCM does not. The PCM model also has a fan driven smoke generator, and the Athearn doesn’t.
I can’t wait to see the article and want to thank you for the update. I have both models and wanted to see what MR thought about them in comparison, but they rarely do that.
Thanks for the reply. All MR reviews seem to me to be outward apprearance in general and very little on actual operation except for current draw, draw bar pull and slow and fast speeds… When you take advertisers money, you must say nice things in general. I have never heard anyone from a magazine say what they must really think about the MRC Genesis sound. I prefer to run mine without the chuffs since they use function 6 for switching the chuffs to wheel sounds over a certain speed. Function 6 still has the Conductor yelling Boooaard when you are stopped, but it has double duty and changes the chuffs to general wheel sound at about 15 mph. How many freight engines do you know that has a conductor yelling Board at start up. Maybe he telling the engineer and fireman to get on board.
All in all, the Genesis Big Boy is priced right and you can install a Tsunami for $79 dollars more. It is well worth the money compared to the price of the P
I have to agree with the Tsunami sound - I have two Loco’s with it (a Challenger & an Allegheny (sp?) ) and they sound much better than what they had at the store. I also have a PMC on order (no sound). I wish I would have ordered them when they had “Demo” models for half price!
LAte
Loco
The tender trucks can be painted. A fellow club memeber has the PCM Big Boy and his does have traction tires! I have 2 Rivarossi Big Boys with traction tires and they keep coming off. I hope the Genesis and PCM models don’t have the same problem.
Dick
Texas Chief
He may think it has traction tires, but the PCM from the factory does not have traction tires, unless his is modified.
The list below is from the PCM page and my PCM Big Boy does not have traction tires.
The PCM engine pulls better than the Trix also since they are slightly heavier than the trix. The Athearn also pulls well, but I have lost a traction tire from one of my Challengers already and expect the same from the Genesis Big Boy.
Features:
- Beautifully Detailed, Accurately Modeled Locomotive and Tender Body
- Authentic Design, Paint and Color Schemes
- Authentic Sounds with Articulated Chuff (Sound Equipped Units Only) and Prototypical Operation
- Many Separately Applied Details Including Brass Bell / Rails
- Detailed Backhead
- Operating Cab-roof Vents
- Constant Intensity Directional Lighting
- Lighted Number Boards
- Factory Installed Painted Fireman and Engineer Figures
- Smoke Cover, Separately Packaged
- Fan Driven Smoke Unit with User Controlled On/Off
- Heavy Weight Pulling Power with Metal Wheel Tire (no traction tires)
- Locomotive Composition:
The irony about the Big Boy models is they keep on selling. Right now, a few left over Trix Big Boys are being sold, the PCM model is out and selling well. The Genesis model is out and selling fairly well and the Hornby/ Rivarossi is now on the market. We have three current Big Boys and a few Trix models that are selling at a brisk pace.
Does anyone have a reason for the continued success of these models??
I would have thought the HO market for Big boys would be very bad and prices would be going down, but they keep selling.
The PMC will be my second BB - and I will (some day) buy 4 more. I currently plan to build my layout around them (as well as my Challengers). With the larger turns, my heavy-weight passenger cars will aslo look better. What could be cooler than double heading two BB’s up a steep grade!
The Big Boys look great at the head of a train and the normal helper was a Challenger in the days prior to the third track on sherman hill. There are a few pictures of two Big Boys on a train, but that was rare indeed.