New BLI Paragon 2 Reading T-1 first impressions

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
1

The order for our museum store came in last night, and a coupel fo the guys in the modular group had them reserved, so today they were out in force for the show we are currently doing (at the Railroad Museum of PA in Strasburg PA - show ends tomorrow). Having two of the older Loksound ones already, I was hoping they woudln;t be enough different to make me want one, but, well, I was wrong.

The sounds are VERY much improved - the chuffs are better, and you can increase and decrease them with F5 and F6 to simulate the loco working harder or drifting. You get the reverse gear sounds when changing direction. The bell is much clearer. The air pump is simply the best I’ve heard yet - it really sounds like the actual thing (and for comparison I could just walk outside and listen to the real thing across the street at the Strasburg RR). Pulling power seems improved somewhat - the same train an older PCM T-1 could not move without slipping, the new one just walked away with. The whistle sound is also much improved, playable with a DT40x throttle or an NCE ProCab/PowerCab, but it also has multiple endings you can trigger with a second press of F2 for some added variety.

And the smoke - the smoke actually works pretty well. You can turn it off with F7 but if the loco looses power it reverts back to on. Luckily, the boiler front easily pops off and inside is a small slide switch which truly turns off the power to the smoke generator - we don’t allow smoke on the layout.

I REALLY don;t need any more locos, certainly not a third T-1…but it is SO tempting especially as we have a show special price on them, it’s really hard to resist.Must - not - buy - new - loco…

–Randy

&n

2

Thanks for the update. I’m anxious about this one myself, I’ve been looking for videos of it every night for the past week, no luck.

3

Thanks for the info. You said you’re working an event at Strasburg? How long does it go for? Was today the last day or tomorrow?

4

Tomorrow is the last day, been here all week since last saturday.

I took soem video of the layout, first time really using this video camera so hopefully some of it came out. Don’t think I got anything but the basic chuffs though, the engineer had gotten alzy and wasn’t blowing for the crossings - and I set the camera right on the layout at a grade crossing to get a normal person’s view of things. If it came out clear it should be nice. Maybe tomorrow I can get him to hit the bell and blow the whistle as he comes past the crossing for some better sound.

–Randy

5

Randy, all things considered, it is a real pleasure reading your posts these past few months and getting a strong sense of your renewed enthusiasm and success. You had some dark days not too long ago, but I get the impression that you are rebounding very nicely and as keen and happy with your modeling success as ever. [:)]

-Crandell

6

I have been out there many times over the last several months including the Thomas days

I was biking again on Thursday but only went down to The Red Caboose Area for pics

Wish I knew you were set up [:(]