Hi,
I ordered three Class J 4-8-4 from FDT today and I would like some opinions how good they are. I’ve been looking for one of those and at 99$ I just couldn’t resist the temptation. So how do they run? Hpw many passenger cars will they pull up a 2% grade. I’m thinking of putting about six lightweight passenger cars behind each of them.
Magnus
I like BLI my J’s very much, but they have sound installed. The J’s have the traction tire option and should pull many more than the six or seven car trains the prototypes pulled. The N&W J’s also puledl some local trains that were longer and had some heavy weights baggage cars, but the name trains were usually fairly short.
I got to railfan the N&W in Virginia during the summer of 1956 and they were a delight to watch.
You should enjoy the BLI J also. Nice bright white headlight too!
They don’t have the traction tires installed right? I don’t like them very much.
I will look for some freight cars they can pull. Then I can use one as that and the other two can be run as commuter trains.
Magnus
This was the first engine I bought. It runs great. I have pulled over 15 cars with no issues and the engine has never derailed. I would believe you will be please. The one I got is DCC and sound. Let us know what you think.
I will, hopefully I will have mine by next Friday.
This is a loco I’ve been looking for quite some time but I was under the impression that they where sold out.
Magnus
I got one a few weeks ago…a real bargan at $79! When I put it one the track to test it out it ran about 1 inch and stopped…it would back up about a inch and stop again. Took it to the workbench and I found a brake hanger was installed outside one of the side rods. Simple enough to fix so I decided to do it myself. After I removed the bottom cover and corrected the hanger issue the loco ran worst! Taking it apart I found that when I pulled the bottom plate one wheel bearing had spun 90 degrees. This caused the drive gear to not mesh correctly. It took me a while to get everything back right but when I did the loco ran GREAT. After about 45 minute break-in it is now one of the best runners I have…and detail is fantastic.
I have a Pennsy M1a along with the J and I am now waiting for the Pennsy J1…
My opinion is it is a very good engine, and a great deal at anything under $125.
In the '50s, while the Arrow was usually 6 lightweight coach cars and a boattail, or less, the Js often pulled Cavaliers, Tennesseans, and/or Pokeys that loaded up to over 20 cars with the additional head-end traffic (and maybe dead Southern E units). A J might not have still been going 60 by the time she got to the top of Blue Ridge, but they made it.
i own several bli’s. they all run great the only problem i got is the 4-8-4 hates anything under 20 degree radius curve.
My BLI N&W J runs great on 18" atlas snap track on my little layout…looks odd…but runs fine!
I have two with DCC and sound. I got the first one from trainworld, for $129. I liked it so much, I bought another one, but the price had gone up to $159, still a bargain. I pull a 30 car coal train with one, and a passenger train with the other. They both run great, but I had to install the traction tires to get the coal train up a 2 1/2 % grade. The ones I have, came with an extra set of drivers, with the traction tires installed. You just swap the traction tire drivers for the plain ones. Pretty simple. They run great.
For everyone:
Who makes the best passenger cars to put behind one of these beauties? And what would a normal consist have been? Thanks…
Joe