I run HO scale and thinking about a GE AC 6000 in CXS colors. What is the big difference between Paragon 2 and 3?
What I do know is Paragon 3 can use there Rolling Thunder system. Don’t care that much about it so not a big deal. Paragon 3 has smoke, don’t want that either.
Are the motors and pulling power the same? Does the Paragon 2 use a QSI decoder? Pretty sure the Paragon uses Loksound.
Thanks for the coming answers.
Cuda Ken
Ken, I don’t believe, or maybe I should say I can’t believe, that BLI would be changing anything substantial in their drive mechanisms over the years. Apart from some repairs here and there, as their refurbished page shows, I think their basic design, engineering, and assembly manages to do the job from Paragon to Paragon. It’s the other things they tweak, like software, or a new decoder with new features, or they add details they might not have previously. An example is that Rolling Thunder system built into each Paragon 3.
I can’t say I know this for a fact, but I think it stands to reason. Had the good folks at that firm spent half a million on some serious hardware upgrades, you’d think they would have announced it widely in their marketing for the Paragon 3 locomotives. They did that for BlueLine, for the Brass Hybrids, for Rolling Thunder, why not for a 'new, improved and more powerful drive adding more traction?"
Paragon was QSI. Paragon 2 and 3 are their own decoders. Only the PCM models used Loksound decoders, they were sold under the PCM name, not BLI.
–Randy
Hi, Ken
I’m looking at my 2015 Broadway Catalog where they were bragging about all of the improvements in Paragon 3 over P2.
Today’s Paragon 2 is not QSI and Paragon 3 is not Loksound.
The main “new feature” was the addition of a transmitter board over the existing board which sends the low frequency signal out to a trackside receiver, then amplified and fed to a sub-woofer.
That little blue wire is the antenna. You can see the transmitter board stacked on top of the main board.
Other features that they were touting are:
2 selectable bells
4 times expanded Autopilot storage
1 long non-looped whistle
Expanded startup and shutdown sequences
Alternate whistle for locomotives with a second horn (?)
64 or 128 MB Sound memory (depending on locomotive
2 watt audio output
90 dB audio signal
…and about a dozen more “features” that really don’t amount to much.
If you want to look at them all you can go to pages 10-11 here:
http://www.broadway-limited.com/20162017bliproductguide.aspx
I have about a dozen Paragon 3 locomotives and they run every bit as good as any of their previous engines, Blue-Line, Stealth, QSI, Hybrid Series, Precision Scale, etc.
Like you, I don’t give a hoot about huffing and puffing smoke. I had a smoke unit go up in smoke and I happily ripped it out. Mind you, it was SWITCHED OFF with the switch under the cab.
The sou
Ken,
The original Paragon decoders were QSI. The Paragon 2 and 3 are their own proprietary decoders. The only BLI-related products that used Loksound decoders were the PCM (Precision Craft Models) locomotives.
Tom
Quite right. And not to slam BLI, but their steam chuff is the least “steamy” sounding of all the modern decoders. It’s very harsh and stacato like, especially at the higher chuff speeds. I do appreciate the bass hookup though in the paragon 3.
The HO Paragon 3 Steam Locomotives models come with steam, can you adjust that or turn it off?
It can be adjusted through CVs 336 and 237, and it can be turned off using F7 through the throttle, but you have to turn it off each time you select the locomotive.
Or, you can manually switch it off. As I mentioned above, I had one burn out and it took the decoder with it even though the manual switch was turned OFF.
IMG_8095_fix by Edmund, on Flickr
Regards, Ed
I’d really like to know what the failure mode was on that one. The switch is a true mechanical switch in the line to the smoke unit, it’s not some sort of electronic switch that could be bypassed by a decoder glitch. Either there’s a complete circuit from the decoder to the smoker or there’s an open circuit.
–Randy
Thanks Folks. Sorry it took me so long to reply, I did not know my question was moved to the DCC section.
So, the guts are the same far as motor and drive train.
Thank you all again, Ken
Yes.
Have a good one, Ken [:D]
Believe it or not they put cheap 3 pole can motors with copper finger brushes in the paragon 3. The decoder limits the motor current and controls the drive voltage so the engine performs smoothly at all speeds. The decoders do not last Even with the over current protection. I have 9 paragon 3 engines and almost as many decoders replaced. You notice how BLI touted 5pole skew wound motors from their birth in 2001 tthrou every version of QSI, and Paragon unt paragon 3? Paragon 3 states new high torque motors. Read correctly it is telling the truth, high torque high current motors from the late 70’s. They are identical to the ones atlas put In the 9in turntable motor kit. If you ask me they are making a tyco mistake almost as bad as the power torque motors of the late 70’s.
They are not even close
motor is from 70’s 3 pole can motor Take one apart and see for yourself
I am new to this and just about senior citizen. I bought 2 Paragon 3 and both motors died about an hour after running. I bought the rolling thunder system but now I will dump it and not buy any BLI trains again because this is expensive hobby and I feel I got ripped off by the poor quality of BLI. I am running N and seems lots of problems as maybe they can’t make it right that small. I also bought a Kato with sound, not cheap, first one with sound and died after about an hour. Sent it back and I told them to test the one they will replace it with so they did and that one has been running perfect for a long time. Quality of the Kato appears not up to they hype it seems. I got few Bachmann with DCC and Sound and never had a problem with any of them. I would like to know the best brand with the least problems, in N scale.
