Both models are excellent and sound great, Both companies should keep the big steamers coming
The PCM Big Boy has outstanding sound, considering HO scale limits speaker size, compared to O and G. The whistle leaves something to be desired. The chuffs at a crawl were excellent. Still waiting for a sound-equipped GS-4 Daylight!
The PCM “Big Boy” is exceptional in every way.
Superbe
The sound and quality is far superior than the Athern unit. My only complaint other than the price, would be that when they filmed the video, the didn’t have the smoke unit working.
Makes me wish I had the money for one. I would have to go with the Athearn model because of the quality for the price. The video was nice except I wish you had put more light on the lower part of the engine. It would be nice to see the drivers and rods doing their thing.
Awesome! Can’t wait to get one to pull my coal trains up the grade!!!1
Sounds and looks great! I would like to see one in N-scale.
Sounds are great!! The whistle/horn ? was a bit confusing but it can be prototypical for this loco. And what power!!
If you compare the PCM to Athearn at low speed you will notice the Athearn tends to lunge foward with each driver revolution—kinda like Bachman standard steam engines do. The PCM exhibits no such tendencies. The bell on the PCM is just not right in my view----should be lower pitch like the Lionel Challenger. Overall, the metal chassis makes a huge difference! For $100 more it just might be worth it----considering it’s about as nice as a TRIX BigBoy costing $200 more!
BEAUTIFUL engine I think the engine sounds wonderfully. The sound comes out great.And me being a big UP fan I think the engine is excilent(forgot how to spell excilent)?
Bad whistle & bell. No need for the bad sound.
Very nice running engine. I’m not crazy about the whistle & scratchy chuffs. My Rivarossi 2-6-6-6 can out pull it. I wish it came with traction tires considering I paid $750.
Locomotive is excellent and runs very smooth even when pulling a good load up a gradient, I own 1 die cast model and i was even luck enough to get my hands on a brass big boy. being a huge UP fan i gotta say well done to PCM for this excellent model loco
I just watched this video and was very impressed with the sound effects. I would like to hear the MTH challenger in comparison but I bet they would be very close. If I were to purchase one of these models, I would probably opt for the MTH Challenger due to my experience with the two companies products, however I would do more research before deciding. This is, no doubt, a very fine model of the Big Boy with excellent performance and detail with attention to accuracy. For those that quiver at the price, remember Athearn’s beautiful Big Boy model is being released again with upgraded electronics that should be priced a bit lower due to the plastic vs. metal body castings. I beleive both Big Boys are made by the same company. Maybe we can see a video comparison of the two; Hint, Hint.
I have just purchased a DC only version of one of these and I am very impressed! It looks excellent and runs just as well. I plan to install a QSI DCC/sound system in the tender with longer throw bass speakers & baffling. I also have a Trix Big Boy with sound. Both these models are very close. Trix has the best drive train with metal gears vs. plastic and the lighted number boards are more clear. The detail on both models is top notch but the PCM has a more realistic final finish than the Trix. The PCM will pull more cars but both models will pull more cars than most people can run on a layout, even up grades. I like the jeweled marker lights on the PCM vs. black plastic on the Trix. The sound on the Trix is OK but could be improved with a newer twin speaker design and upgraded funtion features. MTH has just released a new Big Boy that should be the same as PCM but with lighted marker lights & Cab light, Smoke unit, DCC/DCS with back EMF & updated sound set for the same pricing. I must have one!