I have a friend who is selling an older model bigboy made by rivarrosi he mentions that it works fine and pulls 80 cars on a flat strech of track, i don’t know if he did try it out, and he’s asking about 300 bucks, is it worth while or not?
NO
You can a newer digital model for about $80.00 less then that. It’s worth about 1/2 that. You can get a NEW Broadway one for that much, and they have DCC and SOUND. The sound works on both DC & DCC.
I have one that is about 25 years old. $300 is about what I paid for it new but that was in early 1980’s dollars so figure that would be $800 today. If I thought I could get $300 for mine today, I’d sell it in a heartbeat. I just don’t see it fetching that price but I could be wrong.
The list price of the new Hornby/Rivarrosi Big Boy is $299.00, the discounters are already selling them for less Trainworld has it for $249.99 http://www.trainworld.com/2005_ho_scale.htm the new model has updated motor and electrics and the lower profile wheel sets. Some of the old Big Boys had huge flanges. There is no way an old one is worth $300 in todays market.
Doc, you need a better friend. I am on a big boy quest as well and the prices listed are correct. Offer him $150.00 and have a copy of Train worlds current ad in hand.
Cuda Ken
Have one. if you are going DCC just get the Genesis Big BOy and put in a Tsunami, you will not regret it. The OLDER Rivarossi is a question of WHAT box. Red Box, easy DCC and a nice running model. OLD box (Yellow/Blue) Flanges are iffy at best and it runs ok on DC. Mine is a red box and runs perfect with the decoder.
Now as far as price, look on EBAY you will see COLLECTOR grade (never opened never run all the papers) for Around $300.00 plus. THe smart money is on getting newer but if you heart is set on a Rivarossi, look arounfd they are as low as $95.00.
The older ones had large flanges with a three pole motor and are not worth more than the $25 to $50 that they cost from the discount houses in the 70’s era. I have three of those that were never used. The reason they were never used is they are basic junk and are used as background detail in roundhouses or house tracks. Weathered up with installed brakeshoes, they don’t look too bad.
Only the last run in the late 1996 era is worth buying and they are very poor in detail. All of the Rivarossi Big Boys have drivers that are undersized, about 63" scale instead of 68" like the prototype.
Buyer beware of the older units for sure.
They go for $300 mint in the box on ebay to collectors. But that’s because they quit making them. If his is ran, it isn’t worth anywhere near that. The older ones run OK but not for long. The motors and gearboxes are junk. IHC should be doing them again and watch the bottoms of the old ones fall out. LOL…If I wanted something to run, I would rather pay a little more for a new Athearn Challenger or Big Boy. The Rivarossi is only good as a plastic shelf display piece.
$300.00 for a brand new one from Hornsby/Rivarossi maybe but if you are patient you can find the new release B Boy on ebay for less from a dealer or as preiously noted get an Athearn Genesis Big Boy for just a little more. If you are dead set on the Rivarossi the quick way to tell it’s age range is check the flange size of the drivers RP 25 (90’s production and up)will run on code 80 track the big flanges need code 100 period. If the motor is in the cab exposed at the back its an old production locomotive,the newer Rivs have the motor in the boiler (flywheel equipped-much smoother and quieter running), any version of the Riv B Boy won’t hold a candle to the newer Athearns, Precision Craft or the Trix/Marklin for detail. Happy hunting dr.bones!
His asking price for that old a locomotive is unreasonable. The older models had traction tires on some of the drivers, so it may be able to pull as much as he claims.
With the older “exposed” motor Big Boys, there was also 2 variations. The oldest ones had a squared-off 3 pole motor in the cab, while newer ones had a rounded 3 pole motor in the cab.
I am not sure which ran better, but if you have an older square motor, I would think it is probably more likely to be more worn out because of it’s age.
Yep.
I have the Rivarossi first run one. Yes I’m talking about the 1960’s version.
I just got it to run, because it had some pickup issues, but what do expect from an engine that hasn’t been run for 30 years?
thanks for all the info i was kinda iffy about it too think i’ll pass on it to