So you know . . .

I have not switched to modeling the northwest in the steam era or any other time. I acquired the SP&S Northern simple to do this month's column without having to harp on the NYC or the PRR yet again. With that said, I found the BLI SP&S Northern to be a great model. It both runs great and looks great. I weathered it to appear in well-maintained condition, but in regular service. This is one really nice model!

Jim Six

This model will be going up on eBay

so everyone knows

So everyone knows, this model in new. I removed it from its box, test run it on my former layout, and it runs very well, then I weathered it and put it back in its box.

Broadway Limited calls it a brass hybrid model. I will state that it is mostly brass The boiler, cab, tender and almost all of the model is brass. I believe the chassis is case. Because of this, I call it a brass model. Either way, it runs super good, and the detail on the model is phenomenal. If I was modeling the northwest in the 1940s and 1950s I would never part with it. It is that good.

Jim Six

I got one

Based on the strength of the article I ordered one.  Right out of the box it would not run.  BLI sent me photos showing what screws to remove to take off the boiler.  Took it apart.  Could not find an obvious problem.  Only thing I did was turn the flywheel with my fingers.  Now it runs.

It runs smooth and with the sound off is the quietest HO loco of any that I have ever heard.  Low speed performance is lacking.  Does not crawl at low speed and does a mild jack-rabbit start.  I'm hoping some decoder adjustments will fix it.  Over all I I quite happy with it.

The one I have ran perfectly

Thanks for the feedback Ted. The one I have ran perfectly right out of the box. I did not adjust anything, It remains box-stock in new condition except for the weathering I applied. The model's detail is excellent.

Jim

Interesting article. A

Interesting article. A different prototype for sure than the usual models selected. Maybe a lower cost large articulated might be in the future, say a class A or Y from Broadway. I have modified a pair of 2-10-4s from Broadway and added about 5 oz of weight to them. The pair can easily drag a 125 car train of coal cars around the club layout all day with out issue.

Looking forward to the next installment of steam era modeling.