For any who it may concern, that shorting issue is not just a track problem. To stage the story, I recently purchased two of these pacific engines from BLI's refurbished outlet store. Both of these engines ran fair enough, however both would consistently short out on the frog of switches (Kato in my case) when the pilot of either engine would pass. Upon further investigation (after ripping my track apart and going to town with a multimeter) I took a close look and saw that the screw assembly of the pilot truck was contacting firmly on the frog of the turn out. Looking even closer I could see that the screw was proud of the bottom of the driver wheels. (yikes. not good if there is going to be a rail in the middle of the track) The screw was screwed in as far as It would go. What I determined in this situation was this was a defect caused by the mold in the diecast process. To fix this I took the truck assembly off, and please be careful at this point, if you so much as look at the tiny tension spring wrong it WILL DISSAPEAR. Once the assembly was removed, I took a small metal file and reduced the metal nub that the screw seats in down about 1 millimeter. Test fitted the tiny screw to see that the screw did not go in any deeper and was still proud. Probably the nub was tapped at a specific depth with the original height I just filed off to fit that size screw exactly. To fix this, I carefully filed off about 1 millimeter from the end of the screw while holding it carefully in some small pliers. Cleaned up the small metal shavings, and was able to reassemble the pilot with about half a millimeter of clearance from the frog rail on the switches. This operation fixed both pacific engines. In retrospect, I think that these two models shorting on switches was why they were returned to BLI in the first place, and the tech who worked on them must never have tested them on any frogs before giving them an inspection pass. Anyway, maybe this will help any who are having this issue, although If the engine is still under warranty, just send the model back to BLI. It would be easy to damage the model or lose pieces while doing this.
I got this model in the grey on grey UP. My first Choo Choo as an old child. Can't wait. Your model, Jimmy, looks pretty slick. It is a top 5 scheme for me. Looking good! Cheers all!
I’ve always been a little scared of steam engines, especially for end scale in regards to my Layout. But, you’re pretty inspiring Jimmy. I might have to look a little little more into these steam locomotives with all their teeny teeny teeny tiny parts.
Thanks for showing a great steam loco. Thanks to your videos I am beginning to think about Broadway Limited. It is not exactly in my expense budget, but the overall value is more and more appealing. Richard in Orange, Virginia
Yet another grate video! Thanks! Can I ask one small favor? Next to your passenger platform, across the road is a crossing signal that is slowly sinking out of sight. Quick sand? Can you please have the M of W dept. go out and fix the poor guy? I do not mean to be a nit picker. Nor am I trying to be mean. Your layout is really nice. I'm not sure why but when it is in view, I can not stop looking at it. Sorry.
I just bought one of these models, it's the USRA light version, it's the Northern Pacific painted Black with Graphite Smokebox, Maroon cab roof, and with white walled wheels, and window trim (I think it might be a fantasy scheme based on the NP's 4-8-4 A3 class paint job also used by SP&S E1 4-8-4's but I'm not sure)
I could see this at the head of an excursion train. For a layout idea how about a Independence Day Red-White-Blue color scheme with Political Candidacy theme (Your Choice). Old Whistle Stop theme.
Thanks J! This is great news for those of us who have let our interest wain because we really want to have distinct period layouts. Don't get me wrong - I love my Kato SD70ace Wabash and the Erie, but when you have some forgotten men standing by burning barrels in their ratty fedoras, those engines completely destroy the vibe. 3 things - I've hesitated buying BL because they have the reputation for not running all that smoothly (or is that just in comparison to Kato?) Your choice of rolling stock for those shots was perfect and at the 5:56 mark the chuff sounds like "rhinoplasty, rhinoplasty... Etc. Being nice since '59- Charles
FYI: This is not a fantasy paint scheme for the B&M and you can see a B&W photo of #3688 in this scheme on page 136 in "Minuteman steam: Boston & Maine steam locomotives, 1911-1958"
That is NOT a "fantasy scheme" the B&M had 2 P2b Pacifics in that scheme named Paul Revere and William Dawes. They also had one in Green named "The Flying Yankee". These USRA Pacific's were not anywhere near a P2 Class B&M Pacific. But in N scale it's all you can get. OMI made them in HO Brass both the Revere and Flying Yankee. These engine's pulled the B&M crack high speed passenger trains.
Great video as always. I have a Kato steamer or two and they run pretty well. Staying in DC as the sound actually deters me, and I don't need the expense and features of the DCC. Great for the people looking for it though. Have fun and Merry Christmas!
Love your videos and I am learning a lot. I do have a question about a locomotive I have. As in what to do with it. It’s an "N" USRA 2-8-8-2 #4151 SANTA FE model I bought used years ago. The problem is that one of the eccentric (?) shafts that connects to one of the drive wheels has the pin that connects it to the wheel broken off at the wheel. I can’t see how to repair it (very wee) and I can’t see the parts on the Atlas site. Should it just be left as a display item, or is it repairable? Thanks again for the videos.
Hi first off thank you for a great enjoyable and informative channel. Can you recommend a good powerful DC Only smaller locomotive. That could pull 10 cars ? Thanks john
Jimmy, I have an n scale train car, the plastic thing that keeps the wheels together with car and it is stuck and why do I get it out and the car old school n scale train car?
Hello, I'm looking to get into DCC. I want to set up with an Arduino with DCC-EX and JMRI as the interface. If I get a digitrax sound decoder, can I load custom sounds on it with this system? Thanks.
I have a suggestion. When running the locomotive to be able to hear the bell, whistle and Chuff sounds....Please turn off the music, so all we here is the Locomotive sound Thanks
That is a sweet looking steamer for sure!
For any who it may concern, that shorting issue is not just a track problem. To stage the story, I recently purchased two of these pacific engines from BLI's refurbished outlet store. Both of these engines ran fair enough, however both would consistently short out on the frog of switches (Kato in my case) when the pilot of either engine would pass. Upon further investigation (after ripping my track apart and going to town with a multimeter) I took a close look and saw that the screw assembly of the pilot truck was contacting firmly on the frog of the turn out.
Looking even closer I could see that the screw was proud of the bottom of the driver wheels. (yikes. not good if there is going to be a rail in the middle of the track)
The screw was screwed in as far as It would go. What I determined in this situation was this was a defect caused by the mold in the diecast process.
To fix this I took the truck assembly off, and please be careful at this point, if you so much as look at the tiny tension spring wrong it WILL DISSAPEAR. Once the assembly was removed, I took a small metal file and reduced the metal nub that the screw seats in down about 1 millimeter. Test fitted the tiny screw to see that the screw did not go in any deeper and was still proud. Probably the nub was tapped at a specific depth with the original height I just filed off to fit that size screw exactly. To fix this, I carefully filed off about 1 millimeter from the end of the screw while holding it carefully in some small pliers.
Cleaned up the small metal shavings, and was able to reassemble the pilot with about half a millimeter of clearance from the frog rail on the switches. This operation fixed both pacific engines.
In retrospect, I think that these two models shorting on switches was why they were returned to BLI in the first place, and the tech who worked on them must never have tested them on any frogs before giving them an inspection pass.
Anyway, maybe this will help any who are having this issue, although If the engine is still under warranty, just send the model back to BLI. It would be easy to damage the model or lose pieces while doing this.
I love the steam power you've been adding to your roster! I would love to see another steam operations session either here or on your other channel!
Nice, looking good. Merry Christmas
I got this model in the grey on grey UP. My first Choo Choo as an old child. Can't wait. Your model, Jimmy, looks pretty slick. It is a top 5 scheme for me. Looking good! Cheers all!
Beautiful locomotive 🚂 thanks for sharing. I think I need at least one more steam locomotive indeed 👍
Nice steamer! A Northern Pacific Mikado may yet get into my roster.
Yo you for got to say "drink some coffee, and happy railroading".
Nice. Amazing how far they have come with N scale steam. Thanks for sharing.
Hey Jimmy, great video. Have you thought about trying the rolling thunder receiver set, I think you'll be pleased with it. It's a game changer.
I’ve always been a little scared of steam engines, especially for end scale in regards to my Layout. But, you’re pretty inspiring Jimmy. I might have to look a little little more into these steam locomotives with all their teeny teeny teeny tiny parts.
My only wish when bli did these was that for more west coast rail schemes they had an oil tender option like on the sp or Santa Fe
Really cool! Thanks Jimmy
Thanks for showing a great steam loco. Thanks to your videos I am beginning to think about Broadway Limited. It is not exactly in my expense budget, but the overall value is more and more appealing. Richard in Orange, Virginia
Yet another grate video! Thanks! Can I ask one small favor? Next to your passenger platform, across the road is a crossing signal that is slowly sinking out of sight. Quick sand? Can you please have the M of W dept. go out and fix the poor guy? I do not mean to be a nit picker. Nor am I trying to be mean. Your layout is really nice. I'm not sure why but when it is in view, I can not stop looking at it. Sorry.
Nice review! Love my BLI 4-6-2 ATSF #3417. Wanting a second one for a consist.
Looks awesome. These videos highlight my day and give me more inspiration!!
I just bought one of these models, it's the USRA light version, it's the Northern Pacific painted Black with Graphite Smokebox, Maroon cab roof, and with white walled wheels, and window trim (I think it might be a fantasy scheme based on the NP's 4-8-4 A3 class paint job also used by SP&S E1 4-8-4's but I'm not sure)
I could see this at the head of an excursion train. For a layout idea how about a Independence Day Red-White-Blue color scheme with Political Candidacy theme (Your Choice). Old Whistle Stop theme.
Thanks J! This is great news for those of us who have let our interest wain because we really want to have distinct period layouts. Don't get me wrong - I love my Kato SD70ace Wabash and the Erie, but when you have some forgotten men standing by burning barrels in their ratty fedoras, those engines completely destroy the vibe.
3 things - I've hesitated buying BL because they have the reputation for not running all that smoothly (or is that just in comparison to Kato?)
Your choice of rolling stock for those shots was perfect and at the 5:56 mark the chuff sounds like "rhinoplasty, rhinoplasty... Etc.
Being nice since '59-
Charles
FYI: This is not a fantasy paint scheme for the B&M and you can see a B&W photo of #3688 in this scheme on page 136 in "Minuteman steam: Boston & Maine steam locomotives, 1911-1958"
Hey Jimmy! Thanks for sharing your video! What is it that you like about fantasy paint schemes so much?
That is NOT a "fantasy scheme" the B&M had 2 P2b Pacifics in that scheme named Paul Revere and William Dawes. They also had one in Green named "The Flying Yankee". These USRA Pacific's were not anywhere near a P2 Class B&M Pacific. But in N scale it's all you can get. OMI made them in HO Brass both the Revere and Flying Yankee. These engine's pulled the B&M crack high speed passenger trains.
Great video as always. I have a Kato steamer or two and they run pretty well. Staying in DC as the sound actually deters me, and I don't need the expense and features of the DCC. Great for the people looking for it though. Have fun and Merry Christmas!
You know BLI engines run DC and DCC right?
Also they make the stealth series. Same locomotive DC only if you’re interested.
Love your videos and I am learning a lot.
I do have a question about a locomotive I have. As in what to do with it.
It’s an "N" USRA 2-8-8-2 #4151 SANTA FE model I bought used years ago.
The problem is that one of the eccentric (?) shafts that connects to one of the drive wheels has the pin that connects it to the wheel broken off at the wheel.
I can’t see how to repair it (very wee) and I can’t see the parts on the Atlas site.
Should it just be left as a display item, or is it repairable?
Thanks again for the videos.
Hi first off thank you for a great enjoyable and informative channel. Can you recommend a good powerful DC Only smaller locomotive. That could pull 10 cars ? Thanks john
Beautiful steam engine
could you do a video about adding weight to your rolling stock
Hello I recently purchased my first starter set and was wondering what you would recommend for cleaning track?
Jimmy, I have an n scale train car, the plastic thing that keeps the wheels together with car and it is stuck and why do I get it out and the car old school n scale train car?
Need a Boston and Maine pulling a Bojangles box car
Hello, I'm looking to get into DCC. I want to set up with an Arduino with DCC-EX and JMRI as the interface. If I get a digitrax sound decoder, can I load custom sounds on it with this system? Thanks.
I have a suggestion. When running the locomotive to be able to hear the bell, whistle and Chuff sounds....Please turn off the music, so all we here is the Locomotive sound Thanks
What a beauty! Sigh....
Hello