Great looking model! I'm more of a diesel fan but in my opinion everybody should have a big boy. 4014 will be stopping over in Fort worth in about 2 weeks and I may take a trip over there and see it.
A friend made me an extra long rerailer specially for my Big Boy, so I don't have problems putting it on the track. 😁 I've had two problems with the one I bought in 2008. It derails on my Kato curves when going clockwise, but is fine going the other way. The other problem I had was that it 'dies' sometimes if the direction on the controller is switched too fast. The loco appears to be totally dead, as if the decoder has blown, (makes you want to cry when something that expensive goes RIP), but fear not. The next day it's working fine again. Mine is fitted with the original MRC decoder. They use Soundtraxx now, so they may not have that problem. It makes tighter curves than my Bachmann DD40AX Centennial. The massive overhang from the Big Boy does tend to wipe out everything on the outer track when used on those very tight curves. The box looks great, but it does take up a lot of space. I'd have preferred a normal sized box.
It is very nice, Steve. You have the one currently at the Forney Museum of Transportation in Denver. That's the one that was wrecked in 1953 and rebuilt. I picked up the 4014 Excursion and it was the last one they had. So, yes, they are hard to acquire. Thanks for sharing. 👍👍👍
Thanks for the video - what a great engine. I was always fascinated by it's size since I saw it in some railway museum. Absolute stunning piece of engineering!
Mine is an older model, but that empty space in the box had a controller unit to use the light and sound functions without DCC, and parts to convert to an oil tender. Mine also has no ID numbers.
Some of the guys in n scale train group on Facebook are runing the lok sound decoder..say they run more smoother then athearns and sounds better. ..the big boys have the next18 decoders in them....
Thanks for the review. I know when I record whistles/ horns on my N engines the sound is much better in person than what comes across on the video. The whistle seemed a bit thin here. Is it better in person?
Some of the grades on my project layout are around 3% and most are over 2% and it had no trouble at all. There are two sets of drivers with traction tires
I heard it was recommended for steam engines not to exceed 1.5% grades on helixes. Which may be a use case scenario. The Big Boys being what they are in real life, I was hoping for an increase in the ability to do steeper grades. Thank you for the response.
@@StevesTrains On Athearn's website it says these are discontinued. Were they a limited production? I'd be sad if it wasn't possible to get one anymore
Well, I’m not sure if they are available right now or not. Horizon hobby is the main dealer but usually other dealers carry the Athearn locomotives as well. However, past runs have sold out immediately, and I’m not sure where things are at right now with this locomotive. You might contact Athearn directly and see what their production schedule is or if they know where any might be available.
I was watching videos of the O-Scale Big Boys from MTM and Lionel and I liked what I saw, but cringed at the price tags. Last week, I found the awesome Trains & Lanes Hobby Store in Easton, PA not far from where I live and have dove back into N-Scale with 4 boxes of Kato product (two train packs and two track packs) and a Digitrax Zephyr Express. Now I see an N-Scale Big Boy from Athearn and I think I know what my next big purchase once it gets back in stock. 😀 BTW, what was the rolling stock you had hooked up?
I've run it on 12 3/4" without any issues. It is stated to run on 11" radius curves. I think it would struggle on 9 3/4" curves. I'll eventually probably try to do some tests with it on different radius curves.
because hot wheels at 1:64 Or HO at 1:87 are tooo big we NEED N scale at 1: 148 ....it's insane AND suits only a special application,,, I can't imagine wanting a set up unless you NEEDED to model something HUGE .. What you build are not layouts anymore than what goes AROUND the Christmas tree is a layout,,, it's just a small display
US N scale is 1:160. It's British N gauge that's 1:148. You can get four times as much track in the same space making for more realistic length trains.
Yeah, it does get harder to see stuff in N scale now that I’m about 50. At the same time, I don’t have to worry about details as much since I can’t see them anyway. :)
Athearn Big Boy n scale.....pah! I just pre-ordered a greyhound 4024 from Broadway Limited in n scale, and it has working smoke! does Athearn do working smoke in n scale....no.
I think that rectangular hole in the foam was for the first generation remote control for DC. Worked pretty decent...
It's nice to know, that even N scale gets BIG STEAM....
Great looking model! I'm more of a diesel fan but in my opinion everybody should have a big boy. 4014 will be stopping over in Fort worth in about 2 weeks and I may take a trip over there and see it.
A friend made me an extra long rerailer specially for my Big Boy, so I don't have problems putting it on the track. 😁
I've had two problems with the one I bought in 2008. It derails on my Kato curves when going clockwise, but is fine going the other way. The other problem I had was that it 'dies' sometimes if the direction on the controller is switched too fast. The loco appears to be totally dead, as if the decoder has blown, (makes you want to cry when something that expensive goes RIP), but fear not. The next day it's working fine again. Mine is fitted with the original MRC decoder. They use Soundtraxx now, so they may not have that problem.
It makes tighter curves than my Bachmann DD40AX Centennial. The massive overhang from the Big Boy does tend to wipe out everything on the outer track when used on those very tight curves.
The box looks great, but it does take up a lot of space. I'd have preferred a normal sized box.
It is very nice, Steve. You have the one currently at the Forney Museum of Transportation in Denver. That's the one that was wrecked in 1953 and rebuilt. I picked up the 4014 Excursion and it was the last one they had. So, yes, they are hard to acquire.
Thanks for sharing. 👍👍👍
yes the 1953bigboy crash
One of their BEST ever! Thank you, looks BEAUTIFUL!
Thanks for the video - what a great engine. I was always fascinated by it's size since I saw it in some railway museum. Absolute stunning piece of engineering!
AWESOME Locomotive! Great review Steve. Thanks for doing this one. Makes me want to run right out to buy one. That is if I can find one.
Excellent review, wish i could afford one
Love it!
Mine is an older model, but that empty space in the box had a controller unit to use the light and sound functions without DCC, and parts to convert to an oil tender. Mine also has no ID numbers.
Que bacana Steves, seus vídeos são sempre muito explicativos!
Parabéns pela aquisição, excelente locomotiva!!
Bell sounds great... whistle not so good !
Didn't get a chance to buy one of these, but I did pick up a BLi big boy !
Some of the guys in n scale train group on Facebook are runing the lok sound decoder..say they run more smoother then athearns and sounds better. ..the big boys have the next18 decoders in them....
The Lok sound decoders are really good. I’ve never done a direct comparison between them and another on the same locomotive, however.
@@StevesTrains however what?
when i see N Scale Big Boy I go :)
Where did you get the additional yellow UP tender?
It was part of the Kato package that had two extra tenders and the excursion train passenger cars.
I can’t view this video, it just hangs in a loading loop. Have tried three days in a row :(
Im still waiting for you to list the layout that you built
on Ebay from 2020
Sorry, I ended up having someone see the layout and buy it directly. I’ll be building some smaller layouts like that later this year.
Thank you. What is the smallest curve radius in your layout?
WoW, the Germans put a smoke unit in their Arnold Steamers back in the 1960s catalog!
Thanks for the review. I know when I record whistles/ horns on my N engines the sound is much better in person than what comes across on the video. The whistle seemed a bit thin here. Is it better in person?
It is a little better in person. This was also recorded in a garage, not the best environment for sound recording.
Old box space was for fob for control
Mantap sekali my big boss
I'm curious if this can tackle a 2% grade, or if 1.5% is max.
Some of the grades on my project layout are around 3% and most are over 2% and it had no trouble at all. There are two sets of drivers with traction tires
I heard it was recommended for steam engines not to exceed 1.5% grades on helixes. Which may be a use case scenario. The Big Boys being what they are in real life, I was hoping for an increase in the ability to do steeper grades. Thank you for the response.
Imagine preforming matinence on the side rods on that thing lol. I wouldn't have the skill to do that. I didn't know Athearn did n gauge.
Fantastic what's the retail on one of those?
$425ish with sound decoder is the MSRP I think.
@@StevesTrains On Athearn's website it says these are discontinued. Were they a limited production? I'd be sad if it wasn't possible to get one anymore
Where do you buy this model
Well, I’m not sure if they are available right now or not. Horizon hobby is the main dealer but usually other dealers carry the Athearn locomotives as well. However, past runs have sold out immediately, and I’m not sure where things are at right now with this locomotive. You might contact Athearn directly and see what their production schedule is or if they know where any might be available.
I was watching videos of the O-Scale Big Boys from MTM and Lionel and I liked what I saw, but cringed at the price tags. Last week, I found the awesome Trains & Lanes Hobby Store in Easton, PA not far from where I live and have dove back into N-Scale with 4 boxes of Kato product (two train packs and two track packs) and a Digitrax Zephyr Express. Now I see an N-Scale Big Boy from Athearn and I think I know what my next big purchase once it gets back in stock. 😀
BTW, what was the rolling stock you had hooked up?
How is the 3 by 5 layout
Progressing slowly. Still working on building structures and related items. Once those are done things will progress very quickly.
@@StevesTrains nice
What’s the min radius people found for the big boy
I've run it on 12 3/4" without any issues. It is stated to run on 11" radius curves. I think it would struggle on 9 3/4" curves. I'll eventually probably try to do some tests with it on different radius curves.
@@StevesTrains It does manage the 9 3/4" curves, just, but the overhang makes it look silly.
because hot wheels at 1:64 Or HO at 1:87 are tooo big we NEED N scale at 1: 148 ....it's insane AND suits only a special application,,, I can't imagine wanting a set up unless you NEEDED to model something HUGE .. What you build are not layouts anymore than what goes AROUND the Christmas tree is a layout,,, it's just a small display
US N scale is 1:160. It's British N gauge that's 1:148. You can get four times as much track in the same space making for more realistic length trains.
Iam from in indonesia
NOW that Train play is mostly old men,, N scale is just WAYYY too small.... most old men with n scale also have a collection of magnifying glasses
Yeah, it does get harder to see stuff in N scale now that I’m about 50. At the same time, I don’t have to worry about details as much since I can’t see them anyway. :)
I'm 67 and wouldn't run anything but N scale. Well maybe I'd have a go at Z scale too.
Athearn Big Boy n scale.....pah!
I just pre-ordered a greyhound 4024 from Broadway Limited in n scale, and it has working smoke!
does Athearn do working smoke in n scale....no.