Kato Big Boy DCC & Sound Review

Review of the n-scale Kato Big Boy with DCC and Sound factory equipped. Plenty of running train action to showcase the features.
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Technical Stuff:
Footage is captured with an iPhone 11 and narrated in real-time during the recording through a headset mic.
Video is assembled/edited with Microsoft's Clipchamp video editing software.
Music is provided royalty-free from www.bensound.com

[@motionboy356]

Got a couple of Kato steamers, and I’m not disappointed! She’s a beauty! Thanks for this vid!

[@williammyers9773]

Big Boy and Amtrak in the snow looked awsome!!

[@tommynorwood5184]

I’m a little bit upset I thought I was going to see a review on a Scale Trains SD 40-2. I received mine on Wednesday. But that was a very good review on the Kato Big Boy . That’s a very nice locomotive. I like you are not a steam fan. The only steam engine I have ever seen was an excursion train that came through town in the 80’s. When started seeing trains as a youngster they were diesel locomotives. But if someone like Kato put out a Norfolk and Western J unit I would probably would get one. Thanks for sharing. Have a good weekend. 😎😎 👍

[@AlleghenyNorthern]

no no no... don't be upset! Mine, according to the post office, are arriving today so a review is coming! I will tell you i wasn't a steam fan but then i was watching a movie - damned if i can remember what - and there was a conversation by a locomotive and it was just sitting there idling and you could hear the puff and chuck of the loco while it was "breathing" and i was like, that's the most intense machine sound ever - made a giant piece of iron sound like a monster - and i loved it. No idea what the two characters were talking about. SD40-2 review should be coming soon!

[@ddavideo]

Thanks for the review. I've got mine earlier today. Runs great. I'm a fan of Scaletrains' details (the majority of my locos are Scaletrains) but I must admit that Kato is the kind of smooth running. This giant can crawl smooth as silk at 1 speed step "out of the box", unbelievable. Like you, this would be my one and only steam loco (I'm not a steam guy as well, haha).

[@AlleghenyNorthern]

ScaleTrains are great but i would NEVER trade my Kato locos - like you said, they're just great runners. I've had a lot of fun with the Big Boy. I might get the UP excursion set to pull behind it just because but i don't mind it pulling the Amtrak cars for now.

[@Drew_Adams_7]

Really wanting to get one of these. Love the video.

[@AlleghenyNorthern]

Yes, you definitely want one of these...

[@seanpacificrailroad3700]

Totally sweet 👍

[@AlleghenyNorthern]

It is absolutely that!

[@mikeschafer8992]

CHEERS

[@MrBsHiawathalandRails]

Looks great!

[@AlleghenyNorthern]

Runs great, too! Had it doing laps today around the layout and other than when it went against a thrown switch because i was a bad conductor, it didn't miss a beat.

[@angelmoratroncoso9431]

Hi... Congratulations. Great video. It s a beautiful locomotive. You can tell me who make the yellow machines? Thank y Regards fron Chile

[@AlleghenyNorthern]

sure can. some of them are 3D printed and you can find them on Shapeways. the ballast regulator and the tie crane behind it are Showcase Miniatures model kit as well as the dump truck. The tie-crane with the cart is a GHQ kit. The rest are the 3D prints.

[@angelmoratroncoso9431]

@@AlleghenyNorthern Ok., thank so much... Great... Congratulatios again

[@OldcampRanch]

It looks very cool, how does to take tight corners?

[@AlleghenyNorthern]

11" radius is the tightest it'll handle. i don't have any tighter radii on the layout, so i can't test it but assume it's not going to stay railed.

[@donaldshroyer8633]

Quite an impressive steamer. You don't mention what decoder brand and model it uses. You don't mention if it uses any traction tires. And I would have found very interesting how it negotiates any of your turnouts, especially one of your crossovers.

[@AlleghenyNorthern]

I guess i got a little too excited about it and missed the details. It has a Sountraxx Decoder, there are indeed traction tires - one pair on each set of drivers. I'll show the crossovers in another video. Spoiler alert - it doesn't have any issues - it actually does better than some smaller switchers because it has waaay more wheels and pickup than it needs to span the insulated bits.

[@ddavideo]

May I ask what kind of cars that the Big Boy is pulling? Can't find any info online.

[@AlleghenyNorthern]

Deluxe Innovation's RoadRailers. They are no longer in business and your only way to get them is to find them on eBay or at a train show. They come either as 10-car sets or individual cars but if you find individual cars you need the starting truck assembly with the coupler and platform. You only need one as they didn't run them on the back of the trains. If you find them, they're beautiful models and run very well. You're going to pay anywhere from $180-$250 now for a 10-car set. Fox Valley acquired some of the old Deluxe Innovation molds, but then they were acquired by ScaleTrains - i don't know if the RoadRailers will make a comeback under either brand.

[@ddavideo]

Thanks for the info.

[@ThatRailroadGuy]

Does this one smoke

[@AlleghenyNorthern]

currently the only ones that i know smoke are from BLI. i have a T1 from BLI and the Big Boy from Kato. I recommend Kato products over BLI - the smoke is a nice gimmick, but the Kato is a much smoother operator.

[@petemarchi5112]

I’m thinking about getting a DC one, will it preform similarly?

[@AlleghenyNorthern]

should. it's the same loco except for the decoder and sound.

[@Donotdisturbme19]

Is this factory built dcc sound or is this custom dcc sound installed?

[@AlleghenyNorthern]

factory installed.

[@Donotdisturbme19]

@@AlleghenyNorthern so they finally released them about time!

[@AlleghenyNorthern]

@@Donotdisturbme19 i waited a bit... i wasn't sure it was legit - but having run it, it's definitely legit LOL! they must have had some serious issues adding the DCC. it pushed months!

[@antuanwells8820]

Where did you buy it from?

[@AlleghenyNorthern]

This model I purchased from Lombard Hobbies.

[@antuanwells8820]

@@AlleghenyNorthern also did it come with the coupler or did you have one and installed it yourself?

[@AlleghenyNorthern]

@@antuanwells8820 it comes with the coupler on an alternate pilot front. it's a nice feature, just wish the coupler wasn't a dummy. it'll still couple cars with some a little assistance though.

[@larryhealey6827]

Ok its oil fired. It is a model of the refurbished 4014. The sound decoder is not as nice as the Broadway limited sound decoder.

[@AlleghenyNorthern]

i'll never waste my money on a BLI model again. Nothing but trouble with their Paragon 4 decoder, poor performance in the SD40-2. i'd sacrifice a little sound quality for a loco i know will run.