N Scale Big Boy 4-8-8-4 from Athearn

[@andrewwillard5625]

So crazy how detailed these little trains can be just from the scale alone amazing.

[@LegionOfWeirdos]

The detail just blows my mind!

[@KitClan]

Ron, This is a beautiful train... even in real life. It just has a strong feeling of the powerfulness? that it has. I have seen the Big Boy and the Challenger "in real life" and they are awe-inspiring in their presence. I am beginning to build a layout using two lines. The Santa Fe Chief and the Union Pacific. I live about 35 miles from the rather large UP train yard down in Ogden, UT. I am wanting to add a steam train to my layout. So this just may be my aim. Thanks for your review. Good Job. John D Kitch.

[@Vman7757]

Thanks Ron. I get mine tomorrow. Can't wait to run it.

[@RonsTrainsNThings]

Let us know what you think.

[@Mel-127]

I purchased the Athena Bigboy some years back. I purchased three and returned all three due to the fact that one of the drive axial in one of the chassis had a slot instead of a round hole to ride in. Have Atheans corrected this fault yet. I purchased the Challenger at the same time. That loco is still running great.

[@SFCRambo60]

I have 4 of them, 4006, 4006, 4014 and 4019 and love them all.

[@StevesTrains]

Great review Ron!

[@StevesTrains]

I was able to find a #4014 still available this morning and ordered one.

[@robertdoyen5434]

Great look at a great engine thanks for sharing

[@SirLANsalot]

Remember, you can always have a "well off historical preservation society" that owns and runs any old out of era locomotives on a layout. They would just be the ones that would run and operate such things on a small short line somewhere on the layout. I have done this on my own layout being "all eras" so anything that doesn't fit with BNSF/UP rolls under the historical society, so things like old SD 7/9's or GP's and any steam all fall under that banner.

[@user-bm5rs4cm3e]

This model looks fantastic. It's almost too nice to use on a regular basis!

[@CM-ARM]

Wow it is nice Ron, I just wish you would have sounded the Whistle. Got to get one

[@ronaldjoyce7374]

I love it! The sound sounded amazing, lucky you got to play with it for a few days.

[@AbelG8781]

4014 with 1943 and the UP special passenger train.....seriously deciding on this lol Athearn never fails to amaze me in N scale!

[@TrainQuest-Model-Railroad]

I like the sound

[@tedfisk1211]

Looks like a great model.

[@anfieldroadlayoutintheloft5204]

good vid keep up the good work on you layout stay safe

[@centeroftheearthmining4095]

Fantastic!!!

[@gkoproske]

In the runby shots pulling the NSE UP boxcar, I noticed that the tender coupler was high by half a coupler. The second set of cylinders were canted down toward the front.

[@patrickhawes5007]

Very nice. I would love to have one, but............. Maybe 🤔 one day when my layout grows up. Cheers 🍻

[@sharkzf6]

Man, that thing is a beast! I've always favored N scale "steam" over diesel ... they just look more realistic which seems weird but true for me!

[@gregc4311]

I got a chance to see 4014 at the North Platte Rail Days in 2019. It is an amazing Steam Locomotive.

[@northpennvalleysteamrailroad]

Nice!

[@williamflowers7927]

Nice locomotive ron 👍🚂🚋🚋🚋

[@casparweeda1645]

Ron most awesome model & descent review. Have added it to my wish=list! Could you share the regimented min. radius to use for track=planning?

[@casparweeda1645]

oops, mean recommended. both atlas specs and your thoughts

[@jmcaro4360]

7,5 oz=212,621 gr According to the Metric Decimal System, used in 🇪🇺🇪🇦Europe🇪🇦 and most of the countries of the world. Fantastic and spectacular model, but as its real counterpart needs very large bend radius in the model railroad layout. The prices of this new edition of the UP "Big Boy" by Athearn N scale in European stores, they are between 499,00€ for the analog version and 599,00€ digital with sound. Very good video, thank you very much, from Cordoba, Andalusia 🇪🇺🇪🇦(Spain)🇪🇦.

[@JPOGers]

What’s the minimum turn radius this can take in Kato-speak. Like what is the minimum curve type it can go over

[@DinsdalePiranha67]

While it isn't my favorite steamer of them all (that would be the SP GS-4 class 4-8-4), I love the Big Boy. It's probably the ultimate steam locomotive, at least among North American railroads. And since you mentioned UP 4014.... this locomotive spent many years on static display at the Los Angeles County Fairgrounds (aka the Fairplex) in Pomona, CA. I lived in Pomona for a few years while I was in college, and for whatever reason I never went to the fairgrounds. In my defense, I didn't know they had UP 4014 on display; otherwise I might have found the time to visit!

[@miguelCHIVASFan17]

Ron I think you should get a Athearn Big Boy 4014. It can fit your layout since 4014 is a excursion locomotive. Also because 4014 has run on BNSF railroad tracks

[@Caldermologist]

My 4012 will be the most modern locomotive on my layout. And by far the largest, of course.

[@randydobson1863]

HELLO RON ITS IS RANDY AND I LIKE U VIDEO IS COOL THANKS FRIENDS RANDY AND THE BIG BOY IS COOL THANKS

[@521wurlitzer]

Why is front pilot deck and rear cylinders crooked?

[@therailfanman2078]

I have an ho scale version of this. Although it's not 4014 it's 4006. I love the units it's not only the biggest but also my favorite unit in my collection

[@newfenrisrailroad621]

Hey Ron you’ve done it aging with another model locomotive that I want for the layout.

[@chrisscott8934]

Hey Ron have you run the big boy on DC power?

[@RonsTrainsNThings]

No I have not.

[@chrisscott8934]

@@RonsTrainsNThings oh ok i run on dc power and idnk if your bigboy could do that and i baught me a c12 Japanese tank engein and it runs on dc power

[@cirruscapo]

Sure wish I could BLI would do another run on the Big Boy in HO... I would pay any amount for that. I'm have pre-ordered the BLI Challenger coming out in October 21...

[@johnoneill5661]

I run ho German but I still have a Trix sound big boy because they are just so bloody big and cool 😎

[@SFCRambo60]

Hello Ron, I need to know, my traction tires on all 4 of my Big Boys have fallen apart. Can you suggest what's the best thing to do? Can anyone replace the traction tires or should I pack them up and send them to whoever and who would be the best whoever.

[@RonsTrainsNThings]

You should be able to order replacements from the manufacturer and install them yourself.

[@SFCRambo60]

@@RonsTrainsNThings have you or anyone else did a video on replacing the road tires? Thank you for the information

[@RonsTrainsNThings]

@@SFCRambo60 I have not but I'm sure there are videos on KZbin on the topic.

[@SFCRambo60]

@@RonsTrainsNThings I have looked and must be doing something wrong because I have not seen anything.

[@normanrowe2831]

I wonder how it will compare to Kato’s version that will debut later this year. Thanks for the review.

[@SFCRambo60]

Hello Ron, I just wanted to share an idea. I bought an electric portable toothbrush with 2 heads. I pulled all the bristles out of the heads and took some 2 sided tape and cut it and sandpaper to what type of sanding I am going to do. Even cutting it into a triangle works for those tight places. So this year I am going to be looking for used electric portable toothbrushes. If I get all the same that would be great.

[@boydanderson8682]

Looks good. I hope they did a better job on the wheels sets and gears on this than they did on the F45s.

[@donaldshroyer8633]

Nice vid. I found an original Athearn 4-6-6-4 on eBay that had an MRC decoder that I changed out for a TSU-1100. The sound is really a lot better than it appears in your vid's audio.

[@davidfromtexas9681]

Hey Ron, great review. I noticed one shot you had was of the loco coupler, which I think is a McHenry on Athern coupled with what I think are Kadee couplers. I’m curious about your perception of coupler performance when intermixing coupler types?

[@RonsTrainsNThings]

In N scale I have little trouble with McHenry couplers. Yes, it was coupled to an MTL car/coupler and they coupled great at slow/realistic speed.

[@AbelG8781]

MTL couplers are the best, wont lie though, the McHenry couplers perform well with MTL I have found. Atlas on the other hand.....nope! Accumate sucks!

[@elleryparsons2433]

Hey Ron I Was Wondering who Made The Best Big Boy for Every Scale?

[@jamestown57]

I wonder if they make those in HO

[@RonsTrainsNThings]

Yes they do, but they have been out a little while and may be hard to find. Search Athearn HO Big Boy.

[@jamestown57]

@@RonsTrainsNThings technically wouldn't even have to be athearn. For those I would be happy with any version

[@Trainmaster909]

This model is so nice I wouldn’t be surprised if Ron got one just to have one.

[@RonsTrainsNThings]

It is beautiful, but I'm not the collector type so won't be spending the money for something to sit on a shelf.

[@INNYAFACCE]

that is an awesome locomotive,...only thing missing is smoke

[@jamesdenny4734]

I wish I'd a got one... but I can wait for a rerun... won't pay well over msrp when it do get rerun 👍

[@edmcnamara8747]

Did not hear the whistle on the model?

[@RonsTrainsNThings]

13:15 but speakers in N scale locomotives can't donit justice.

[@edmcnamara8747]

@@RonsTrainsNThings thanks will listen again.

[@edmcnamara8747]

@@RonsTrainsNThings ok, yup the whistle is not as great as the prototype you played earlier. It is "marginally adequate". I also will not be buying one due to Era and Layout. But I will admire them when others run them at Free-moN meets on my CMRR Modules.

[@justin_railfan]

Would you recommend purchasing Kato’s n700a Shinkansen?

[@Closet_Jedi]

I have several of the Kato bullet trains and EMUs, they've all been great runners and are nicely detailed. They do have a minimum radius and some of the couplers they use for the cars can be fragile.

[@elleryparsons5766]

How Many Brands Made the Big Boy In Each Gauge?

[@TheSonofruss]

You could just have a UP visiter every session or so?

[@ianmugford9459]

I love my 4014

[@michaelyackovich155]

Would love to get that locomotive, my local shop has 1 left in stock, hmmmmm

[@NHseacoast]

Every nice i wan one 👍

[@myname604]

Would have been nicer if the front bogie on the tender was actually on the track.

[@angelapantoja5602]

I want that train but there out of stock I wanted for Christmas

[@IMRROcom]

You know, just put a BNSF swoosh on it and it is good to go. It is your railroad.

[@RonsTrainsNThings]

🤣🤣🤣

[@floridian2023]

W.O.W.

[@RonsTrainsNThings]

Today the Big Boy always runs with a moder diesel locomotive in the train. Here is a review of a Kato SD70M that would work great for that purpose, or any modern locomotive purposes. Check it out: kzbin.info/www/bejne/qGiWg6hulJmIg5o

[@AbelG8781]

I bought both of those but added PTC and yellow stripe to modernize it! Just wish they'd release more flared radiator version, those are awesome too!

[@Koolaidman0823]

I wish this was me

[@davidfranklin4677]

Hi Ron, to eliminate the glare, place your two lights at 45 degees opposite each other. The glare with go away. A professional studio photographer.

[@allenbarnes7202]

Every layout needs a big boy, and a caboose. Be careful the drawbar is very fragile. I have a dc version

[@DeathByFishing]

I'm not into steamies, but that's a nice looking model.

[@RonsTrainsNThings]

Same for me, but it is a great model of a classic loco for those who are.

[@jamesstuart3346]

When I was growing up, Athearn was right up there next to God, even if the F7s had rubber band drive. Gordon Odegard was The Prophet

[@hampton400]

Just to be clear, 4014 is NOT a compound. A compound reuses steam and 4014 uses live steam on all cylinders. N&W's 2100's are true compounds. 4014 is a simple articulated engine.

[@rlucestarlight]

The model is nice but why didn’t Athearn sufficiently darken the front pilot wheels. Wheels should have been as dark as the driver wheels. Athearn is fixated on large steam locomotives and like Challengers and Big Boys. All lot of resources were spent on this one type of locomotive that doesn’t have many versions to produce so the tooling cannot be used numerous times. When you suggest some fantasy paint schemes on the Big Boy such as the UP Gray and yellow livery they say it is not prototypically and hobbyists will not buy them.

[@kennethbryant2410]

My unit has a terribly loud grinding sound that it makes. The grind noise is louder than the DCC sounds. Not impressed.

[@RonsTrainsNThings]

Indidn't experience anything like that.

[@lhunter325]

The sound is lacking. You’ve got four cylinders and you hear only two chuffs per revolution. AtHearn needs to put more work into the system……..It probably needs to have two separate decoders; one for sound/control, and one for sound only to handle the second set of cylinders

[@kenshores9900]

Thought it doesn’t fit you layout, you are a rail road Barron and can run anything you want on your layout. (I have an N scale goose). Carpe Diem!

[@jmachorrov]

I don't mind eras I just like running trains, like logístics but BB is to largue

[@tableseven8133]

The simple big details are missed for the other dramatic little one. Sad design for $400.00. What is my complaint: two things. The push rods are flopping all around in the piston holes, very toy like in deed... The modern sound system and this is my complain with most or all of them they are either using a digital recording of a real train in a place where the train is echoing off things, or it is a digital modification to sound like a distant train instead of directly coming from this train. The simple yet toy like electronic sound of steam of the 1970's and 1980's was more realistic since it was coming from the tender directly and sounded that way but you could easily tell it was with the train. Also the American flyer piston sound in the engine in the years before the 70's was really the best when it worked well.

[@debbiemilka2251]

Tinder ? ? ?

[@scottgiles7546]

Real Modelers have Challengers! There were more of them and they were on more roads than the Big Boy. (If a Challenger isn't big enough for you, you just might be a size queen....)* *MIGHT have to runaway after that one...

[@ohiovalleylines466]

The unit I have is a pile of junk. No support from Athearn until June? Seriously? Doesn't run when throttled up, just makes idling sounds. After about 2-3 minutes the loco finally goes, but no response from any function buttons. When you throttle down it takes the same 2-3 minutes to finally stop as well. I have reset the decoder (CV8=8) more times than should be required with nothing to show for it anyway. TrainWorld is sending me another but I am severely disappointed. This is my first Athearn locomotive purchase and will definitely be my last.

[@AbelG8781]

Dont know about their locomotives since they don't offer anything interesting but their rolling stock offerings are very good. Sorry to hear you're having a bad time with the Big Boy.

[@Iabrams3985]

Athearn was ambitious with its Big Boy model but the closeups show that it is sloppily assembled and overly complex. There are many add-on details that are misaligned, for example, most noticeable is the front deck and handrails. This may be minor to some modelers but to me it's an indication that the engineering of this model is slipshod. Will it last for years? My guess is no. I'm not buying one, waiting for a similar model that has been announced as future production by Kato