Review of the Athearn HO Scale Big Boy

[@choochoo3985]

This one has the radiators on the deck which the 4014 hasn't since early in the usage as they were damaged to much. The second order had them as you see them today. Athearn has another version oil tender which is right as the coils are protected behind the doors on the front of the locomotive.

[@choochoo3985]

Finally building my layout and being an Iowa farm boy I would love to learn where you got the farm backdrop. Thanks, Ted

[@RON10PT167]

I saw the Big Boy in California twice in the desert canyons and Barstow Ca. It's an oil burner and absolutely beautiful. I use to look at it at the Pomona Fair Grounds and wished I could have seen it run. Mojave River crossing 20MPH and my 2-year-old granddaughter and close friends going crazy. Twenty feet away it looked 60Ft tall. Lifetime experience. When it comes back do not hesitate to see it you won't forget it. Great review of the model I'm trying hard to justify it.

[@kevinbrooks6265]

that sound did not sound like steam chugging,it sounded more like a muffled .22 shot

[@krystalstarrett6760]

My Athern Big Boy runs wonderfully. Now had it for several years, reliable each time I call for it to pull freight.

[@Perfusionist01]

Nice review. I had my display layout running for the Camp Creek Railroaders' meet in mid-Sept and ran my Athearn UP 4014 for a full afternoon with no problems except those caused by dirty track. This one is a winner!

[@halothewynd1]

Brilliant presentation & video of a magnificent locomotive. Can't wait to see her fully operational. Many many thanks James!

[@mixinloud1]

Hello..... I'm commenting to improve, what you have created to be an source for professional model railroading enthusiasts. In breif.... my grandfather and father posted a railroad on the front cover of Model Railroader magazine in 1968. Grandfather was an engineer on the Southern Pacific line in 1952. The railroad posted in the magazine was 2500 square feet in a hay loft, and track was laid with wooden roadbed and hand laid spikes. First of all, on your reviews, it very important to show the unpacking, scale trains, BLI, ect..... can be damaged when unpacking the product. 2nd..... no matter what your fans say.....describing the details of the locomotive is important, true modelers love to see detail in order to buy, and you do a great job with that, and I enjoy the detail work and description. The reason for my commentary is when you describe the pulling capabilities of the locomotive. You have described locomotives pulling in excess of 100 cars for example. I've purchased some of the locomotives in your reviews and they can't pull 25 cars without slippage on a 2% grade. My point is...... be very careful when conveying pulling load. Coming from a modeler of 50 years you going to be misleading. Example..... your Challenger review can't pull 100 cars. And what are the cars..... plastic....brass....Mantua heavies...... It's a false number and misleading. For example.....SD45 from Athearn from the 1970s will pull more cars than a SD45 Scale Train today. Food for thought. Love what you do.....keep it up.....always look forward to your reviews..... just keeping a positive eye out for ya! Ernie Hyett

[@austinstitzel]

The Big Boy is my favorite steam locomotive ever!

[@jalilledoux8999]

smae

[@jalilledoux8999]

+Jalil LeDoux same

[@waffle9416]

same here but im more of a stong looking freat engen that's deasel

[@jaganmohan5441]

I love them too

[@lakeshoremodelrr]

Always like our reviews! Being a UP fan never hurt either.

[@jlwii2000]

When I said they always had LED bulbs, I am specifically speaking about the Big Boy, Challenger and Northern locomotives from Athearn.

[@vwgolfer1873]

Love watching your vids man, Im at the very very early stages of my HO hobby. I would love to see a video of your collection at some point. Thanks again for your time with these vids

[@Paulygon]

I live in Omaha and we drive by the Big Boy all the time! It's very astonishing in person!

[@19mansellcj54]

A typical review by James. Well done and a great review as always. Thanks very much.

[@redbuzzardbass]

On Monday 4014 will be on display at Union Station less than 5 miles from my house. I am so stoked to get to see it on its way the Wyoming.

[@Trainlover1995]

Silicon Valley Lines in San Jose, CA has this model. At the last work meet of 2015, the club president had me run it over a bridge that was recently glued into place.

[@rogerrachima9529]

I have an old Rivarossi version, but the Athearn has it beat in detail. Athearn are pure solid with their work. Very nice,

[@walkerbelle]

+ROGER RACHIMA I have it by BLI and honestly I can't see much difference in the fine details however, I think the sound decoder that BLI uses in their Big Boy locomotives is much better than Athearn. Just my humble opinion.

[@donttreadonmetal5073]

+ROGER RACHIMA My Rivarossi Hudson never worked right. I got it in 2001, and it's been nothing but trouble. I plan to replace it with an NYC diesel.

[@longrider42]

I live in Cheyenne, and am very much looking forward to the arrival of the 4014. Weight wise, unloaded, no coal or water. The 4014 with tender weighs in at 1.2 million, yes million pounds, and as of Jan. 26th of this year had been moved from the fair grounds in LA. Long Live STEAM!

[@ScottishNSRailFan]

Yet another great video. Love watching your well defined reviews. Albeit I live in Scotland, I model in Kato n scale US locomotives. I currently have 63 lococ with 11 NS heritage on order from my New York dealer. Your loco collection must be quite extensive also. All the best.

[@NicksCollectableCreations]

Very nice locomotive. Great review. Thanks for doing this James!

[@gibbyy8922]

And nice loco I've Been admiring your work i barely have 2 days with this account so im kind of a new fan

[@TheDuke6100]

Great video, we have the 4012 Big Boy here in Steamtown in Scranton PA, but it does not run,very nice to look at and at special times you can get in it like train fest!!! it happens once a year. You can find out the info about it on the internet it is available to everyone!!!

[@leoyounglowe8254]

I always had a soft spot for the Big Boy I saw the B/B in Southern California painlessly watched as it was moved on its first leg of the new journey. It was very impressive. As for the new Athearn Big Boy I was very impressed a very sweet engine should be a great seller I can't wait to see the Real Big Boy once again when they finally put a fire in her. As for the model get it you won't be sorry .

[@KflanntheRailfan]

i thank you for this review, it helped me decide on what model I wanted. Plus I am originally from Scranton and volunteered for 10 years at Steamtown National Historic Site, so someone finally making the 4012, I had to go for it. I also purchased the Athearn Genesis 3985 Challenger, Finally got to run them both 2 weeks ago, due to moving I no longer have the room to run them, and they ran great. I enjoy your reviews. I believe I am going to go for the Athearn and Intermountain NS Heritage units. Thank You Kflannigan98. I have subscribed to your channel.

[@PhillipBrodginski]

I've seen the one in Scranton a few times. There is no way to really explain how massive these things are until you stand next to it!

[@ravenhawk6910]

Love it! Can't wait to see the real 4014 run for UP! Keep em coming with the videos!

[@TheI3lacky]

Who would´ve thought that 6 years later the real one is rolling again lol...

[@thurstablelane7567]

Whistle sound just as powerful as the LNER A4 pacific another great steam locomotive of history

[@IAIS96]

AMAZING I love the whistle sound very detailed and very cool!!!

[@FS2K4Pilot]

I spoke with the Athearn rep at the World's Greatest Hobby train show. He said that once the 4014 has been restored, and they have an actual prototype for the oil-converted tender, they will retool this engine to reflect its restoration. I also suggested that they start making UP water tenders to go with their UP Heritage Fleet steamers, as well as releasing an Art Lockman tool car. I really hope they release the water tenders, because the brass ones are hard as hell to find, not to mention damned expensive, and no longer prototypical, because the real ones were overhauled and redesigned in 2008.

[@billsalvey]

i just pre ordered the lionel o gauge of the big boy, can not wait to get that monster

[@hoebahnerklingforth6420]

Ein sehr schönes Modell der Sound ist super 👍👍👍

[@jlwii2000]

They are overland brass from brass trains website

[@donttreadonmetal5073]

the plug on my PRR 2-10-2 had to be glued in because it kept coming out. Wires stick out, too. Int'l Hobby Corp.I have 22 radius, and the latter engine barely stays on the track.

[@TheDrummerman1951]

My Athearn Big Boy that I brought 2 years ago did not have LED's But I will be replacing them with led's But I must say it does run great. I have had not problem with it. Great Locomotive.

[@geomodelrailroader]

good thing you got it jlwii2000 the #4014 is the most requested because Steam Shop is trying to bring the prototype back to life I wish Steam Shop luck with that

[@flare9757]

The Big Boy 4014 (I think) is being restored by Union Pacific for their 150 year anniversary. It is confirmed that it will be a oil-burning locomotive.

[@ziggyzag33]

A friend of mine owns the brass version of the HO scale Big Boy. Very heavy.

[@47mulligan]

You do an excellent job. Thanks.

[@jlwii2000]

Yes, my little spider conductor must have climbed up on the front of the loco. Spiders in my basement can get ahold of things quickly, so quickly that they ended up on the big boy even though I had just unboxed it minutes before.

[@lennyos]

I think the 4-8-8-4 had pneumatic clappers. i do know some engines did and I don't ever recall a photo or video of the bells swinging on these units.

[@jlwii2000]

Nick, I think just voltage. From what I read #9 is better for DC only systems but both #9 and #10 work on both DC and DCC, I have both and one doesn't seem to produce more smoke than the other.

[@SavRail]

Very nice. Look forward to seeing if you change the coal to oil. Thank you

[@JohnS916]

Very nice and concise review.

[@MrGaerusso]

Thank you for analysis. J have Challenger for now.

[@RibbonInsignia]

Make sure you put half a hand brake on the first tanker car at 18:33 to keep those tankers from sloshing.

[@andrewj.682]

THX

[@ScottHBrown]

The indent on the coal load is where the stoker hole is.

[@standforchrist1]

Great Review. Love the whistle sound!

[@Raevenonn]

I own one of these (Not 4014). Outstanding model. The detailing is incredible. My only two complaints (Very minor), are no lighted classification lights (Number boards but not classification lights?) and the sounds that come pre-loaded on both the Tsunami Board and the earlier one (Earlier runs had something besides Tsunami, I can't remember what it was though) are kind of a disappointment, but you can upload more prototypical sounds to both of them. At least the Wheel Diameter is correct, and the DCC board won't blow up on ya (Reference to competitors from the past)! After that, as an owner, I'd happily recommend these locomotives to anyone looking to add a Big Boy to their collection. Raevenon

[@TommyZTrains]

amazing ! "Very VERY Nice" !

[@dxg031603]

Did anybody else notice the bell on it sounded like a pneumatic bell found on the newer diesels? Hopefully they have the swing bell sound installed on the decoder

[@844Steamtrain]

That's a nice engine, is this equipped with a Tsunami Heavy Steam decoder, or something else?

[@wolfen216]

My grandfather has a Big boy from athearn, the only thing I never liked about his was the all Black boiler, yours has the silver smoke box (which in my opinion makes it look excellent)

[@iLoVeSD70Ace35]

cool review

[@user-3ew1sd9rw]

Train Productions by iLoVeSD70Ace35 ,.

[@justflem2351]

Wow! think i'm getting hooked!

[@ShelbyBanditNFS]

haha same here. I wonder which HO Company is the best for the steam engines which has great details. I'm planning to buy alot of them.

[@AloneRW]

Really BIG boy! Nice train.+

[@bmcewen65]

Excellent review video! Im glad I bought one. Where did you get the water tenders?

[@Angrist17]

Any comment on the driver articulation? Based on the size it must have it. Would love to see a shot of that nose swinging out as it rounds a curve.

[@shininghappyperson7]

Very very nice model, but it only looks nice on gradual curves like yours! My current HO scale layout has mostly 36 and a few 22 in radius curves. I plan on building a much larger layout in the future,and i have started buying full length heavy weight passenger cars, and larger locomotives. I was just wondering what radius curves you have for such large locomotives. Thankyou!

[@MilePost106]

How do you guys get that pin to hook up to the tender? I have big farmer fingers and can't even come close to getting a finger near the connection..

[@NicksCollectableCreations]

Does it run any smoother at SS1 with a load behind the locomotive? Just curious because I have some that are jerky like that at SS1 but once you put a load behind it, it seems to help smooth it out.

[@carnosaurusrex9170]

Awesome love the big boy

[@trevorgwelch7412]

How does it compare to Broadway Limited In terms of overall quality and details etc ???

[@lmogden1]

great video

[@TheSteamKing]

Geat review James, I just ordered my Mth Big Boy on Monday and you got me really stoked. It should be here within the next few days. I'm also looking to get the Athearn challenger that just came out. I've heard that people have been having problems with it. Did you experience any complications with yours? Rrk1937

[@TTopTABandit-lc9mc]

I have the Rivarossi Big boy I bought back in the mid 90s she runs smooth as silk always keep it oiled up how much are they worth now days if I was to want to sell it to help pay for one of these new ones??

[@gee_kiyo]

I got a new big boy loco at a train show (oil tender #4005) for $445, and it runs like new.

[@gee_kiyo]

along w/ the #844, it was $300. it runs like new as well.

[@Gasoline85]

I'm currently building the Revell HO size model of this locomotive.

[@awildjared1396]

they changed the whistle somewhere between the original release and 2017

[@NicksCollectableCreations]

James, do you know what ( if any ) differences are between the suethe 9 and 10 smoke generators? The 9 looks like it draws a bit more power, which would make me think it puts out more smoke.

[@claytons8263]

I have the promontory version it has red wheel valve for coal but my version has oil can I get the coal tender or should I just remove the red wheels?

[@michaelnaisbitt1639]

The major trouble with this locomotive is that now I have to fit a bigger turntable. Does Union Pacific get a little out of the sales of 4014 to assist in the work on the real thing ?? When the Brits rebuilt the wreck of The Duke of Glouster 4-6-2 the made models of loco in HO and these were sold to offset costs. Good idea. The whole world wants a BIG BOY in steam again

[@samdoney6623]

beautiful locomotive

[@choochoo3985]

The only realistic steam sound is by TCS WOW. Why? Because when a steam locomotive starts it roll it does not huff. The other reason is that when they roll with the throttle closed they don't huff. The TCS WOW's replicate those operating sounds and the rest of the sounds are as good as any in my opinion. Thanks for the reviews, they have helped me decide on several of the locomotives I have purchased.

[@chipps1066]

Does any manufacture make these steam locomotives that are not tender driven but the actual locomotive pulls?

[@MikeNyc39]

I have one also and as soon as I got It the traction tire came off and the driver wheel didn't have a groove...but I've also noticed that the front bounces a little and one time It derailed. So I was wondering have you or anyone else had this problem?

[@TreefrogflagProductions]

No the Genesis Mountain locomotive has incandescent bulbs.

[@MrBillroetter]

Sweet nice unit

[@JulieAV]

Do the rear drivers pivot or are they ridged to the frame (as prototypical)?

[@AECEntertainment]

What are you controlling the train with...software wise?

[@wolfen216]

it's an athearn, I was with him when he picked it up from the store.

[@rubber20021]

A beautiful machine, very similar to real life.

[@djmpvae27091978]

Cool vid.

[@TheShadeTreeFixitMan]

Pretty impressive.

[@lifeofivan8850]

is the HO scale train good for LEGO like minifigs... like the same proportions as in real life REAL TRAIN TO REAL PERSON? Or it should be the O scale? Let me know. Thanks

[@felixuadiale1143]

Life Of Ivan I've seen videos with legs figs and ho scale it looks ok

[@IGaveUpSecondsAgo]

Can you do a review of the athearn 844? Also, do you know how good the riva Rossi 8444 is?

[@luisf2053]

Question an old machine like that of athearn how it would cost?

[@ripjeffhanneman]

Not to be operated on anything more than 11" radii curve. Thank you for watching.

[@matthewlastrapes8104]

That's how mine came but I have a problem with sending back I think to get it repaired

[@samdoney6623]

what kind of power supply and transformer do u have? cause i have a challenger but dont have the appropriate power supply and transformer

[@ShelbyBanditNFS]

There anywhere where i can buy a sign like that union pacific? i wanna get one for the bnsf.

[@Superseanbarry]

I love your reviews. Is there any way for us to talk? I have some constructive ideas about your presentations becoming way better. Thanks for the good work.

[@jbtrains]

Do you think that UP will make the 4014 pull freight or passenger?

[@Geardproductions]

Union Pacific will use it in their Steam Program pulling passenger excursions. They have also pulled freight when returning the steam engines to Cheyenne after the excursions.

[@Iamariari444]

What

[@Nightstorm241]

+Tiffany W freight man it was a freight locomotive.

[@SS-bp8yq]

The lowest price I saw so far is $339.95, looks like a great Locomotive.

[@aaronbonatz3038]

Sweet locomotive.

[@imamuffin3214]

will this work on 20" radius curves or will it derail because I can't get 22" curves on my layout

[@zachsmall7117]

Very nice do u know of anywhere that sells them in nscale for a good price

[@TonyFleetwood]

lol spider conductor, was he even properly licensed?

[@Mojoman57]

Good review! Radii

[@PhippsRailProductions]

I miss this layout