Current Model Railroader subscribers: See the Athearn Genesis N scale Big Boy in action. We ran the sound-equipped steam locomotive on Jim Kelly’s N scale layout. Jim is a former managing editor of Model Railroader magazine.
Video: Athearn N scale Big Boy
By Angela Cotey | April 25, 2008
| Last updated on November 3, 2020
I own a Big boy and had its dicoder go up in smoke one day so I decided to open up and install a Lenz gold decoder and power one module for usp technology and must say it now runs very smooth and never stalls ,even going over dirty track ! A superb model from athearn and a far cry from the days of concors old big boys that never seemed to run well!
I own one Big Boy and four Challengers from the first run. I must say I am very disappointed with all of them. All have come apart in one way or another. Mostly side rods falling off and pins nowehere to be found, resulting in catastrophic breakage due to sudden binding. Only one Challenger still operates, but with wheel wobble as described by others. Beautiful model but very poor runner. Sound is so-so, but I expect that in n-scale.
I want me one
Pretty nice looking model. Although it looks like there is still some break-in to go through, the slow speed performance looks good for a side rod powered engine. The sound is okay, but a higher quality speaker or a better baffle design might help add some depth to the tone. The weakness I see is the big gap between the firebox and trailing truck. A lot of model railroads are built at eye level now to enhance the viewing experience, and that gap is definitely going to show. Also, the tender looks a bit on the short side. Doesn't the Big Boy use the really long centipede tender?
Still though, it's a great effort on Athearn's part to bring this to market.
Ive just read an article in trains magazine about the big boys coming out of retirement for a job. It was an older mag but its cool to see this video of how awesome one must have been in real life.
WoW, Excellent Effects, Impressive performance
can't wait to see what's in store over the next decade
The Whistle Sounds odd.
I have a Challenger and I think it sounds great.
The Big Boy sounds good on the computer and should sound even better live. I agree about the whistle, it needs to have a more deeper sound. I will be purchasing one in the near future.
The Big Boy is an interesting engine, and the sound makes it seem "more alive." However, I won't be spending any money to buy one, …at least not for a long, long time because it doesn't fit my image of a southwestern railroad, such as Katy, Cotton Belt, MoP, Frisco, Santa Fe, Southern Pacific/T&NO, etc.
Keep up the good work, and I will take time to see them at the next train show.
Bought 2 of them and greatly impressed. Sound, motion and overall appearance are just great, it leaves my rivarossi Big Boy far behind.
It's an awsome piece of machinery, the sound is usually better when it's running on your layout, i have a riverossie big boy thats about 4 years old, i love running all my stesmers at slow to medium speed, i don't have dcc, the only steam engine i have sound with is lifelike proto-2000, it's in dc,sound, it's my polar express pm-1225 berkshire
Earl
A beautiful engine, I was really impressed by the slow power! The sounds were great, thanks for letting us hear them separately. I found the sleazy opening and closing music to be a major turnoff…
I recently purchased the Athearn N scale Challenger and was impressed, I now intend on purchasing a Big Boy to add to my sound equipped N scale locomotive roster. Great work Athearn.
Sounds a bit distorted. Maybe the volume should be turned down as I have found is necessary in HO and On30 locos. I wonder why this obviously freight geared loco has an "all aboard". Excursion trips maybe? Frankly, having listened to several N scale sound equipped locos, I am disappointed with the quality. The speakers are so small that there is absolutely no base component to the sounds and that detracts from the overall experience. This loco looks great and seems to run with ease but I'm not sold on the sound quality.
I have seen and heard the REAL THING. UP's Big Boy has come thru here twice. I was lucky enough to have a good friend at the throttle. The whistle does have a very deep steamboat sound. I definately enjoyed the video
Jim Kelly's layout was a fine choice for showcasing this sweet N scale Big Boy by Athearn's Genesis dept. I particularily liked the 's' turns leading to the tunnel. It sounded just fine on the web site. I'll have to hear it in person. It seems that every new issue of sound equipped locomotives just gets better and better. We live in a fantastic time of technological leaps and bounds! Kudos to all the manufacturers!
Interesting display of micro engineering. How much
more can we expect in the future.
I didn't know what the sounds were until they were
identified.Maybe my computer sound isn't good enough
like Geoff Walker said.
Looks awsome, would like to hear it with my ears not over my laptop sound.
That was really excellent. Makes a person "almost" want to switch to n gauge. Very cool video.
As an HO modeler and longtime UP steam fan I had to check out the Big Boy just to see how the N scale version compares. I am impressed to say the least. I would however like to point out to Robert Raley from Texas that a Big Boy has never operated in Texas under it's own power. He must have seen Challenger #3985 during one of it's trips through the Lonestar State in recent years. In fact a Big Boy has not operated anywhere under it's own power since July of 1959.
I would like to hear from someone who can comment on how the sound in this video compares to the actual sound made by the locomotive. I would guess that the compression for the video reduced the realism of the sound system, but I would like to hear what those who have heard both have to say.
I have been in N Scale for many years, I really never thought we would be seeing engines like this big boy. I remember being an Athern HO scale nut when I first started, I never thought that Athern would even do N Scale. Extrodinary model, I hope to be able to run one on my layout one day.
I have an Athearn HO Challenger, and the sound is very much the same as in this N-scale demo. The chuff sound is inferior to my Tsunami-equipped and BLI models. However the Challenger model looks and runs great. After I bought my Challenger, I read many complaints about the sound. I heard a 50-yr old recording that was very similar to this squeaky sound (no bass), but modern recordings of the 3985 Challenger are much better. Unfortunately there is little you can do with Athearn's proprietary decoder but turn down the volume.