- Overall its a great locomotive. The detail is fantastic, with features such as: swinging pipes connecting the boiler and steam chests, operating swivel pilot- equipped with a scale coupler (that will work with most conventional couplers) as well as a swappable standard sized coupler, working cab roof vents and just about all the detail you'd expect out of any bli model.
- As far as mechanical performance goes, out of the box it was a bit stiff but once it made some laps around the layout its loosened up into a respectable runner, it also requires a minimum of 22" radius curves (however it can negotiate #4 turnouts). For pulling power I havent been able to put it on a real train (so far 18 bethgons at most), but it can pull a stopped Athearn RTR SD-40 as well as destroy a walthers bumper! The sound system is pretty good overall. BLI did a good job on the N&W whistle. The chuff is fairly heft and fits the locomotive, it also has the appropriate double chuff of an articulated which will go in and out of sync with each other appropriately.
- There are only 2 little issues that I have with the locomotive. The first is that the builders plate on the smoke box sides is actually for a J class 4-8-4, of course its still a Roanoke builders plate and unless your 1ft away from the engine and its not moving very fast, you not going to notice. The other issue is that when installing a DCC decoder, you must program the decoder to have reversed directional outputs (via CV 29) or else your front headlight will be on but the engine will be going backwards!
- Overall I'd say its a fantastic locomotive and worth picking up.
