A customer recently contacted Tony’s Train Exchange with a question we suspect many model railroaders have considered.
He is interested in one of Broadway Limited’s new Big Boy locomotives and currently operates his railroad with an ESU command station. He has not previously owned a Broadway Limited locomotive, and his existing locomotives are Kato models, which have provided exceptional mechanical reliability.
His questions were essentially:
How does Broadway Limited Paragon sound compare with ESU LokSound?
Can a Broadway Limited Big Boy be purchased without Paragon and equipped with ESU LokSound instead?
And finally:
How does Broadway Limited's mechanical quality and reliability compare with Kato?
Sound quality will always involve some personal preference, but these questions touch on a larger subject: choosing the locomotive you want without necessarily being tied to the manufacturer's factory-installed decoder.
At Tony's Train Exchange, when a Broadway Limited Stealth version is available, we think there is a very good solution.
The Short Answer
If you want a Broadway Limited locomotive but prefer ESU LokSound or SoundTraxx Tsunami2, we generally recommend purchasing the BLI Stealth version and installing the sound decoder of your choice.
An important point that is sometimes overlooked is that Broadway Limited Stealth locomotives already include factory-installed speakers.
You are not starting with an empty locomotive and engineering a complete sound installation from scratch.
For the Broadway Limited Big Boy, the basic ESU configurations are:
HO Scale
Broadway Limited Stealth Big Boy
Factory-installed speakers
21MTC decoder interface
ESU LokSound 5 58429 21MTC sound decoder
N Scale
Broadway Limited Stealth Big Boy
Factory-installed speakers
Next18 decoder interface
ESU LokSound 5 Micro 58828 Next18 sound decoder
This gives you the Broadway Limited locomotive and factory speaker installation while allowing you to choose the DCC and sound platform you prefer.
What Is Broadway Limited Paragon4?
Broadway Limited's Paragon4 system is BLI's factory-installed DCC and sound platform.
A Paragon-equipped locomotive arrives with the decoder and sound system already installed. Put it on a compatible DCC railroad, program the locomotive as necessary, and you have DCC, motor control, lighting, and sound ready to use.
For many model railroaders, that's exactly what they want.
The question becomes more interesting when the modeler already has a preference for another decoder platform.
If you're already using ESU LokSound throughout your locomotive fleet, for example, you may prefer the motor-control characteristics, function mapping, programming methodology, sound projects, and customization capabilities of ESU.
Likewise, many North American modelers have a strong preference for SoundTraxx Tsunami2.
In those situations, buying a factory Paragon locomotive with the intention of immediately removing its decoder isn't necessarily the most cost effective approach.
That's where BLI Stealth becomes particularly attractive.
What Is a Broadway Limited Stealth Locomotive?
Broadway Limited's Stealth models allow the modeler to choose the decoder rather than being committed to BLI's factory Paragon electronics.
But "Stealth" does not mean BLI simply gives you a locomotive with an empty tender and leaves the rest of the sound installation to you.
One of the major advantages of the Stealth models is that the speakers are already factory installed.
BLI also provides a standardized decoder interface.
In the Big Boy models discussed here:
- The HO-scale Stealth Big Boy uses a 21MTC decoder interface
- The N-scale Stealth Big Boy uses a Next18 decoder interface
This can make installing the sound decoder you want considerably easier than performing a traditional sound conversion.
BLI has already engineered the locomotive for sound, installed the speakers, and provided the decoder interface.
You choose the appropriate decoder and sound project.
For modelers who prefer ESU or SoundTraxx, that's a very appealing arrangement.
How Does Paragon Sound Compare With ESU LokSound?
This is where the answer inevitably becomes somewhat subjective.
Different people have different preferences regarding exhaust characteristics, whistles, horns, bells, volume, dynamic range, and how sounds respond to locomotive operation.
But we don't evaluate a sound decoder solely on the sound coming out of the speaker.
The decoder is also the locomotive's motor controller and function controller.
It determines characteristics such as:
- Low-speed motor performance
- Back-EMF motor control
- Acceleration and deceleration
- Function mapping
- Lighting functions
- Sound synchronization
- Consisting behavior
- CV programming
- Special effects
- Overall locomotive response
When we're given a choice of sound decoder platforms, Tony's Train Exchange generally recommends ESU LokSound, SoundTraxx Tsunami2 or TCS WOW Sound.
All are mature, highly capable decoder platforms with excellent sound and motor control.
Why We Like ESU LokSound
ESU LokSound offers an excellent combination of motor control, sound quality, programmability, and flexibility.
The platform provides extensive control over function mapping, lighting, motor characteristics, sound behavior, and other operating characteristics.
For modelers who want to go further, the ESU LokProgrammer is one of the major advantages of the LokSound ecosystem.
With a LokProgrammer, you can load compatible sound projects and make extensive changes to decoder configuration without having to perform all of the programming manually through individual CVs.
For someone already using an ESU command station and familiar with ESU products, choosing LokSound for a BLI Stealth locomotive can make considerable sense.
It also provides consistency.
If you have standardized on ESU decoders, keeping locomotives on the same decoder platform means you don't have to learn a completely different programming structure every time you purchase a new locomotive.
Don't Overlook SoundTraxx Tsunami2
Although this particular customer asked about ESU LokSound, ESU isn't the only alternative to Paragon that we recommend.
SoundTraxx Tsunami2 is also one of our preferred sound decoder platforms.
SoundTraxx has extensive experience with North American locomotive sound and offers excellent steam and diesel sound packages, industry leading motor control, extensive programming capabilities, and strong product support.
Choosing between LokSound, Tsunami2 and TCS WOW Sound often comes down to the particular locomotive, available sound project, decoder format, and personal preference.
We are comfortable recommending all three platforms.
Installing ESU LokSound in an HO BLI Stealth Big Boy
For an HO-scale Broadway Limited Stealth Big Boy, the locomotive uses a 21MTC decoder interface.
Our ESU choice would be:
ESU LokSound 5 58429 21MTC
The decoder would be loaded with the appropriate Big Boy sound project and installed in the locomotive's 21MTC interface.
Because the Stealth Big Boy already has factory-installed speakers, you generally don't need to engineer an entirely new speaker installation.
That is one of the significant benefits of starting with Stealth.
If you already know that you want LokSound, we'd rather start with the Stealth locomotive and install the ESU decoder than purchase the Paragon-equipped version and remove a factory decoder you have already paid for.
Installing ESU LokSound in an N Scale BLI Stealth Big Boy
The same basic principle applies to N scale, but the decoder interface is different.
The N-scale BLI Stealth Big Boy uses a Next18 decoder interface.
Our ESU choice would be:
ESU LokSound 5 Micro 58828 Next18
Again, the Stealth model already includes the factory-installed speakers.
That is particularly valuable in N scale.
Speaker placement and available internal space are often among the most difficult aspects of an N-scale sound conversion. Having BLI engineer and install the speaker system at the factory eliminates a significant portion of that work.
Install the appropriate Next18 sound decoder, load the correct sound project, perform the necessary programming, and you have the basis for a very capable N-scale sound locomotive.
Why Buy Stealth Instead of Replacing Paragon?
If you like Paragon, buy the Paragon-equipped locomotive and enjoy it.
But if you already know that you want ESU LokSound or SoundTraxx Tsunami2, we see little reason to purchase a factory sound decoder that you intend to remove.
You're effectively paying for electronics you don't plan to use.
The Stealth approach is much more logical:
Broadway Limited locomotive + factory-installed speakers + standardized decoder interface + your preferred sound decoder
It gives the modeler much more control over the finished locomotive.
Will a LokSound-Equipped BLI Work With an ESU Command Station?
A BLI Stealth locomotive equipped with an ESU LokSound decoder becomes a standard DCC-equipped locomotive and is an excellent match for an ESU command station.
It's also worth remembering that DCC is designed around industry standards.
Your command station manufacturer, locomotive manufacturer, and decoder manufacturer do not have to be the same company.
An ESU command station can operate locomotives equipped with compatible ESU, SoundTraxx, TCS, Digitrax, NCE, and other DCC decoders.
Likewise, buying a Broadway Limited locomotive does not require you to use Broadway Limited electronics.
That's one of the fundamental advantages of DCC.
How Does Broadway Limited Reliability Compare With Kato?
The customer's second major question concerned mechanical quality.
His experience with Kato locomotives has been that they are essentially "bulletproof," and he wanted to know whether he could expect comparable quality from Broadway Limited.
Kato has established an exceptionally high standard for locomotive engineering and manufacturing quality.
Kato models have a well-earned reputation for smooth mechanisms, excellent electrical pickup, precise assembly, and long-term reliability with relatively little maintenance.
We consider that reputation deserved.
At the same time, Broadway Limited's current locomotive mechanisms are mechanically excellent, and we would not hesitate to recommend a BLI Big Boy based on the quality of the locomotive itself.
There is an important distinction here between the mechanical locomotive and the electronics installed in it.
Our preference for installing ESU LokSound or SoundTraxx Tsunami2 in a BLI Stealth locomotive should not be interpreted as criticism of BLI's mechanical engineering.
When we're given the choice, we simply prefer the ESU and SoundTraxx decoder platforms.
That's an important distinction.
A modeler who likes the BLI Big Boy but prefers ESU electronics doesn't have to choose one manufacturer over the other.
The BLI Stealth version allows you to combine the locomotive you want with the decoder platform you want.
What Maintenance Should You Expect From a BLI Big Boy?
Although we consider the BLI mechanism excellent, a highly detailed articulated steam locomotive such as a Big Boy is an inherently complex piece of machinery.
There are multiple driver sets, articulated running gear, side rods, valve gear, electrical pickup points, locomotive-to-tender electrical connections, wiring, and a substantial amount of detailed mechanical hardware.
That doesn't indicate poor reliability.
It simply means there are numerous mechanical and electrical components that deserve reasonable care over the life of the locomotive.
We would pay particular attention to several areas.
Keep the track and wheels clean. Reliable electrical pickup is especially important with DCC sound locomotives.
Lubricate according to the manufacturer's recommendations. Use appropriate lubricants sparingly. More lubricant is not necessarily better.
Handle the running gear carefully. Side rods and valve gear are precision components and should not be used as handling points when picking up the locomotive.
Take care with locomotive-to-tender connections. Electrical connectors and wiring between the locomotive and tender are important to reliable operation.
Don't automatically blame the decoder for intermittent operation. Dirty wheels, electrical pickups, connectors, track contamination, and wiring can all produce symptoms that may initially look like an electronic problem.
Basic preventative maintenance and careful handling go a long way with any highly detailed steam locomotive.
Kato vs. BLI: Our Perspective
If Kato is your benchmark, you're accustomed to one of the strongest reputations in model railroading for mechanical engineering and reliability.
That's a high standard.
We also consider BLI's current locomotive mechanisms to be mechanically excellent. We would be comfortable purchasing a BLI Big Boy and would not view the mechanism itself as a reason to avoid the model.
Where we may make a different choice is the electronics.
Given the option, we like the combination of:
Broadway Limited mechanical platform + factory-installed Stealth speakers + ESU LokSound or SoundTraxx Tsunami2 decoder
That allows the modeler to take advantage of BLI's locomotive engineering while selecting the DCC and sound platform they prefer.
Our Recommendation
If you want a Broadway Limited Big Boy and are already invested in ESU, we would seriously consider the Stealth version.
For HO scale, our preferred ESU combination is:
BLI Stealth Big Boy
Factory-installed speakers
21MTC decoder interface
ESU LokSound 5 58429 21MTC
For N scale, our preferred ESU combination is:
BLI Stealth Big Boy
Factory-installed speakers
Next18 decoder interface
ESU LokSound 5 Micro 58828 Next18
SoundTraxx Tsunami2 is also an excellent alternative when an appropriate decoder and sound application are available.
The larger point extends beyond the Big Boy.
You don't necessarily have to choose a locomotive based on the sound decoder the manufacturer installs at the factory.
Broadway Limited's Stealth program gives modelers another option.
If BLI makes the locomotive you want but you prefer ESU LokSound or SoundTraxx Tsunami2, purchase the appropriate Stealth model and install the decoder platform you prefer.
With BLI providing the locomotive, factory-installed speakers, and standardized decoder interface, the Stealth approach can give you an excellent combination of mechanical quality, sound, motor control, and programmability.
That's a combination we're very comfortable recommending at Tony's Train Exchange.
