Broadway Limited – Paragon2 E8
In the 1990s Life-Like issued four different roadnumbers of Frisco E8s. These were 2016 (Citation), 2019 (Cavalcade), 2020 (Big Red), and 2022 (Middleground).
Broadway Limited’s E8s are announced as being 2016 (Citation), Item #3255, and 2200 (Cavalcade), Item #3256. It’s important to note that 2016 is a duplicate of one of the Life-Like units, and also that Frisco had no such unit numbered 2200. If the unit is to be Cavalcade, the roadnumber would be 2019, which would mean another duplicate of a previously issued unit.
Frisco’s fleet of E-Units were numbered from 2000-2022, and were referred to as “Racehorses” as each was not only numbered, but was also named after a famous horse.
These locomotives carry a manufacturer’s suggested retail price of $229.99. At such a price most modelers would expect roadnumbers that have not been previously issued. Without a doubt these models are made at a quality that is much better than the 1990s Life-Like releases, but to entice modelers to spend the money, at the least the roadnumbers should be different, and the unit purportedly numbered 2200 would simply be an unforgivable error.
Having started the announcement with criticism, here is Broadway Limited’s promotional language:
Most of the premier passenger trains including the AT&SF “Super Chief,” various CB&Q “Zephyrs,” Great Northern’s “Empire Builder,” New York Central’s “Twentieth Century” and Pennsylvania Railroad’s “Broadway Limited” were pulled by EMD “E” unit diesel locomotives from the 1940’s to the 1970’s. The E3’s were introduced in 1939 and became the first “standard” road diesel locomotive that could be ordered off-the-shelf. The E6’s were essentially the same locomotives as the E3’s and differed little in appearance. Broadway Limited is releasing a variety of the shovel-nosed E6’s used to pull so many popular passenger trains. Each model will be equipped with our new Paragon2 DC/DCC Sound & Control system.
Industry-Leading Features:
- All new Paragon2 sound and control system
- Integral DC/DCC dual mode decoder for ease of operation
- Industry best slow-speed operation in DC and DCC
- Prototypical light operation with headlight
- Authentic EMD E6 sounds! Controllable in DC and DCC
- All-wheel drive and all-wheel electrical pick-up
- Operating knuckle couplers
- Near brass-caliber detail at a plastic price
Product Information:
- ABS plastic body with heavy die cast chassis for maximum tractive effort
- Precision gearing
- 5-pole can motor with skew wound armature and dual fly wheels
- Locomotive Length (coupler to coupler): 5.5 inches
- Locomotive Weight: 4 oz
- Many separately applied details such as handrails, ladders, whistle
- Will Operate on Codes 80, 70, 60, and 55 rail
- Recommended Minimum Radius: 9.75 inches
Broadway Limited Imports is proud to introduce Paragon2: The new benchmark for premium N Scale sound-equipped locomotives. These DC and DCC-Sound equipped locomotives feature the ALL-NEW Paragon2 sound and control system. Each Paragon2 locomotive comes with BLI’s own integral DCC Decoder factory installed. Paragon2 locomotives offer Dual Mode DC and DCC operation with superb back EMF motor control in DC and DCC, recordable DCC operation for automated playback, and the same detail level as the original Precision Craft Models Series!
Industry-Leading SOUND Features:
- Operates in DC & DCC (use DCMaster for DC Sound)
- Record & Play Operation – Records and plays back sounds and movements once or repeatedly for automatic operation
- 16-bit Sample Rate for exceptional high frequency sound clarity
- Playback Whistle for multiple whistle lengths and patterns
- Choice of 3 selectable horns
- Alternate whistle/horn where applicable for locomotive with air horn and steam whistle – both the main whistle and alternate can be easily played
Adjustable bell ringing interval for faster or slower bell - Numerous user-mappable functions with available keys
- Johnson Bar sound at direction change
- Passenger Station ambient sounds – Controlled with function Key
- Freight Yard ambient sounds – Controlled with function key
- Lumber Yard ambient sounds – Controlled with function key
- Farm ambient sounds – Controlled with function key
- Crew radio communications – Controlled with function key
- Maintenance Yard ambient sounds – Controlled with function key
- Demo Mode for display and demonstrations
- Grade crossing automatic signal
- Simple programming with Integral DCC Decoder
- Automatic forward/reverse signal – When activated, stopping triggers and stop whistle toot. When moving forward from a stopped position, toots twice. When moving in reverse. toots three times.
- Chuff sound intensity varies with load
- Individually adjustable sound volumes for each effect
- EZ Reset Button for quick return to factory default settings
It is the hope of this site that Broadway Limited will note the obvious problems with the roadnumbers of these proposed models and take corrective action prior ro their release or their market will likely be quite small.
These models are forecast for delivery in October 2014.
Frisco N-Scale Model Railroading 