MTH Big Boy #4004:      MTH One Gauge Big Boy w/Protosound 2 - Protosound 3 - DCS - 70-3009-1  - 70-3026-1

Note: if the video skips, right click on the link and select "save target as" and save it to your local drive, then play it.

                                              Select the version / quality you want to download:

   -  First run - 9:09 mins  -  Challenger and 2 Big Boys coming out of the house

                   - 138MB/2100kbs - 67MB/1000kbs - 10MB/150kbs

   -  Video #2 - 3:08 mins  -  Big Boy and Challenger inside basement

                   - 47MB/2100kbs - 23MB/1000kbs - 3MB/150kbs

   -  Video #3- 6:23 mins  -  Big Boy and Challenger double-headed on basement line

                                                            - 96MB/2100kbs - 47MB/1000kbs - 7MB/150kbs

                                            -  Video #4- 2:06 mins  -  Big Boy and Challenger double-headed on main loop

                                                            - 31MB/2100kbs - 15MB/1000kbs - 2MB/150kbs

                                            -  Video #5- 2:07 mins  -  Big Boy and Challenger double-headed on main loop

                                                            - 31MB/2100kbs - 15MB/1000kbs - 2MB/150kbs

                                            -  Video #6- 2:52 mins  -  Big Boy and Challenger double-headed on main loop

                                                            - 43MB/2100kbs - 21MB/1000kbs - 3MB/150kbs

                                            -  Video #7- 7:01 mins  -  Big Boy lead camera angle on main loop

                                                            - 106MB/2100kbs - 51MB/1000kbs - 7MB/150kbs

                                            -  Video #8- 6:41 mins  -  Big Boy lead camera angle on main loop

                                                            - 101MB/2100kbs - 49MB/1000kbs - 7MB/150kbs

                                            -  Video #9- 6:16 mins  -  Big Boy chase camera angle on main loop

                                                            - 94MB/2100kbs - 46MB/1000kbs - 7MB/150kbs

                                            -  Video #10- 3:59 mins  -  Big Boy chase camera angle on main loop

                                                            - 60MB/2100kbs - 29MB/1000kbs - 4MB/150kbs

                                            -  Video #11- 4:48 mins  -  Big Boy chase camera angle on main loop - 59 SMPH

                                                            - 72MB/2100kbs - 35MB/1000kbs - 5MB/150kbs

                                            -  Video #12- 3:20 mins  -  Big Boy runby shots various angles

                                                            - 50MB/2100kbs - 25MB/1000kbs - 3MB/150kbs

                                            -  Video #13- 2:30 mins  -  Big Boy runby shots various angles

                                                            - 37MB/2100kbs - 18MB/1000kbs - 3MB/150kbs

                                            -  Video #14- 5:17 mins  -  Three inside the basement

                                                            - 79MB/2100kbs - 39MB/1000kbs - 6MB/150kbs

                                            -  Video #15- 5:12 mins  -  Three Big Boys together - Doubleheader + Pusher

                                                            - 78MB/2100kbs - 38MB/1000kbs - 5MB/150kbs - YouTube HQ

                                            -  Video #16- 2:11 mins  -  Three Big Boys together - Doubleheader + Pusher

                                                            - 33MB/2100kbs - 16MB/1000kbs - 2MB/150kbs - YouTube HQ

                                            -  Video #17- 1:20 mins  -  Three Big Boys together - Doubleheader + Pusher

                                                            - 20MB/2100kbs - 9MB/1000kbs - 1MB/150kbs - YouTube HQ

                                            -  Video #18- 1:14 mins  -  Three Big Boys together - Doubleheader + Pusher

                                                            - 18MB/2100kbs - 9MB/1000kbs - 1MB/150kbs - YouTube HQ

                                            -  Video #19- 2:15 mins  -  Three Big Boys together - Doubleheader + Pusher

                                                            - 34MB/2100kbs - 16MB/1000kbs - 2MB/150kbs - YouTube HQ

                                            -  Video #20- 2:00 mins  -  Three Big Boys together - Doubleheader + Pusher

                                                            - 30MB/2100kbs - 14MB/1000kbs - 2MB/150kbs - YouTube HQ

                                            -  Video #22  - 2:04 mins - Big Boys + Challenger w/smoke deflectors

                                                            -  47MB/3000kbs - 17MB/1000kbs - 7MB/400kbs - YouTube HQ

                                            -  Video #23  - 4:28 mins - Big Boys + Challenger w/smoke deflectors

                                                            -  103MB/3000kbs - 36MB/1000kbs - 15MB/400kbs - YouTube HQ

                                            -  Video #24  - 2:41 mins - Big Boys + Challenger w/smoke deflectors

                                                            -  62MB/3000kbs - 22MB/1000kbs - 9MB/400kbs - YouTube HQ

                                            -  Video #25  - 1:24 mins - Big Boys at night

                                                            -  30MB/3000kbs - 11MB/1000kbs - 2MB/400kbs

                                            -  Video #2  - 2:29 mins - Challenger w/smoke deflectors + Big Boys

                                                            -  57MB/3000kbs - 20MB/1000kbs - 8MB/400kbs

                                            -  Video #26  - 2:11 mins - Big Boys x 4 - Three + visiting Big Boy on the head-end

                                                            -  51MB/3000kbs - 19MB/1000kbs - 7MB/300kbs - YouTube HQ

                                            -  Video #27  - 2:37 mins - Big Boys x 4 - Three + visiting Big Boy on the head-end

                                                            -  60MB/3000kbs - 22MB/1000kbs - 9MB/400kbs - YouTube HQ

                                            -  Video #28  - 4:08 mins - Big Boys x 4 - Three + visiting Big Boy at the Great Plains Train Station in Olathe, KS

                                                            -  218MB/HD-7000kbs - YouTube 1080p HD

                                            -  Video #29  - 1:21 mins -  Big Boys x 4 - Three + visiting Big Boy at the Great Plains Train Station in Olathe, KS

                                                            -  71MB/HD-7000kbs - YouTube 1080p HD

                                            -  Video #30  - 4:23 mins - 3 Big Boys take on the coal train at the Great Plains Train Station in Olathe, KS

                                                            -  231MB/HD-7000kbs - YouTube 1080p HD

                                            -  Video #31  - 1:53 mins - 3 Big Boys take on the coal train at the Great Plains Train Station in Olathe, KS

                                                            -  100MB/HD-7000kbs - YouTube 1080p HD

                                            -  Video #32  - 1:48 mins - 3 Big Boys take on the coal train at the Great Plains Train Station in Olathe, KS

                                                            -  95MB/HD-7000kbs - YouTube 1080p HD

                                            -  Video #33  - 1:38 mins - 3 Big Boys take on the coal train at the Great Plains Train Station in Olathe, KS

                                                            -  86MB/HD-7000kbs - YouTube 1080p HD

                                            -  Video #34  - 1:40 mins - 3 Big Boys take on the coal train at the Great Plains Train Station in Olathe, KS

                                                            -  88MB/HD-7000kbs - YouTube 1080p HD

                                            -  Video #35  - 0:57 mins - 3 Big Boys take on the coal train at the Great Plains Train Station in Olathe, KS

                                                            -  50MB/HD-7000kbs - YouTube 1080p HD

                                            -  Video #36  - 1:28 mins - 3 Big Boys take on the coal train at the Great Plains Train Station in Olathe, KS

                                                            -  78MB/HD-7000kbs - YouTube 1080p HD

                                            -  Video #37  - 1:55 mins - 3 Big Boys take on the coal train at the Great Plains Train Station in Olathe, KS

                                                            -  101MB/HD-7000kbs - YouTube 1080p HD

                                            -  Video #38  - 3:42 mins - 3 Big Boys take on the coal train at the Great Plains Train Station in Olathe, KS

                                                            -  195MB/HD-7000kbs - YouTube 1080p HD

                                            -  Video #39  - 1:06 mins - 3 Big Boys take on the coal train at the Great Plains Train Station in Olathe, KS

                                                            -  58MB/HD-7000kbs - YouTube 1080p HD

                                            -  Video #40  - 0:57 mins - 3 Big Boys take on the coal train at the Great Plains Train Station in Olathe, KS

                                                            -  50MB/HD-7000kbs - YouTube 1080p HD

Test videos:  (MTH Big Boys)

                                            -  HD Video #1 - 1:23 mins  -  High Definition Video test - lose-up run-by camera on staging track

                                                           - 244MB/24000kbs - 203MB/20000kbs - 153MB/15000kbs - 103MB/10000kbs

                                                           - 72MB/7000kbs - 52MB/5000kbs - 42MB/4000kbs- 32MB/3000kbs - 22MB/2000kbs

                                                           - 12MB/1000kbs - YouTube HD

Train Show 3/15/08:  (MTH Big Boys)

                                            -  Video #1 - 3:11 mins  -  2 Big Boys on the point with Big Boy pusher on 60 car coal train

                                                           - 48MB/2100kbs - 23MB/1000kbs - 4MB/150kbs

                                            -  Video #2 - 5:20 mins  -  2 Big Boys on the point with Big Boy pusher on 60 car coal train

                                                           - 81MB/2100kbs - 39MB/1000kbs - 6MB/150kbs

100ft Coal Trains (x 2)

          - MTH Big Boys & Aristocraft Norfolk Southern Dash-9s:

                                             -  Video #1 - 4:27 mins  -  3 Big Boys and 5 NS Dash-9s take on their own 100ft coal trains

                                                            - 67MB/2100kbs - 33MB/1000kbs - 5MB/150kbs - YouTube HQ

                                             -  Video #2 - 1:56 mins  -  3 Big Boys and 5 NS Dash-9s take on their own 100ft coal trains

                                                            - 29MB/2100kbs - 14MB/1000kbs - 2MB/150kbs - YouTube HQ

                                             -  Video #3 - 4:31 mins  -  3 Big Boys and 5 NS Dash-9s take on their own 100ft coal trains

                                                            - 69MB/2100kbs - 33MB/1000kbs - 5MB/150kbs - YouTube HQ

                                             -  Video #4 - 2:13 mins  -  3 Big Boys and 5 NS Dash-9s take on their own 100ft coal trains

                                                            - 34MB/2100kbs - 17MB/1000kbs - 2MB/150kbs - YouTube HQ

                                             -  Video #5 - 3:42 mins  -  3 Big Boys and 5 NS Dash-9s take on their own 100ft coal trains

                                                            - 56MB/2100kbs - 27MB/1000kbs - 4MB/150kbs - YouTube HQ

            - MTH Big Boys & Triplexes:

                                             -  Video #6 - 8:05 mins  -  3 Big Boys and 3 Triplexes each take on their own 100ft coal trains

                                                            - 188MB/3000kbs - 70MB/1000kbs - 28MB/300kbs - YouTube HQ

                        You can find additional videos on the Garden Railroad Videos page:    

                                   http://www.rayman4449.com/Garden_Railroad_Videos.htm  

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Product Review:  (*Updated 06/08/2011*)   MTH One Gauge Big Boy w/Protosound 2 - Protosound 3 - DCS - 70-3009-1  - 70-3026-1

Overall:
Compared to the Challenger, this engine is completely redesigned for ease of disassembly, durability, smoothness, performance and appearance.  It weighs a good bit more than the Challenger and won't have the front driver traction issues.

The MTH Big Boy (1:32 scale) is priced at $1000 has all die cast metal frame, plastic boiler, mostly metal detail parts, all metal gears with high quality synced smoke system and sound + control preinstalled.  This is in-between the other comparable large G scale steam engines... Aristocraft Mallet 2-8-8-2 (1:29 scale) at $650 and the USA Trains Big Boy (1:29 scale) at $3500.  The Aristocraft has lower level and quality of detail with all plastic boiler, frame, mostly plastic detail parts, plastic gears, no sound or control installed and includes inexpensive all plastic smoke unit.  The USA Trains Big Boy has very high (exceptional) detail with all metal construction (boiler, frame, everything) and all metal detail & gears with small all metal smoke unit and sound only system pre-installed. 

I own all three examples noted here (Mallet, USA Trains Big Boy and MTH Big Boy) and like all three.  I think MTH took the right approach with their Big Boy and is really a perfect compromise between cost and level of build quality and detail.  For the extra $350 in cost (over the cost of the Aristocraft Mallet) you get a number of key upgrades and additional features that really make it an excellent buy... Die Cast metal frame but keeps the plastic boiler and tender shells to keep cost and weight down, all metal gears and ball bearings on the motor for durability, and all metal smoke unit with full sound and control pre-installed.  The die cast metal frame gives added strength to engine and much needed weight down low... and when coupled with the traction tires significantly adds to the engines pulling force without excessive weight needing to be added to the engine.

Pull force: 

• MTH Big Boy=7.5 lbs
• Aristocraft Mallet=2.5 lbs
• USA Big Boy=8 lbs

Engine Weight:  (excluding tender)

• MTH Big Boy=18 lbs
• Aristocraft Mallet=15 lbs
• USA Big Boy=45 lbs

*Note: The MTH Big Boy has about the exact same pull force as the USA Trains Big Boy but weights 60% less.* 

While the boiler and tender shells are plastic, the detail is very well done which adds to the overall look and feel of being a quality model. 

Performance/Construction:
With all improvements done to the engine, added springs for weight transfer to the front engine set, all drivers with independent sprung suspension, metal connecting rods, full die cast metal frame, traction tires and solid metal drivers the engine is made to pull a heavy load and run smooth doing it.  The engine (like all MTH engines) has solid metal axles, all metal gears and ball bearings on the drive motors (worm gear side where it's needed).  Because of this these engines will avoid the mechanical failures seen in most other manufacturers that use plastic gears (USA Trains diesels & Aristocraft diesels & steam - see my Repair & Modifications page for more information).  The ball bearings on the motors will eliminate motor failures due to wear (see USA Trains Hudson motor failure or USA Trains 2 axle diesel motor failure). 

Detail:

The engine has excellent detail like all their other engines and is what you might expect for an engine priced at $1000 which is between the $650 Aristocraft 2-8-8-2 Mallet (lower detail w/mostly plastic detail parts, plastic gears) and the $3500 USA Trains Big Boy (Very high detail w/all metal detail, all metal gears).  Compared to the Aristocraft and USA Trains steam engines, the quality of build good amount of the detail parts on the engine are made of metal(brass).  The boiler is plastic with the frame being all die cast metal. 

Drivers:
The drivers are in fact solid metal with a metal rim and are painted with a very hard and durable paint.  The drivers are electrically insulated by an insert between the driver and axle.  This insert has a flange on the back side of the driver that ensures the drivers stay separated from the frame and thus not short.

Connecting rods:
Are all metal like the Challenger.


Protocoupler:
The Big Boy comes with the new G scale Protocoupler.

Die Cast frame:
The die cast frame adds a significant amount of weight to the engine overall as well the front engine set and gives it a more solid, quality feel. This alone was probably one of the biggest and most significant changes compared to the earlier Challenger.  In slippage tests the front and back drivers slip at the same time and rate, so the weight distribution is properly balanced out.

Suspenion:

Each driver axle set is independently sprung providing an independent suspension which allows for much smoother operation over crossovers and switch frogs.

A spring + slider washer suspension has been added between the front engine set and the boiler to transfer additional weight to the front engine set. 

Lights:
Same as the Challenger, except the Interior light is wired to the number board lights, so they come on and go out at the same time.


Sound:
Is as loud as the Challenger if not louder. The chuff is the same as the Challenger and the bell is the same as used on their GS-4.  Again, great sound is something you would expect from an MTH engine and their Protosound 2 system.

Control:
Speed control matches the Challenger and the other MTH engines precisely. No variation whatsoever. Set it a 7 smph, and they all will maintain that speed and distance from each other, regardless of the track voltage.

Durability touches:
There are a number of areas where MTH made changes to improve durability when compared to the Challenger:
- The steam delivery pipe ends from the rear engine to the front articulating steam connections on the front now have metal ends to prevent cracking.
- The articulated hinge pin is now metal and is part of the frame.
- The tender drawbar pin is metal.

Conclusion:
This engine, being the successor to the Challenger has seen a significant number of improvements, all address items that.  With the MTH sound and control already built in and the new and improvements this engine is a great value for the money.   If you think you want one, I would not hesitate to buy, you won't be disappointed.
 

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Read about the modifications done to this engine at the Modification link below.

Garden Railroad Modification, Repair & Maintenance

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Return to the Garden Railroad 2004 page.