October 2019 57MORE Conducted by Dana Kawala
REVIEWS
& VIDEOSAt our website subscribers can
read more than 1,000 previously
published reviews and watch
more than 150 exclusive
product demo videos.trimmed in red, and the end railings –
made from flexible engineering plastic –
are painted silver to simulate the alumi-
num used on the full-size locomotives.
The scale-sized 72" diameter drivers
have alternating spring cup detail indica-
tive of the quill drive favored by the PRR
on its older electrics. However, the center
drivers were blind (flangeless) on
the prototype, unlike the model, which
relies on a significant amount of lateral
movement to allow negotiation of tight-
radius model railroad curves and turn-
out angles.
The four-wheel pilot trucks include
restraining chain details at their ends.
Wipers on their axles help improve
power pickup.
The pilots have a combination of
molded in detail and separately applied
plastic and metal parts, including non-
operating classification lights with col-
ored jewels. On this early prototype,
there are also a pair of classification
lights on the upper corners of the cab
and each end. Metal knuckle couplers
are mounted at the correct height.
To access the inside of the locomotive,
remove the four screws between the
drivers and pilot trucks, then slip the
end handrails that link the cab ends
with the steps from the holes at the bot-
tom of the steps. The body can then be
slowly lifted off the frame.
Inside the die-cast metal shell is a can
motor with flywheel at one end of the
die-cast metal frame. The motor powers
the drivers through a center-mounted
gear tower. At the opposite end of the
frame are a pair of round speakers facing
down in a rectangular plastic enclosure.
Between the motor and speakers is the
dual-mode sound decoder.
The light-emitting diode headlights
in the body shell are connected to the
decoder with a four-pin plug. There is
no provision to collect power from
the pantographs.The model is equipped with BLI’s
Paragon3 sound and operation system
and supports the firm’s Rolling Thunder
system (see the review in the March 2018
MR). Sold separately, the Rolling
Thunder subwoofer and receiver are
placed under the layout. This system
adds low-frequency bass sounds to the
already loud sound from the engine-
mounted dual speakers.
I tested the model first using an NCE
PowerCab Digital Command Control
(DCC) throttle. This gave me full control
of all the sound effects packed into the
model. These sounds include pantograph
up and down sounds and an electric arc
sound. Users can choose between the
originally equipped trolley whistle used
during the first days of passenger service,
or the loud, single-tone air horn added
when the P5as were used primarily in
freight service.
Broadway Limited also allows users
to record a set of instructions, called a
macro, that the locomotive will then
carry out. For a locomotive such as this,
it could be programmed to run a set pat-
tern to simulate a commuter train oper-
ating between several stations.
The model had excellent slow speed
performance, smoothly crawling along
at just above 1 scale mph in speed step 1.
Speed step 28 saw 136 scale mph –
significantly higher than the locomo-
tive’s design speed of 90 mph.
The locomotive’s pulling power was
disappointing, though. For its weight, it
seemed to be leaving something behind.
A common problem on steam locomo-
tives with pilot and trailing trucks is that
the springs on the trucks can lift the
locomotive from the rails enough to let
the drivers spin.
That appears to be happening with
this model. With the pilot springs in
place, the P5a generated 2.56 ounces of
drawbar pull, equivalent to 36 freight
cars on straight and level track. With the
pilot springs removed, drawbar pull
jumped to 3.84 ounces, equivalent to 54
freight cars.
But this isn’t a perfect fix. When
I removed the springs, the pilot trucks
had a tendency to drop a wheel whilegoing around a curve. This wasn’t an
issue with the springs installed. Tracking
through turnouts was fine with or with-
out the springs. The ultimate solution
would take a bit of tinkering.
As a dual-mode locomotive, the
engine also operates on DC power. As
the charts show, the model again has
excellent slow-speed operation. As is
typical of dual-mode-decoder-equipped
models, it takes much of the throttle
range to get moving.
Sounds commenced at 8.25 volts,
and the locomotive started moving at
just over 1 scale mph at 8.75 volts.
Using a Bachmann power pack,
I recorded a top speed of 109 scale mph
at the pack’s maximum voltage of 14V.
On DC, all sound effects are automatic,
with the sound of the locomotive’s
blower motors and drive motor whine
predominating as they rose in pitch as
the model moved faster.
This well-detailed model looks and
sounds great, and with a bit of tinkering,
it could be a strong-pulling locomotive
as well. If you’ve been itching to expand
your fleet of Pennsy electrics beyond the
GG1, BLI’s P5a is just the ticket. – Eric
White, associate editorFacts & features
Price: $399.99
Manufacturer
Broadway Limited Imports
9 East Tower Circle
Ormond Beach, FL 32174
http://www.broadway-limited.com
Era: 1935 to 1965, depending on paint
scheme
Road names: Pennsylvania RR,
passenger and freight type (multiple
road numbers)
Features- All drivers powered
- Blackened metal pilot and driver wheels,
in gauge - Die-cast metal body and chassis
- Die-cast metal knuckle couplers,
mounted at correct height - Minimum operating radius: 18"
or greater - Paragon3 sound and operation system
with Rolling Thunder, operates on DC
and DCC layouts - Weight: 1 pound, 6 ounces
PERFORMANCE CHARTS
DRAWBAR
PULL2.56 ounces
36 HO scale freight cars
SCALE SPEED (DC)
VOLTS SCALE MPH
8.75 (start) 1.1
10 20
11 50
12 100
14 (powerpack max) 109
SCALE SPEED (DCC)
SPEED STEP SCALE MPH
1 1.1
713
14 26
21 70
28 136Subscribers can watch a video of the preproduction BLI P5a at http://www.ModelRailroader.com.