Review of SP Cab Forward with Upgrade Chip
by Bob Liberman
Bob Liberman, an avid and very capable SP modeler, shares his impressions of the BLI Cab Forward with QSI Upgrade Chip.
THE QSI CHIP FOR THE BLI AC-4 CAB-FORWARD
On Saturday morning the mail man surprised me by delivering my new QSI upgrade chip. I went to my work bench and installed it in my AC-4 BLI cab-forward. I tested the unit before I put the tender back together. After I completed the installation I put the locomotive and tested it on #3 to see that it ran OK. After programming the locomotive number I changed some CVs to my standards (very slow start CV-3 acceleration to 75 and CV-4 deceleration to 50). I was now ready to test this loco over my railroad.
THE LOCOMOTIVE TEST ON MY LAYOUT
I had a freight train ready to go over my layout (22 cars with a 2.2 oz drag). Ahead of the train is a 2.5% grade that is about 40 feet long. And this locomotive has a draw bar pull of 3.0 oz so I felt that it could pull a 2.2 oz train up this grade. The train will get heavier as it enters the grade and will be heaviest when it gets to the top of the grade.
Well two toots on the whistle and we got under way. To my great surprise the cylinder bleed cocks opened and bled off any water that had collected in the cylinders (new sound). As the locomotive started to pick up speed the bleed off valves closed and the locomotive went in to an articulated chuff and the volume increased as the train was starting to move at a faster pace (I got goose bumps on my arms this was a great sound just like the real thing).
The new chuff is very deliberate and crisp and you could hear both engines very clear, the train was now moving at about 15 mph and the locomotive was really showing its power.
As the train entered the grade the locomotive was getting louder and the train started to slow down a bit, just like it was supposed to. As the train approached the top of the grade the drivers started to slip a little, but the train was still moving as it was now close to 3.0 oz of draw bar pull.
Soon the locomotive was over the crest of the hill and soon the train will be back on flat ground. As the train got back on flat ground the speed started to pick-up until it was 35 mph which is the maximum speed for this district of my railroad.
At this point the locomotive had transitioned to a single chuff because now both the front and rear engine were in sync (new sound). How great is this! Just like the real thing and it is only a model train.
Just wait until you get your new chip, your imagination will have a field day.
For those folks that own a BLI Cab-Forward and have no idea what the front should look like I have repainted the window sills just like the prototype and have included a picture for you to review. There is also a picture of the test train.
Bob Liberman
SP Model Railroader
