PCM Y-6 and Link Recordings

[nw-modeling-list at nwhs.org]

This may sound like weasling out but it is not.  

I truly love the sound of the PCM Y6b whistle better than than the whistle on the A.    If you listen to the first minutes of Thunder on Blue Ridge, where you hear the two Y6b's calling each other to push and lead the train up the ridge, they have a mournful sound.  That is the sound caught by the PCM.   The BLI A whistle is very sharp and almost sounds like a dog barking when you do a short whistle. 

As for the exhaust crack, the BLI A has a sharper crack to it as I think they may have in real life.  At least that is what I remember the 1218 sounding like through the various recording I have of it.  (Unfortunately I lived outside of NS territory during the excursion days and could not afford the plane and train ticket to ride behind the 1218 and 611.)  So for the exhaust I think the BLI has the edge, but not by much.    The PCM has in my opinion a softer deeper exhaust, more muffled.  Sort of what I heard on some parts of Thunder on Blue Ridge.  (Which makes me wonder if that is the sound PCM based the Y6b on.)    I also like the effects of the PCM that when you start it off slowly it imitates the sound of steam being blown out of the steam cocks.

Which loco do I like the most, the BLI A or the PCM Y6b?  I really love the detail put into the Y6b, but considering it is almost twice the price you should expect that.  The whistle on my A gets some static like sound, like maybe one of the speakers is cracked, but I have had it apart and have not noticed any.    As for pulling.  My BLI A can walk a 25 car coal train, with BLI, and Stewart Hoppers (weighted to NMRA standards, with metal wheels and Kadee couplers) up a curving 2.2% grade with no problems.  The PCM Y6b can get about 1/4 of the way up but stalls in a curve.  Of course the A has traction tires and the PCM Y6b does not.  My solution was to double head both the A and the Y6b.  Talk about a nice sound.  :)

So if you want to pull long heavy trains with moderate grades get the A.  If your layout is flat get the Y6b.  Or get an A and two Y6b's.  Put a Y6b in front followed by an A and have a Y6b pushing.

A.J. Gemperline
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From: nw-modeling-list-request at nwhs.org

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> Message: 1

> Date: Mon, 24 Jul 2006 08:36:19 -0700 (PDT)

> From: nw-modeling-list at nwhs.org

> Subject: Re: PCM Y-6 and Link Recordings

> To: N and W Modeling List <nw-modeling-list at nwhs.org>

> Message-ID: <20060724153619.6321.qmail at web52911.mail.yahoo.com>

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> A.J., 

>    

>   In your opinion, which sounds better ( whistle and exhaust ) , the PCM Y or 

> the BLI A?

>    

>   Will 

> 

> nw-modeling-list at nwhs.org wrote:

>   I have both the original vinyl recording and the new CD version of Thunder on 

> Blue Riedge by OWL. I also the PCM Y-6. IMHO, the PCM Y-6 does sound a lot like 

> the OWL recording, especially the whistle. Just listen to the lonesome whistle 

> calls right at the beginning.

> 

> A.J. Gemperline

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