Locomotives
About Blackstone Models Locomotives
Design and Construction
Our engineers design our models for operational reliability,
spending much effort to ensure exceptional slow speed operation
and the smallest operating radius possible. Track power is picked
up by all drivers and tender wheels, providing smooth running
over even the most finicky switches without stalling or derailing.
Running HOn3 trains is fun again!
Die-cast construction provides excellent detail, while furnishing
the additional weight needed for reliable operation and superior
pulling power. Golden-white LEDs provide hours of maintenance-free running.
An integrated drawbar connector provides hidden wires and trouble-free performance.
Amazing Details!
Exhaustive research of the prototypes through first-hand measurements,
historical photos and railroad blueprints result in some of the finest
models ever built.
Model variations are built with their own unique details, such as
handrail location, number boards, cabs, tenders, headlights, ladders,
and more, and often have over 100 hand-placed detail parts.
Historically Accurate Lettering
Painstakingly researched, the logos, fonts and positioning varies from
locomotive to locomotive as appropriate for the prototype practice of the day.
The Sound System
Blackstone Models locomotives are optionally available with a custom
SoundTraxx® Tsunami® Digital Sound Decoder. Tsunami is a high performance
sound system for the model railroader of the new millennium providing the
benefits of today’s Digital Command Control (DCC) technology with the
addition of high quality, digital onboard sound.
Waves of pure 16-bit digital sound will delight your senses, with effects
so amazing you won't believe your ears! This sound system can produce
as many as 24 sound effects, including the bell, whistle, airpump, dynamo,
snifter valve, injectors, firebox blower, side rod clank, brake squeal,
exhaust chuff and more, all recorded from the prototype.
The custom sound system is pre-programmed and ready to run without any
adjustments, however Tsunami's Sound Mixer allows you to customize the
sound levels of every effect to suit your personal taste. Tweak them
to suit your needs and then select your favorite whistle from a selection
of prototypically accurate whistles built in.
The sound of the steam exhaust keeps a steady beat, aided by an optical
sensor, which precisely delivers 4 chuffs per revolution at any speed.
The Dynamic Digital Exhaust™ feature adjusts the timbre and volume of
the chuff in response to changes in the locomotive load!
More than a sound system, Tsunami includes SoundTraxx' Hyperdrive™ technology,
which further refines the already smooth and precise locomotive operation.
In addition to supplying a luminous glow to the headlight and backup lights,
the Dyno-Light effect mimics the effect of the gradual increase in lamp
brightness as the generator spools up and provides power to the headlight.
While Tsunami is first and foremost a premium DCC sound decoder, it is
also capable of operating on a DC, or 'analog' layout. This means you
can take your model to visit a layout running with a conventional powerpack.