Centipede vs Big Boy Poll

Bigboy its in its own class. The only engine that comes close is the Santa Fe 2-10-10-2 ..Maybe a vision challenger .. 

The centipedes are great but in my opinion very boring compared to the big boy.  So hands down its the big boy.  All the sounds, smoke from everywhere, coal load feature, etc, there is no comparison except that the centipedes can be had for half the price.  

If i had to pick.. Just by "look" alone for a childs point of view.. I think Big Boy is the way to go.. 

The Big Boy has so much more going on, I'm sure most kids would be way more interested than with the Centipedes.  I have both, and my grandson can't be bothered when I have the centipedes running.

I love big boys, but I will be contrary, and pick the centipede:

1) Kids don't know of care about steam - the centipedes are old, too, but at least they look something like what they think of as a locomotive.

2) for the same money, you can get two, maybe close to three, centipedes compared to the Big Boy.  that is a lot of wheels, smoke, and sound, not to mention length.  

Big Boy........no contest!

 

-Pete

Big Boy the Icon of Steam.

Mikey

I have both, big boy!!!

I always say, if you have to choose, get both!

Having watched kids follow trains around my club's modular layout, they seem to like the steamers best.  The action of the side rods, the sounds (especially the whistle) and the smoke get and keep their attention far longer than diesels.  Don't get me wrong, they like the diesels, too, but there is just more going on with a steamer, and there is a LOT going on with a Big Boy!

 

Andy

I own a Big Boy.......so you know my answer.....

 

VL Big Boy!

Vision. Line. Big. Boy.

 

The whistle alone is worth the price of admission.

 

Centipedes are neat, but I don't know any diesel that's more interesting than a steam engine.

Have both. The boys like steam and the bigger the better.

 

The girls just like to run trains... Polar Express. 

 

Neither care are too much about Centipede action.

Poor Centipedes....they are getting slammed!!! 

Which is more interesting to KIDS???

 

Most kids, if interested in trains at all, are interested in a train that moves. I can entertain (enterTRAIN?) kids for several hours with cheap old Marx trains, just because they are running. Smoke adds to the enjoyment as does the occasional blast of the whistle hidden in a station, not even in the train!

 

Tell the truth, the Big Boy vs Centipede question is more for you than "the kids" right?  LOL

Big Boy for sure

Kids don't know or care about steam?

The kids know and love Percy and Thomas! The Steamys!

For the little kids, these are the engines they call out by name.

Ray

I like the features on the VL Centipede esp. the double sound system, four smokestacks (if you get them to run right) and spinning illuminated roof fans but (a) I don't care for pilot versions and (b) the Centipede's features are probably not really obvious enough to entertain a young child at least compared to a Big Boy. If you're entertaining yourself it's a different matter of course.

Too bad...I was hoping this would concern the merits of the real, prototype locos relative to the models.   In any event...Big Boy by a landslide...and I'm not a BB fan !

I’m thinking Big Boy too.


       
       

What do you mean “Maybe a vision challenger” ..LOL
The Big Boy is the only Engine that comes close to the Clinchfield Challenger …

K.C.

How old are the kids ?

I would suggest anything that THEY can run.

 

 

Squash the centipede and go with the Bigboy.  I like mine!!!

I've found that any kid from age 6 up can handle a Legacy remote at least as far as the start, stop, speed and whistle functions are concerned, and once they know those they'll be entertained for ages. It's bigger kids who want train brake, labor effects and sequence control.

Hi Rob,

The VL BB by a mile!  Even though steam only does excursion duty these days, it would be like Thomas on steroids!

I'll also take this opportunity to thank you for being a sponsor (National Railroad Worx) and the great service you provided with my recent purchase!

Rich

BigBoy over the boring centipede but if you're willing to spend the bucks for the Bigboy, the big ticket engine that really pleases kids is the VL Hudson with swinging bell..

When kids are around my layout, they fight for control of that engine.

Joe

Big Boy modified with a moving Thomas style face.

OOOOH, im gonna double head my big boy with my UP Centipedes

Which is why the dealers couldn't give them away!!!

 

Big Boy all the way... No contest.

 

David

PLEASE DO and post a video, not pictures, a video please...That would be awesome!

How old are the kids you are trying to appeal to??

If they are young enough THOMAS would catch their eye

 

When you are spending VISION LINE kind of $$$$ then the appeal should be to YOU

 

I vote for the VisionLine Big Boy, Can You Handle the Big Boy? Of Course You can.

The kids will love watching all the features, WheelSlip, Depleting Coal Load, and the Smoking Like a Dragster Smokestacks, and of course the moving side rods on this truly fun to run Monster!!! Hands Down, BIG BOY!!! Happy Railroading

Why VL "PILOT" Centipedes vs VL BB #4014, not VL "painted" Centipedes (UP would be great) vs VL BB?

 

 RR minds need to know

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If I had to choose it would be the centipede.

Big Boy in a land slide!!

 

I only have one Articulated....an NKP Mallet....and kids seem to love the two sets of drive wheels.....and THEY seem to think the over hang is cool.

The BB is OK, but not my favorite steamer. I mean, it's a big, impressive piece, but

it doesn't boil my water (pun alert). It certainly isn't the only "icon of steam", living or

dead. (I shall slowly chant: J3a...J3a...J3a...Niagara...Niagara...)

 

Articulatedly (new word), I would have to put several locos ahead of the BB, esthetically:

SP AC-9 2-8-8-4 (Lionel), Allegheny (everybody), USRA 2-6-6-2 Mallet (Lionel), even the 

BB's sibling, the UP Challenger (early and late; Lionel/MTH/3rd) - heck, that's not even my favorite Challenger.

 

The Centipede is exotic and strange - in a good way. I have one NdeM A (Lionel); muy nice.

 

Does it matter that the tender type used by the BB is often referred to as a "centipede" type?

 

Anyway, the steamer has more dancing pieces; the C'pede has a look that is captivating.

It is also so very LONG. The BB is longer, but the Baldwin's long flanks are found almost

nowhere else (see C&O Chessie).

 

There's color on the Baldwins (except PRR), but I remain unconvinced that color plays

as large a role in children's (especially males; there - I've said it!) attraction to something mechanical as adults want to believe.

 

So, the BB answers the original question, but I personally find the Centipede more captivating.   

I have the pilot NIB, I woud love to have the UP.

Kids of all ages the layout is in a public space.