Just got a bonus: Need a new Hudson!

I own and operate the black 5344 Lionel VL Hudson, and it is THE best Hudson Lionel has ever produced with amazing features:

Legacy control/sounds with 4 chuffs per revolution

Whistle steam effect and swinging bell

Detailed cab with figures

Flickering firebox and ashpan glow

Lighted class lights and number boards plus dimmable headlight

Black handrails all around

Brake hangers on drivers

Scale pilot truck included

Scale removable cast whistle

Real coal load in tender

Scale water scoop and other details underneath tender

Smokebox interior detail

Movable engine cab vents

Tetherless connection to tender

Reasonably close coupling to tender

Backup light on tender

Near-scale flanges on 1st and 3rd drivers; center: flangeless

Magnetic sand dome lid for controls access

Flawless operation!

Art, VL all the way.  I am all about perfect operation.  The VL covers all bases.  Lionel has done some great Hudsons over the years but none can match up to the VL Hudson.  I have 10 MTH Hudsons and they all run great.  I had two K Line Hudsons.  They were beautiful but the sound package and small motor did not do it for me.  I have converted several K Line Hudsons to DCS with a fan driven smoke unit for people.  They make beautiful conversions and run great.  The motor does not measure up to the big Pittman and new huge 7 pole motor that MTH uses or the newer monster motor in the VL.

This will go on forever as everyone who does not have the VL will always defend the Hudson they have.  I have been operating trains for many years and have never found one that runs better.

I am an MTH guy all the way and have no problem making any positive statements about the VL Hudson.

No one has mentioned the LionMaster Hudson. It's not scale, but it looks like a nice engine. It has a lot of details and doesn't require 072 curves. It may leave some bonus money for some other train items.

None available with a quick look though.

This is the engine that Lionel should have reintroduced the LionMaster line with, so all the 4X8 layout guys can run one. 

Art

I have a bunch of different Hudsons.  I certainly recommend you look at the Vision Hudson, particularly if you want all the bells and whistles (literally).  I like mine.  

But MTH's PS3 model of ATSF'a big Hudsons is spectacular, so much so I bought 3461, 3462, and 3465.  it costs a lot less and while it does not have all the fancy features like that very cool swinging bell, it is intricately detailed, has a bigger, beefier look to it,  runs just about as smoothly, and sounds nearly as good.  They are my favorite Hudsons among many I have or had.

Yep, got all that...I love Vanguard, Scott Trade, etc etc., regular contributor to my 401ks, and have IRAs and all that.

Time to use this bonus for fun. Unfortunately, I made the mistake of cleaning my desk and found a medical bill I need to pay....My bonus is $500 less now.

It is a sad day, when a person cannot find a Hudson...someone snagged that 3rd rail BoneYard special already. No VLs anywhere...

Dont you sometimes wish that Forum Sponsors take some of these gems when they released and hide them in a back room closet or warehouse, and wait a few years to announce "Hey we found some stock we didnt know about"!

I know wishful thinking.

Regardless, with price being a limiting factor, these days the few USED black VL hudsons  that pop up are going for up near the $1599 MSRP.

 Again sounds are outstanding, BUT the 100 year old tooling with its lackluster detailing most notably the "blahh" tender trucks, the most glaring error, the incorrect squared valve guides( that Lionel got right on the same loco back in 1990 and every other hudson since), no rivet detail on the steamchest, no builders plates, no chain on the front coupler are the most obvious.

Our "resident hudson experts" have pointed out other errors that are less obvious on past Vision Line Hudson threads, if you do a forum search.

 Stricty my opinion, love the sound features and operation. I personally cannot justify the articulated price for a hudson, that in detail, falls behind every other hudson Lionel has made since 1990.

I've been in the market for a hudson for some time, I backed out on the VL for reasons I mentioned above. The 50th anniversary J3 with the VL goodies would be my ideal model, best detail and best sound.

In the meantime I'm waiting to see  what, if any improvements MTH will make in the sound dept on the new J1e.

Otherwise, I may consider Lionels "pricey"  ESE hudson, though I'm not a big fan of the streamlining.

I guess it all comes to how much your spending, and what you you're looking for in that price range.

Sorry but I'm not selling my 3rdrail highly detailed Hudson.

Thanks RickO, I have the same feelings about the streamliners as well.

I might have to just bite the bullet and add a 0-54 level of track to accomodate the 50th anniversary Hudson. As that does seem like a good choice.

Ugh more layotu building...I guess

Ahh yes beautiful, but you made a trade off with the upgrade, and that N&W j class whistle...

Not really mentioned yet is the 3rd Rail J3a Super Hudson. As I said earlier none of them are perfect. Some excel in detail while other excel in operation.

The J3a is a pretty good compromise. Besides having the best detail in a 3 rail model it also comes with cruise, 4 chuffs and puffs, and a big Pittman motor with smooth belt drive. It only lacks the swinging bell and whistle steam feature of the VL Hudson.

If you are patient you can find them for half what a VL goes for or even less if you can repair brass.

FWIW my idea of the perfect Hudson would be a Kohs J3a with VL features, sound and running charateristics.

Pete

I looked for them Pete.

At this point maybe I should just buy a Williams Scale Hudson and just upgrade it.

Never have done that, might be a good time to learn.

Williams made two. This one is harder to find but has twice the detail of the more common one and usually sells for maybe a third more. If you supplied the labor it would run about 250 bucks to convert to cruise, Railsounds, fan smoke, and electrocoupler.

Williams Masterpiece J3a:

Pete

Williams makes a 773 that runs and looks great and dot a lot of money.  Many great Hudsons are available.  Enjoy guys and have fun.

George congrats on the bonus. If you are going to run on 0/72 or less then you might want to stick with the VL Hudson. To buy either the Kline or the Williams crown Hudson and put ERR cruise and sound you'll spend between $450 and $700 all in depending on the cost of the loco. And that's if you do the labor. If you can find a cruise Kline scale Hudson for $500 or less buy it and don't look back.

Enjoy!

Well here is a good question:

Does the Lionel 6-28072 run on less than an O-54 curve?

The anniversary set saus O-31 for the engine and O-54 for the cars, but if you look up just the engine it says O-54.

CONFUSING!

I know this is not a Hudson, but a wonderful model discounted at least $200 by Weaver.   The 1 to 1 is in pieces at Steamtown. 

Weaver  Boston and Maine 3713.

Unfortunately, I made the mistake of cleaning my desk and found a medical bill I need to pay....My bonus is $500 less now.

That's not fun.

This one just went up, looks basically brand new: MTH B&A Hudson

This may be my next engine, and I'll have Weaver weather it for me with pickup at York.

When you are dealing with generic sounds from Lionel what can I do.  I'm OK with it for now.

THE DEED IS DONE!

After hours and hours of discussion here on the forum, to which I dearly...dearly thank all of you, as well as google, google, google, and a vast exchange of emails with many of yo u fine folks, I have finally purchased my Hudson!

I ended up purchasing a "New In Box" Lionel 6-28072 for $650.

http://www.lionel.com/Products...072&CategoryID=0

I wanted the Lionel 50th Anniversary 6-31705 set very bad, but I already have a really nice lionel O-54 Heavyweight car set including the Station Sounds Diner I cannot run, so why buy another set of cars in a $1200+ set, when I can get Lionels seperately sold version of that locomotive and use the cars I have.

I wanted the K-Line 3270-5343S which would have allowed me to not add another layout level which 0-54 curves, but the only ones I could find did not have cruise.

And...my wife reminded me i owe her $300...DOH!

So that $300 on top of that medical $500 bill I found while cleaning my desk (never do that!), put my bonus money $800 in the hole.

As a result, I am very happy with my decision as it is still the Lionel Engine from that Anniversary set which I love, but the 5444 version.

I can live with 2 chuffs, no biggie for me, but not having to upgrade the smoke unit in the Lionel is also a buy for me. I know I should learn how to do all that, so I will still keep a look out in the future for maybe a K-Line....and of course the anniverssary set! LOL

I came very close a few times to just saying the heck with it and buying either the large version of TrainWorx GCT or Chicago Union Station and just run what I have, but I was afraid you all might come looking for me with pitchfork and torches..and of course the 2 unexpected bills killed that plan. Maybe for the better!

i was also very very very tempted to get a Williams Scale loco which i could have for under $350, but then I started adding up all the upgrades - TMCC, Smoke, Cruise, Electro coupler...and like I said, just went with the lionel that had everything I wanted with no fuss.

Also, I think it is so silly how many O-54 curve engines and cars i have collecting dust..so what the heck, I will add that 3rd level of O-54 starting this weekend.

My many thanks to all of you for putting up with me, and especially RickO who I think spent more time than I did researching this purchase!

Glad I could help George, but I must admit half of what I know I've learned from other forum members myself.

This forum is a wealth of information on O guage and real trains alike.

The half I figured out on my own is due to my own "quest for a hudson". Hope you enjoy it!

 In the meantime,my wife says the unstreamlined J3 " looks just like all of my other trains". So I just may have to put in an order for that streamlined version which "she" prefers. Of course she doesn't like the price of either.....

Heres a fitting ending to this thread with actual audio:

Only you can make the decision on what you want, there are a bunch of recommendations and all are real good, so you need to consider, do I buy good, less expensive engine and enjoy the fun of owning and running it or do you want to wake up in a few weeks and say "a few more bucks and I could have a Vision Line Hudson.

I stated a few days ago that I have never regretted my VL Hudson but consider, I am not an expert, just a 70 + retired old man who has a heck of a good time watching the VL Hudson and the VL Big Boy run around in circles while smoking, talking, horn blowing and bells ringing.

Brent

Did not see the post where you have bought the one you want.

HAPPY RAILROADING

Brent

RickO, which unshrouded J3 were you going to order, the new MTH one coming out?

A mere $7,500 will get you this Hudson.  http://www.ebay.com/itm/Kohs-C...;hash=item25a0b39e41

Does anyone know if the Lionel 6-28072 has any issues with RealTrax?

Especially turnouts?