Line up of lionel hudsons

Nice collection that's bound to be the envy of many collectors, but where's the holy grail 5344 Hudson-LOL. I didn't want to spring for the big bucks either so I have two 5340's made in 1990. While I like the scaling and detail the pulling power of the engine isn't real strong. It does the job,its a heavy engine with low gearing, and large wheels, but my well used 65 yr old 2046 can easily out pull it. Go figure!! Anyone know why this is so?

Better workmanship and parts in the 2046 of the early '50's, plus Magne-Traction!!

Like a street sweeper and a Sat. night special!
Ralph

Impressive collection!!!  How in the world did you gather these in one spot?  I spent two years finding my 1950's unit, in like new condition, at a reasonable price.  And it took a lot of soul searching to pay the price. 

I love it.  Hands down my favorite Postwar engine.  The most important feature for me is the scale running speed.  I can set my transformer at 17-18 volts and run my TMCC equipment alongside with no tail smacking like other postwar equipment running at 18 volts.  This enables me to maintain my favorite postwar rolling stock and mix the 1950-1960 era TMCC equipment right in with the 773.  It justifies my new GGD coaling tower.  And, I'm proud to have this 50th anniversary trophy from Lionel.

Congratulations on a great collection!!!

Ps - It does have very substantial pulling power. Easily pulls a consist of 8-10 post war coal and ore cars with the 12 wheel 2426W heavy tender and caboose up a grade!!!

Holy smoke!  What a collection!

You are the envy of collectors and operators everywhere!

How long did it take you to find all those Hudsons?  Years?  Decades?

Bob, gonna have to start calling you Captain Sully, because you're "The Hudson Man" 

Looks like a mass grave to me.

Have often wondered the same thing Dennis about the 1990 Hudson. Ours could barely pull 3 or 4 K-Line scale heavyweights back then. WHen the MTH No5344 came out a few years later I moved out the Lionel model...

That's quite odd. Mine can pull 7 or 8 of the Lionel Heavyweight cars or 25 MTH Premier freight cars with no struggle, including Gargraves track.

Nice presentation of Hudsons. Enjoyed your photo.

That's a great collection of Hudson's, I'm still working on mine that I got. It's 

just that a lot of part's weren't right and have to order what I needed and

so on and so on.

Tin  

Regarding the 1964 773 I believe that engine was found to use an underpowered motor. IIRC, Lionel offered a motor upgrade kit for it.

As for the pulling power of the Lionel 5340; I have the engine pulling 7 std size (well oiled wheels) aluminum NYC passenger cars and it will pull them around a large LEVEL loop.  If I try to operate the consist up a grade, the wheels will slip. The pulling power is adequate and it looks terrific on the layout, but again the lighter 65 yr old 2046 blows it away. The 5440 could benefit from using Magnetraction.

quote:

Regarding the 1964 773 I believe that engine was found to use an underpowered motor. IIRC, Lionel offered a motor upgrade kit for it.

From what I understand, larger motors were made available. I believe that Madison Hardware (NYC) advertised them at one time.
But has anybody ever seen documentation from Lionel itself offering or referencing a motor upgrade?

I've seen a fair amount of Lionel dealer / service station material (certainly not all of it), and I have never seen any reference. (Perhaps the Project Roars guys?)

Good thread.  Very informative. Thanks

Tony

A while back I had an instruction sheet that showed how to replace the motor on the 773 with a larger more powerful unit. If I can't find it, my friend and repair guy Jay Stuhl should have it. Jays been repairing Lionel for about 50 years and he's a walking encyclopedia on pre and post war Lionel. Let me see what I can come up with.  

Bob, nice collection. I can relate.

A man cannot have too many Hudsons.

Pete

Interesting story.

JusTrains references Lionel publications discussing the issue. Those are the materials I'd like to see.

If you find the instruction sheet, I would love to see it.

Just curious, but what would you estimate to be the average cost? (if you want to share that)

Which tenders do you have for each of your hudsons?

The 1964 models originally came with 773W tenders, which were 2046w style plastic bodied streamline whistling tenders.

My 1990 Hudson runs just like Mikado 4501's except mine is pulling on Lionel Tubular.  I couldn't be happier with it. 

Comparing my 1964 773's motor to what's in may 783 & 785 it's notable larger and both are better pullers.

Would a motor from a 783, 784, or 785 fit a 1964 773?

Very Interesting, lots of nice Hudsons and Many fond memories. Thanks for Posting..

I'll have to jump in here regarding Lionel's 1964 773 Hudson.  This year I was lucky enough to come across a 1964 773 in like new condition and I got it for a very good price.  When I compare this 773 with my modern era Lionel 785 Hudson the 1964 version wins hands down.  It runs quieter, smoother and pulls better than the 785 and it smokes a heck of a lot better as well.  I realize the commonly accepted conception is that the 1964 wasn't a particularly good rendition of the 1950 773 but all this shows I guess is that like most things some were made very well and some not so well. 

Also, unusually enough it seems most people seem to have a favorable opinion concerning the running characteristics of the 785.  I have to say mine must have come off the assembly line on an early Monday morning.  By far it is the noisiest engine I own and for it to decently pull a consist of about 10 modern era freight cars I have to keep the throttle on my Post-war ZW wide open and its a lousy smoker to boot.  Nevertheless, I'm glad I have it.  Go figure.

Wow this thread sure woke up after a long nap!

I have a question for Bob (the original poster) and other experts on the Forum...  I've examined several of these Postwar Hudsons with an eye to buy.  There's one fairly common issue which concerns me:  On probably half of the ones I've examined, especially the 1950 versions, it appears that one or more wheels are not pressed fully and securely on their axles.  It's almost as if the axles were too short, or were not centered in the locomotive frame when the wheels were applied at the factory.  Here's a representative photo of what I'm referring to.  Note the protruding rear axle hub (think about the opposite side), and especially the middle driver which doesn't appear to be fully seated on its axle:

To my observation this defect is fairly common.  I actually handled one at a train show where the rear wheel could be rotated independent of it's axle by hand!  As an operator I wasn't about to pay $1800 for a loco with a serious problem that I couldn't fix myself.  I've seen other examples that showed obvious signs of having been repaired: residue from krazy glue, a score across the axle (quartering mark) suggesting the wheel had been pulled and pressed back on, crude or upset knurling, etc.

The MPC-era reissues don't seem to suffer from this off-center axle problem, or maybe there are just fewer of them in the aftermarket.

Some of the pulling power issues posters reported with the 1990-issue 5340 may stem from its nickel-rimmed driving wheels.  The 2046, 773, 783, etc., all have sintered iron drivers, which are microscopically "rougher."  Of course magne-traction adds even more grip on ferrous rail.

"Wood" (the 4th poster in this thread) hit it on the head for me: Lionel's 700-series Hudsons are unique creatures in that they fit in with Postwar trains (ok, they're a little big.)  But when tuned properly, they run sooo much more controlled than every other Postwar steam loco.  That is to say, they're not a danger to themselves or the basement floor!    With apologies to Campbell's Soup, "It's the toy that runs like it's scale."  NO rubber tires to wear out.  No gimmicky electronics.  Parts are still widely available.  Point me to a modern train like this and I'll buy it!

For the record, I WOULD pay $1000, or maybe more for a 2018 or 2056 that runs like a 773.  It would look more comfortable on the sharply-curved rails surrounding Plasticville.  And it's certainly not impossible to devise a durable, smooth-running mechanism that would fit in the smaller boiler.  But I lack the mechanical or electrical skill to make this happen.  IMO there's a market opportunity if someone wants to step up...  -Ted