I have them all except the Berk, the Turbine and the GG1 get the most run time.
Here is are my thoughts:
The Hudson, while pretty good sounds, has lost my interest due to other, better-detailed scale offerings. I know its a bit weird, but this is a scale model in dimension, but very plain in terms of add on detail. It never did or was supposed to be a copy of the 700e, but still scale. It was not the best Hudson offered by Lionel, either in postwar years or today.
The F3's run fine, but the colors just don't do it for me and 60 years later, I can see why the Santa Fe (still) out sells anything and everything else. There is just too much other stuff on the market that out shines what this item can do.
The Turbine and the GG1 are not intended to be scale products, but rather, updates of the best post war era items and are the best of the best that was available at the time of production.
The GG1 has two motors where the original had one. The decoration is very close to the original WITH the addition of sounds and TMCC control.
The Turbine has the added back/cab detail, great smoke and the best Turbine sounds to date. I have heard the new, scale Turbine and I think this model has the better sounds.
All of these engines do get run and none have had any problems. I did take the battery out of the GG1 though.
In my opinion the Turbine and the GG1 still have "staying power" compared to what is available today. For some reason, the Hudson and the NYC F3's just are not as interesting to me and my guests that are somewhat knowledgeable about postwar production.
Hope that helps.
Charlie
