@L.I.TRAIN posted:Mike
What make is the engine and is it scale or railking/Traditional That will help lots as to the size of the cars that would look best
Nice looking engine :-)
It is, of course, a 1990 Lionel 1-700E J1e (5340). Essentially a re-issue of the 1937 scale 700E J1e (5344), with improvements. Michigan-made. Pullmor. 1:48 O scale. I have one. Capable of good running, but not as "creepy" or powerful as a modern can-motor loco. Mine will pull all the cars I ever ask it to.
Heavyweight and/or streamlined NYC passenger equipment. Mixed or not. This loco deserves scale or "scale-shortened" equipment.
These locos ran from the mid-1920's through the mid-1950's, with fewer and fewer "fancy" assignments. They also hauled freight, especially later in life, and I have seen a couple of photos showing Hudsons on work trains right before the fires went out and they were all scrapped.