Which Williams Hudson would you prefer and why? Choice is between the Williams Die Cast HUD101 NYC Hudson or the Williams Brass #4000 NYC Hudson.
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I will take the diecast one any day. The running gear seems more rugged and reliable to me. However, the Williams diecast scale Hudson is geared for 200 MPH. It requires an Electric Railroad Cruise Commander to tame it.
I've had both the brass and diecast, go for the diecast but it also is a speed demon. There's past discussion here on circuitry to slow down Williams steamers.
Die Cast. The Early brass Hudsons were flimsy.
Williams did two runs of each brass Hudson. The ones to get are the Masterpiece Hudsons made around 1992. The Dreyfuss is Lionel's Smithsonian with a different motor. The unstreamlined is a J3a. Much better made with far more detail than the earlier J1E. They both run well but with sounds like Lionel's sound of steam which is to say pretty bad.
Masterpiece J3a
Pete
As others have said, avoid the brass Hudson. I had one of those ONCE. I sold it for $30.00 to a guy in Tallahassee, Fla.
I would love to see a comparison between the Lionel 763/773 and the Williams, casting-wise.
I had a 4000 brass and sold it after I acquired two of the Die Cast NYC Hudsons #5205 & 5207. I double head them on a long milk train.
RoyBoy posted:I will take the diecast one any day. The running gear seems more rugged and reliable to me. However, the Williams diecast scale Hudson is geared for 200 MPH. It requires an Electric Railroad Cruise Commander to tame it.
Yes - and I did. Makes a world of difference; runs very well, though don't expect sub-10smph smoothness. Changed it from a turkey to a nice loco - good thing,as I had super-detailed/weathered it but didn't like to run it until I upgraded it.
Norton posted:Williams did two runs of each brass Hudson. The ones to get are the Masterpiece Hudsons made around 1992. The Dreyfuss is Lionel's Smithsonian with a different motor. The unstreamlined is a J3a. Much better made with far more detail than the earlier J1E. They both run well but with sounds like Lionel's sound of steam which is to say pretty bad.
Masterpiece J3a
Pete
Sh-h-h-h. We do not want everyone to discover the Final and Forgotten Williams Brass and drive the prices up. I believe that these were done by the same builder that did the Lionel Smithsonian Hudsons and built some 3rd Rail pieces. Not sure. I have the Plain and Fancy versions; nice. There was an N&W 2-6-6-4 and a C&O 2-6-6-6, also.
