6-18005

Great Hudson model to be had for decent prices now (I got mine for $480 with the display case).

This piece is pretty consistent in running quality. I think the only issue that came up was with the sliding valve mechanism jamming up, but it's relatively easy to fix. I've encountered many, and haven't seen one of these come up, at least not in swap meets.

If you want a conventional engine with adequate enough sounds and an important part of Lionel's history, I say go for it.

go for it....had mine for a long time....no problems...if you can't get an original 700E,this is the next best...good luck...joe

Did you get the extra scale pony truck that goes with it?

They run like a scalded dog with a Pittman in it!...😀😀😀😀

Pat

Detail wise, how does this Hudson compare to the Vision Line Hudson?

I believe there basically the same. This and the vision one.

@Trainlover9943 posted:

I believe there basically the same. This and the vision one.

Actually no,...the vision line is better detailed than the 18005, although only by the slightest margin. The Vision Line is built off the Kline scale Hudson, which has to be arguably the finest die-cast scale Hudson made.......

Pat

Are a bunch of those Kline Hudson's out there? I know there was a J1 on eBay a couple of weeks back I saw, but I haven't seen any other than that from Kline.

@harmonyards posted:

Actually no,...the vision line is better detailed than the 18005, although only by the slightest margin. The Vision Line is built off the Kline scale Hudson, which has to be arguably the finest die-cast scale Hudson made.......

Pat

The chassis/driveline is garbage, but you figured out how to correct that issue .

@Lou1985 posted:

The chassis/driveline is garbage, but you figured out how to correct that issue .

On the Kline chassis, yes, they’re junk,...but Lionel went through a couple metamorphosis modifying the Kline chassis themselves, just like they did the Legacy Berks,....cab mounted motor, blah, blah, blah,...you know the rest,..😉...thanks to Pete’s ( Norton ) detective work,...as you recall, the legacy chassis were all but a bolt in swap, no??......but now you got me thinking,.....wonder how the Legacy Hudson chassis or the VL chassis would fit in the Kline shell,.....hmmmmmm......time to go to the la-boratory,.....mwahhhhhhhhhh!!....excccccelent!!...🧟🧟🧟

Pat

They may fit but the Vision chassis is NLA plus its a fortune if it was available.

Pete

And the J3’s have Scullin discs, both the latest legacy & the ESE,..and god only knows if they’ll ever be available,,....so that rules them out for all but very few J1’s that got Scullins,....well, there’s always the tested tough MTH chassis swap,...I’m still stocked pretty good on them,,.......

Pat

I’d still like to do a mixed driver J1 Pete, ....are any of the Legacy ESE chassis available with the mixed drivers?....that’d make a cool locomotive that nobody has,..😉

Pat

It looks the the ESE chassis can be had but all you get is a frame and wheels. Not likely the rods can be swapped over so you have get all that stuff as well.

MTH Hudsons are looking better all the time. No need to rebuild those babies.

Pete

@Norton posted:

It looks the the ESE chassis can be had but all you get is a frame and wheels. Not likely the rods can be swapped over so you have get all that stuff as well.

MTH Hudsons are looking better all the time. No need to rebuild those babies.

Pete

That’s all we used on the Legacy Berk chassis buddy, just the frame & wheels,....everything else component wise swapped over,....I’d bet the Kline hard parts might jump right over to the ESE frame,....and I just so happen to have one more Kline Hudson of my own that still has the front facing motor ,......I’d agree the MTH Hudsons are a bar that’s set pretty high too,...but you know me,....stock is for sissies,...😆😆😆😆😆😆

Pat