Another Kline Hudson gets the works! Tales from Harmon Shops

@Engineer-Joe posted:

Very nice work. I'm impressed.

BTW were you the person who suggested I swap out the Allegheny's front wheels to smaller ones to prevent shorts?

Now put some diesels behind her and lets haul some trains!

Wasn’t me Joe, ....Us 3 rail NYC guys have always had contention with pilot wheels on Hudsons, .....the best look is the MTH 2 rail scale pilot wheels, but they get hung up in some of my Atlas switches , ....and when I say hung up, it’s more like a javelin jamming itself in the frogs,......so that event was a fail,.....

Pat

@Dave NYC Hudson PRR K4 posted:

Now, that is truly a black beauty(just an iron horse now). Love the cab crew, great they get to work again. I've always sort of wondered about the evolution of cab crew and how silly they used to look. Nice to see some life in them. I remember the pure dark blue of old cab figures, or even no cab crew at all. Who's operating that???? lol. Looks grand.

Thanks Dave!...yes the two guys we evicted were useless,...hands on their laps, getting paid to do nothing, ....the two former MTH employees are so happy to be on such a fine machine, ....they just look busier than cats covering,.____________

Pat

Harmonyards, Pat, this is Awesome work, and now a very beautiful Hudson, Wow... Thank you very much for going the Extra Mile on this Kline locomotive. I’m so happy with your workmanship, attention to detail, your amazing. I think there’s a lot of folks seeing progress in the making, this thread is very informative and educational. Keep the pictures coming. In regard to the new headlight, it’s great, the new men at the throttle look highly qualified to make this locomotive fly down the track. I am happy with the new lead trucks because if it runs on Pats layout, it should operate fine on mine. I’m so Happy with the way this hudsons shaping up. Happy Railroading Everyone, and Merry Christmas to all.

@RickO posted:

LED's are all too bright for a steam era locomotive. All of my older "grain of wheat" steamers look much more realistic.

LED's can be any intensity you desire, you just have to pick the right current limited resistor.  The color can also be anything you like.

@leapinlarry posted:

Harmonyards, Pat, this is Awesome work, and now a very beautiful Hudson, Wow... Thank you very much for going the Extra Mile on this Kline locomotive. I’m so happy with your workmanship, attention to detail, your amazing. I think there’s a lot of folks seeing progress in the making, this thread is very informative and educational. Keep the pictures coming. In regard to the new headlight, it’s great, the new men at the throttle look highly qualified to make this locomotive fly down the track. I am happy with the new lead trucks because if it runs on Pats layout, it should operate fine on mine. I’m so Happy with the way this hudsons shaping up. Happy Railroading Everyone, and Merry Christmas to all.

Larry, I’m so very happy you’re satisfied with the new work,....out of everybody on this thread, your opinion matters the most buddy!....after all, this is your Hudson!...I got the green light from the NYC master Pete ( Norton) just a few minutes ago, so I’m stoked!....he’s not going to sugar coat it, if it don’t look right, it’s not right!...do over,.....and I hate undo-redo......I think any of the masters I’ve learned from can agree to that!! .....namely, Pete, Alex M. John, Ron H, George, Lou, Norm, Bob2, Engineer Joe, .....and I’m sure I’m forgetting a dozen more,.......and yes, I take notes, I watch & learn, ....that’s how you make great models!...so I thank the above fellas, they’ve pushed me further down the tracks!!..

Pat

Harmonyards, Pat, I’m thrilled you were able to make the correct adjustments to the lead trucks as I have Ross Custom turnouts and Atlas O turnouts. I think that’s the same track turnouts you have on your beautiful layout. It seems that steam locomotives find our issues going into the curve part of these switches. (Into the frog, pivoting rails)  Not always, but the springs need to hold the frog/pivot rail tightly. Thank you for your attention to making sure these nice J1e NYC Hudsons navigate our rails smoothly. This is some of my trackwork. Happy Railroading Everyone.

Harmonyards, we wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, I just received a nearly new Century Club 773 Package, and will be seeing what your thoughts might be on upgrading this bad boy.... Enjoy the Holidays...

@leapinlarry posted:

Harmonyards, we wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, I just received a nearly new Century Club 773 Package, and will be seeing what your thoughts might be on upgrading this bad boy.... Enjoy the Holidays...

Larry, Merry Christmas to you as well!..🎄🎄🎄🎄....have you been watching the other Larry’s thread as well?...he’s having me upgrade a 773 for him, ....large Pittman, the works!...both of you guys will be having your Hudsons home real soon!..here’s the “ other “ Larry’s 773 under the knife!..

Pat

That’s great news, what is the name of that particular thread and I will keep an eye on it. I think this CC 773 has a lionel pullmor motor.... Two Larry’s, each having Hudsons rebuilt, very interesting and lots of fun to watch your work. Thank you very much. Happy Railroading Everyone .

@leapinlarry posted:

That’s great news, what is the name of that particular thread and I will keep an eye on it. I think this CC 773 has a lionel pullmor motor.... Two Larry’s, each having Hudsons rebuilt, very interesting and lots of fun to watch your work. Thank you very much. Happy Railroading Everyone .

Lionel 773 comes in for a Pittman swap ....Tales from Harmon shops  is the title Larry, ....my iPad decided to stop copying and pasting things tonight, ....

Merry Christmas 🎄

Pat

Harmonyards, so is “Lionel Comes in for a Pittman Swap”  on this same forum? Just wondering. Happy New Year.

@leapinlarry posted:

Harmonyards, so is “Lionel Comes in for a Pittman Swap”  on this same forum? Just wondering. Happy New Year.

Yep,...sure is,.

Merry Christmas 🎄

Pat

@leapinlarry posted:

Harmonyards, so is “Lionel Comes in for a Pittman Swap”  on this same forum? Just wondering. Happy New Year.

https://ogrforum.com/...es-from-harmon-shops

here’s the link @leapinlarry

Pat

Thank you Harmonyards, I finally found it on page 41, Wow. All I can say is there’s a lot going on here on the OGR Forum. Happy Days are here again.

Wow, we are coming to an end of 2020, and moving briskly into 2021 and We all have so many blessings to be thankful for, one, to me, are all the fellows that make Our hobby so much more fun with their abilities to make are favored Locomotives/Diesels run so much better, more realism, more power, better features, simply making our operating time on our modest model railroads a most enjoyable adventure. A Dream come true. I am so excited seeing this Kline hudson getting the works and look forward to seeing it wind it’s way around my layout pulling a long passenger train to a long away destination. It’s Exciting. Thank you Pat, The Harmon Shops at Harmonyards, Happy New Year, and I wish Everyone good health, and a prosperous fun New Year. Happy Railroading Everyone

Larry,

Happy New Year.

Have you received your K-Line Hudson back from Pat yet? When you do, many of us would like to see a video. May be also Pat can post a video just before he's ready to mail it back to you.   

Erol

Well I don't think we can call a K-line Hudson, nor an MTH Hudson anymore.  It truly is a Hudson that has been hopped by Harmon Yards.

Erol, I’m sure the holidays have slowed things down and I feel sure there are some parts on order. It’s an exciting time in our hobby and I’m so glad to have the Harmon Shops upgrading this beautiful hudson. Pat is working miracles for this Kline hudson.  Happy Railroading Everyone

@leapinlarry posted:

Wow, we are coming to an end of 2020, and moving briskly into 2021 and We all have so many blessings to be thankful for, one, to me, are all the fellows that make Our hobby so much more fun with their abilities to make are favored Locomotives/Diesels run so much better, more realism, more power, better features, simply making our operating time on our modest model railroads a most enjoyable adventure. A Dream come true. I am so excited seeing this Kline hudson getting the works and look forward to seeing it wind it’s way around my layout pulling a long passenger train to a long away destination. It’s Exciting. Thank you Pat, The Harmon Shops at Harmonyards, Happy New Year, and I wish Everyone good health, and a prosperous fun New Year. Happy Railroading Everyone

Happy New Years to you and your family as well Larry!....we’ve started the final push on the Kline Hudson now that all the pieces of the puzzle are here!....it won’t be long now, .....the holidays did trip us up a little bit, but moving forward now, ....just a matter of running wires and connecting the dots, ......all of the fab work is now done, .....I’ve just finished modding/mounting the MTH smoke unit to use in conjunction with John’s Chuff Stuff!....( I think he should call it that when it’s in a complete package, and I should get sales commissions based based on point of purchase advertising) ...😉

@locolawyer of course there will be an extensive video of Larry’s built Hudson, and the best part will be the high speed pass, recorded on video, fortunately on my pike we’ve achieved a safe steady speed of 94SMPH on a PT equipped Hudson, so we’ll see if we can edge Larry’s at 95+ ......these Hudsons had a job to do, go fast!..so that recording with the exhaust in tune, and long train in tow, will be a sight to behold!....Happy New year!

and Happy New Year’s to all on this forum!...Larry’s enthusiasm for this hobby,this forum, and this project is infectious, and prompts me to build the perfect model!!...

Pat

@coach joe posted:

Well I don't think we can call a K-line Hudson, nor an MTH Hudson anymore.  It truly is a Hudson that has been hopped by Harmon Yards.

Thanks Coach!...it’ll be a solid performer in a proven package, that’s for sure!...we’ve taken the best elements from both mfr.’s and put them into a blender for the best Hudson built!...add John’s proven electronics, now we got icing on that cake!...

Pat

I hope you gut it. I hear conventional is best!

Conventional control rules. 

?????????????

LOL! Good one Joe!

@Engineer-Joe posted:

I hope you gut it. I hear conventional is best!

Conventional control rules. 

?????????????

Joe, are you feeling ok??....you’d best sit down,.....you’ve been the DCS advocate for how long now??......I don’t think there’s ever been a video of your wonderful grandson yanking on the throttle of a ZW, ......he’s ALWAYS got the remote??.....no??.....are you going closet Postwar on us??....🤣🤣🤣🤣

Pat

Sorruy... must have been a lapse of reasoning?

Thank you very much “Harmon Shops” for the update and it’s getting to be so exciting, looking forward to seeing the new ad on’s and of course the video. Projects like this only happen because of the love of the hobby, we all strive to have a more fun layout and trains that operate to their full potential, and Pat has mastered the make it better game. I’m simply amazed with what is transpiring before our eyes with this handsome Hudson. Thank you Harmonyards... You are amazing. Happy Railroading Everyone, also stay safe, stay healthy, Stay Tuned, it’s going to be mind boggling....

Wow, it’s January 8th, 2021, and I’m ready to see some K-Line J1e Hudson in Action, hopefully there’s some updates on the way. Just wondering if the Gunrunner Johns smoke things have arrived, the deck plate attached, sounds abound and the Chuffer chuffing, it’s going to be a fun to run locomotive when completed. So, Harmonyards, are there any updates at this time. It’s so exciting. Happy Railroading Everyone...

@leapinlarry posted:

Wow, it’s January 8th, 2021, and I’m ready to see some K-Line J1e Hudson in Action, hopefully there’s some updates on the way. Just wondering if the Gunrunner Johns smoke things have arrived, the deck plate attached, sounds abound and the Chuffer chuffing, it’s going to be a fun to run locomotive when completed. So, Harmonyards, are there any updates at this time. It’s so exciting. Happy Railroading Everyone...

Everything is installed Larry, running through final checks and tests before putting the shell back on for good!.......should see some road tests before the weekend is out, or the beginning of the week,....no problems with the installs, just being very thorough and methodical, ....stay tuned, .....you can hold your breath now!...😉

Pat

Some updates before the video of Larry’s Kline Hudson, .....these pics are about a week or so old, ....Larry’s locomotive is actually up and running now, and I’m running through the final checks and details before posting a video and calling it done, .....in the meantime, I’ll catch y’all up on the upgrade installs,....I’ve installed a MTH PS2 smoke unit modded for ERR. To keep the smoke fluid and the smoke going in the right places, I had to machine an adapter to fit snugly into the PS2 smoke unit and the base of the Hudson’s stack,...also enlarged the stack’s base hole to allow a nice plume to escape,....these Kline Hudsons were fitted with puffer type smoke units, so the exhaust hole at the base of the stack was wee tiny ...now we’ll get a good shot of exhaust on each stroke, ...also note the smoke unit install, and the neatly tucked pre-wiring routed where they need to go.....

Pat

Fantastic workmanship, very innovative thinking and we will be ready for the action video when you think the K-Line Hudsons ready to roll. That’s great wiring strategy, uniquely cabled together and it’s getting so exciting. Thank you for all the nice pictures along the journey to the end. This has been so much fun. Happy Railroading Everyone

Here’s some more pics of the upgrades install I meant to add to last night’s reply,....this is all of John’s chuff stuff installed, set up and pre-wired,.....also note the factory Kline 6 pin tether mounted to my adapter plate for the MTH chassis,....the added ground is cheap insurance, we’ll carry both the hot and the not through the tether, and tie all the grounds and pickup rollers together, so the grounds and hots will be connected between the loco & tender,....again, more cheap insurance ....

Pat

Did the factory TMCC K-Line Hudson use the handrails on the locomotive for the antenna? I can't remember.

@Lou1985 posted:

Did the factory TMCC K-Line Hudson use the handrails on the locomotive for the antenna? I can't remember.

Yep,....that’s about the only bloody murder I get away with on this build,...it was already a TMCC engine, so that part I didn’t have to mod,...thank god, ....I’ll take the small victories where I can,....😉

Pat

I just saw this topic yesterday.  It has been great reading through the well documented process!  It has been a great modification, Pat!  I'm sure Larry will be very happy!!

@Mark Boyce posted:

I just saw this topic yesterday.  It has been great reading through the well documented process!  It has been a great modification, Pat!  I'm sure Larry will be very happy!!

I was sure hoping to get the blessing from the Gentleman O gauger himself!...thanks Mark!....means a lot to have a thumbs up from you sir!..

Pat

@harmonyards posted:

I was sure hoping to get the blessing from the Gentleman O gauger himself!...thanks Mark!....means a lot to have a thumbs up from you sir!..

Pat

Pat, You are very welcome!!  I feel humbled by your response.  Thank you!! 

I know Larry is a Gentleman O gauger too.  I'm sure he will recommend your fine work to all of us!!

Wow Harmonyards, Fantastic planning, the circuit boards look like there properly placed, attached, ready to do their functions while rolling down the track. Gunrunner Johns chuff stuff looks great, and I hope it puffs like the new VL Big Boys and the huffin and the chuffin sounds are music to our ears. Yes, this is a fantastic thread and we are all excited to see this beautiful Hudson at the station, coupled to a passenger train, getting ready to roll. Engineer getting the go ahead and the tower saying all green lights ahead..... Wow, what fun it’s going to be, poetry in motion as they say..... Thank You very much for all the pictures and details of this hudsons journey from beginning to a finished product. Your workmanship is incredible. Happy Railroading Everyone

So now that I forgot about the "conventional rules!" post, I can say great work again! I like that you carry both pick-up wires to the boards.

Whenever that has been skipped or not done correctly, engines of mine have required fixing later on. Some work as is from the factory for a year or more. Sooner or later they start to sputter and act up. If the engine has smoke, it needs to have double the current carrying capacity at least. Weak power paths fry.

@Engineer-Joe posted:

So now that I forgot about the "conventional rules!" post, I can say great work again! I like that you carry both pick-up wires to the boards.

Whenever that has been skipped or not done correctly, engines of mine have required fixing later on. Some work as is from the factory for a year or more. Sooner or later they start to sputter and act up. If the engine has smoke, it needs to have double the current carrying capacity at least. Weak power paths fry.

Thanks Joe!....I hate unexplainable drop outs, they drive me nuts!....especially with Atlas switches,.....tying everything together really seems to make those problems disappear,.....and if I have a chance to do it in the tether, then added bonus!...

Pat

Mark Boyce, Thank You for your chiming in on this thread and to give you a little history, this is why I’m glad to have Harmonyards, Pat, CEO of the Harmon Shops do an extreme upgrade of this beautiful J1e NYC K-Line built, model Hudson. The long and short of this has to do with the way K-Line powers this steamer. A front loaded small can motor just isn’t enough power, even with TMCC command control, to allow this beauty to pull a long train for a long period of time. On another thread was talk about this particular chassis similar to the one used to power the K-Line Berkshires, and how they changed them out adding Pittman motors rear mounted. I reached out to Harmonyards, and this is The Rest of the Story, making this hudson a Stump Puller. This engine came with Lionels TMCC Control, probably 4.0, no odyssey cruise control. Harmonyards is adding an MTH hudson Chassis, large Pittman motor, Gunrunner Johns chuff stuff, ERR, Fan driven smoke unit, a realistic Headlight, 4 chuffs per revolution, a detailed deck plate, curtains, great wiring and more. He has all rights for any modifications he chooses to use, his workmanship is awesome. This thread has drawn a lot of attention from Hudson/Berkshire enthusiasts all over the USA and we are all waiting for the Finale, the end product, showing all of Pats/Harmonyards talent as a Master Technician and model rebuilder. Please go back to the beginning, page 1, of this fantastic journey, it’s a great Tale from The Harmon Shops.  The Harmon Shops have given a step by step account of every detail and thought used to make this one of the best model Hudsons to roll around on any of our train layouts. It’s so much fun to see what a man with a vision can do. Although Lionel made a VisionLine Hudson, I’ve had 3 of them, I feel like this will be an equal, if not just a little bit better detailed. I hope everyone has enjoyed this thread as much as I have, I know it’s been time consuming for Pat as he has a day job, family and a fabulous layout to enjoy at the same time. So, I am so appreciative of Harmonyards and his great work ethic. Happy Railroading Everyone, The Best is yet to come.

I'm no locomotive expert, but this picture sure doesn't look like a Hudson to me!