Gilbert Hudson's

326 with large motor

I have seen the term large motor in the guides. How does one tell? I am assuming it is physically larger in diameter?

 

Steve

The diameter is the same, the field coil length is 3/4" instead of 1/2" long

 

Neil

Agree the 326 large motor. It had all the refinements the day day, KC, smoke, chuff, light, Pul mor, auto reverse, lighted smoke, and darned good looks!

 

Gandy

The 326 is a tough one to argue with. And don't forget the air chime whistle!

I like the 1946 or 1947 322 with the smoke-in-tender.  The 46 tender says "New York Central" in script.  Later Hudsons all said American Flyer.  On these two you have to change or addapt the link coupler because it had no weight on it and often uncouples.

 

What I have been doing on the couplers for 46 & 47 locomotives is using hot glue to fasten a coupler weight to the coupler.  You just put the end of the weight that should goes into the hole in the coupler facing out.  Then you can remove the weight if you want to sell the engine with the correct coupler style.  

A 322 with the smoke in the tender is something to have. It was the 'MTH Smoker' of its day! No other steamers at the time could sit still and pump out smoke as far as I remember. A great sight!

The 326 w/large motor would be the other Hudson I'd have too.

The 322 with Smoke In Tender is nice, but the 326 is the choice for over all running on your layout, because it has all the high end Gilbert goodies and looks really sharp. 

 

If it does not have the larger motor, it can be easily retro-fitted, because
you do not have to make any changes to the 326 shell to install it.

 

If you can get a good running one, my tendency would be to go with the 326. It was the best looking and best running Gilbert Hudson of the bunch.

 

Ed Boyle

Thanks all for the input. A nice large  motor 326 followed me home today.

 

Steve

Bravo Steve! I'm going to go run my 21130 Hudson right now. It would have been my second choice...

I have both an S gauge and HO gauge Hudson by Flyer.  The distinctive feedwater heater above the headlight on the S gauge model and all pictures of real NYC Hudsons is missing on the HO model.  Anyone out there know why (was there a prototypical version like the HO model?).  thanks, bertiejoa

We had the HO Hudson for the past 12 years and visually it was disappointing. Yes, it is a 4-6-4 and the headlight is centered on the boiler front but the S gauge Hudson is a far better model. Lionel's OO gauge Hudson is a real jewel.

The HO model was neat in that it had the America Flyer 'choo-choo' as well as puffing smoke - pretty unique in their day.

the feedwater heater was a feature of the AF pacific 290/293/21099. The AF hudson, both HO and S, was a representation of a J1a type NYC Hudson.

 

Rich

As far a pulmor with SIB Hudson goes my vote is with the large motor 326 as well, however, in terms of a non-pulmor choice I would go with a 321.  The 321 had no Flyer logos, just New York Central on the tender, and as an early production engine its chassis has brass bushings for each axle, set-pins in each 3-part drive wheel, and the see-thru cut out between the first two drivers.  Small (1/2") motor and no pulmor, but non-pulmor engines arguably run smoother than pulmor in terms of any potential hobble, bobble, or wobble down the tracks.  The 321 has SIT, at least many of them do.  The 321's original design spec was for choo-choo and no smoke.  The 320 would have neither, the 321 choo-choo, and the 322 smoke and choo-choo.  At least that was the idea.  In reality, 321's were built with either no smoke or choo-choo, or with both smoke and choo-choo.  I have found them "factory" in both configurations.  I bought one without smk/choo because of its intact lettering and numbers and paint, but added SIT because that's a lot of fun.  It runs great, and looks really good with AM Pullman heavyweights (resembling the original NYC 20th Century prior to the Dreyfuss Hudson).  Strong, fast, smooth, and smokey - - that's how I like my Gilbert steamers and the 326 large motor and 321 deliver - when in good tune, of course.

Congratulations on your find, Steve.

Finally put the 326 to work last night. I used the 326 Hudson to pull some of
my Marx freights converted to S gauge. It's amazing how effortlessly it pulls
all those cars. No straining, no wheel spin. Could easily pull more I think.
The small Hudson is a H0 Marx smoking 6096. I put a Fleischman coupler on the
tender.

 

http://www.youtube.com/my_videos?o=U

 

Steve

Steve,  Does your Hudson have the rear rubber tires?  Many newer members may not know that Gilbert pioneered the rubber traction wheels and called it 'Pull-Mor' power. They showed a locomotive with a long string of cars climbing an elevated line on their orange trestles-  "More power  More speed..."  

Competition was fierce between the two companies in those days. This was Flyer's answer to Magne-Traction's increased pulling power.  Magne-Traction was just about a necessity to keep Lionel's trains from flipping off in the tight curves of 0-27/0-31 track! The increased pulling was a by-product...

 

Lionel  was able to use the term 'Pull-Mor' after purchasing American Flyer when they went under.

I just bought a 322AC from a forum member that is said to not work. Hopefully it won't be too much to get it going. I may be looking for some pointers.

Watch out Chris!

 

S gauge could develop into a 'slippery slope'!

Ya I know Sam;  Just what I need to add to my O and Standard gauge addiction!

I have the 5 digit hudson and it smokes and runs the best out of my entire fleet. Steve is right about the sticky E units. Remember smacking the train table many a times to get them to cycle. If you ran the daily though,  no issue.

With a nice operating Hudson, I was inspired to dig out my 600 series aluminum coaches. Polished the roofs, swapped the couplers and took them for a spin. Toward the end of the video.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...y-PrzLDAWiQ5-euDNOTc

 

Steve

 

The Marx 3/16ths cars look awesome behind the Flyer O engines (the sideframes on the Marx cars also look much nicer than the Flyer version)...