Hi --I have the older J3a and was able to improve it cosmetically by swapping out the pilot truck with a pilot truck from a ESE Hudson-its close to scale-looks much better--it looks like this new legacy version has the small pilot truck wheels--is the pilot truck assembly the same as the older version? or is a scale pilot truck included?
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These smaller pilot trucks are installed so you can go around tight curves. For us with larger curves that's not an issue. Lionel did not supply the scale pilot trucks with this version.
Hard to fathom the thinking with this - Lionel offers a 'scale' locomotive (@ big $$$) yet continues to mount sub-sized pilot wheels! That would be fine IF they supplied the proper scale set along with your purchase. In this day and age, most customers for this class of locomotive that run them probably have at least 072 curves and if they don't, the smaller pilot wheels should be an option for them...
superwarp1 posted:These smaller pilot trucks are installed so you can go around tight curves. For us with larger curves that's not an issue. Lionel did not supply the scale pilot trucks with this version.
Well. what do you want for a squillion dollars? Accuracy?
This is a pet peeve of mine. Heck, back in 1990 Lionel supplied 2 complete pilot trucks with it's then $1000 scale 5340 J1e - little wheels for little layouts and scale wheels for 072 and larger. Why can we not have this now on all high-end scale steamers? It's a few bucks.
Many trucks can be swapped between locos, even between brands (have done it). Wheels can be removed from axles and new larger ones pressed on, even at your work bench (have done it). But, finding the parts is a spotty procedure, and not always successful.
For $1800 or whatever, we shouldn't have to resort to that. It's a little thing from a manufacturing/packaging point of view; from a modeling/customer point of view, it's a big thing.
It keeps coming up.
My 1990's 6-18005 1-700E Hudson did not come with two pilot trucks. I was able to purchase the "scale" pilot truck as a separate sale item at a later date.
ETA - I dug into my storage containers and found the scale pilot truck, I never installed it since until very recently I did not have any O72 curve track.
According to the installation instructions this particular Hudson should be referred to as the 1-700E.
Does the PT Tender need O72 curves? I thought it did.
The kinematic draw bar was just for bringing the tender closer to the engine on straight-a-ways. If the PT Tender needs O-72 curves, why would smaller wheels be put on the Hudson engine that will need O-72 curves for the PT Tender?
The early, original 6-wheel truck tender runs on smaller curves, I believe.
Both my 1931800 NYC Hudson #5416 from Pat's Trains and 1931810 NYC Hudson #5415 from Mr. Muffin's Trains run perfectly. I have not studied the front pilot trucks yet. That the engines look good and run is a big deal for me. I did notice that my #5415 with PT Tender volume is softer at maximum than the smaller #5416 tender volume at maximum. I wonder why?
Sincerely, John Rowlen
The owner’s manual states O54 minimum for the J3A Hudson. In a conversation with Pat of Patrick’s Trains he said that the O54 minimum listed in the manual was for the PT tender. He also said that with the standard tender the Hudson would traverse O36 curves.
Greg, Thanks for the information.
John
Note - The scale pilot wheels and truck assembly from the 1990 700E engine - Will NOT fit the new Hudson. Have a set and matched up to the new engine. Will have to get a wheel puller and see how that works. Hopefully someone will come up with a better fix. Not to keen on using the wheel puller.
I used the pilot truck from the ESE Hudson which is closer to scale on the old J3a looks much better— there was a thread a few years back on how to spruce up the older model shorten the draw bar get rid of class lights and use the ESE truck —I have an extra ESE pilot truck I’ll try a replacement when my new J3a arrives
I posted elsewhere, but I agree. I'm using these wheels.
Larry - What engine are those scale looking pilot wheels from? Thanks
It's from a Lionel E6. I believe it's a 6-28704.
In Norm Charbonneau's new video of his Hudson, he mentions how nice it was that Lionel includes a Kadee mounting pad for those of us who are so inclined. Watching his locomotive in a side view running on that beautifully sceniced layout, the small pilot wheels stand out. These need scale pilots. How many purchasers plan to run them on basic Fastrack??? Nuts!
For a 'proper' pilot, see Ron's gorgeous Hudson below. The scale wheels make a big difference
I need to file down the brake shoes a bit and reinstall them, but here it is loosely positioned.
BIG Difference - Beautiful model Ron!
Larry - Thank You of the info - Your follow up picture did not come thru.
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