Lionel 2023 Dreyfuss Hudsons (positives and concerns)

@Catonsville Central Railway posted:

Here's testament to why speaking up (in a polite and respectful way) about issues noted in the catalog early while the models are still in the design phase is so important!  I imagine someone probably reached out to them about the issues with the striping, and they responded by making corrections.  With paint and striping it costs just as much to get it wrong as to get it right, and it's certainly in Lionel's best interest to get it right.  Now of course, how it arrives from the factory is another issue altogether...

Also, FWIW, Ryan specifically answered in a podcast that the shell and all is brand new tooling for the sake of being able to model prototypical detail variations.  So it should not be a rehash of old MTH or Lionel tooling.  I'm sure the drivetrain is existing but of course no reason to reinvent the wheel there.

Recent history shows the bulletproof drivetrain of the TMCC Hudsons will be replaced with the back drivable version on most all the Legacy steam engines. Hopefully they will include the gear spacer so you won’t have to send them to Harmonyards for repair.

Pete

@Norton posted:

Recent history shows the bulletproof drivetrain of the TMCC Hudsons will be replaced with the back drivable version on most all the Legacy steam engines. Hopefully they will include the gear spacer so you won’t have to send them to Harmonyards for repair.

Pete

Lionel has made backdrivable gearboxes without all of the extra gears. All of the first gen legacy stuff has it , and the recent ESE and I believe the unstreamlined j3a ,as well as the niagara do as well. May get lucky with this Dreyfuss.

Your far more knowledgeable than me on this Pete, but I've always wondered if the extra gears are compensating for something lacking in the motor or speed control.

Actually I don’t have that many Legacy engines preferring the older models but I think it may have something to do with the RPM and gear ratios that will allow a particular engine run at the same speed step with other Legacy engines. Just my guess, I don’t have any particular knowledge in that area.

Pete

I believe the back driveable ability has more to do with the lousy selection of motors the big L has to pull from outside vendors, …..I also believe it’s a byproduct, and not an intentional feature,…..when you have a set of gears, or a pair of gears that have this feature, the lead in is a lot easier, ……so crappy motors look good doing their job, …..when you have a feature such as Pittman’s Lo-Cog feature, the motor maintains smooth in low RPM, ….when you have a crummy motor that has more magnetic cog, straight cut gears will amplify the cogging affect and that shows up in your lower speed steps…..IMO, …..

Pat

I wonder if the new fantasy colored Dreyfuss will match the 2018 Vision sound NYC baggage car they released. The catalog colors are close.

Does anyone have one of the new Lionel Dreyfus engines running on their layout. It would be nice to see and hear the engine in action before I detail a set of matching passenger cars. Eight passenger cars and the engine are a significant expense.

Thanks, John Rowlen

@John Rowlen posted:

Does anyone have one of the new Lionel Dreyfus engines running on their layout. It would be nice to see and hear the engine in action before I detail a set of matching passenger cars. Eight passenger cars and the engine are a significant expense.

Thanks, John Rowlen

Here's two links

https://youtube.com/shorts/x0j...?si=OqQ9buFwWJYbTdEs

https://youtu.be/wGEUtjy1014?si=BmL0eGIPygHbVGIs

I contacted Lionel Service about getting a replacement Pilot plate.  They informed me that the 5454 fantasy color did not include the Pilot plate.  I said that OGR had discussions with Lionel about having the plates made.  She looked up the topic and found a letter that stated the plates have been made and I could purchase one.  The part number for my engine #5454 incorporated the part number for this engine.  It was 48-2331430-015 and the cost is $6.50 plus ten dollars shipping. She emailed me an invoice and I look forward to seeing how it looks and how it will be attached.  I will post that info later when it arrives.

I ordered a pilot cover for my #5454 when I heard they were available. Looks great!

Color matches perfectly.

Easy to install.

Available in light gray, dark gray, black, locomotive of the year colors.