Anyone have this set? If you do can you give me your thoughts on it. Minimum required curve?
Original Post
Replies sorted oldest to newest
Any thoughts?
Google is your friend.
http://www.lionel.com/products...t-loco-5344-6-31705/
It claims 031 but would think 042 or greater would be better.
Pete
You think 036 Would work?
It might. The drawbar is a mile long. I have no way of testing 036 though.
Pete
You have the set?
I have the engine and one car but have other Lionel 18" Heavyweights that are the same as the ones in the set save for color. I shortened the drawbar on this engine plus my smallest diameter is 042. Its a very nice set though.
Pete
Cool! I really like the set but am nervous about getting it due to maybe not being able to run the engine.
I have this set. I also have 072 curves, so...I shortened the drawbar (needs more) on my loco...which doesn't help you.
I can't put my hands on my loco box right now, but can this loco actually do 031 curves? Ouch. I can see 036, maybe - but it would look really odd. But - if your 036 curves are at the back of your layout and/or hidden by scenery or buildings...I tend to ignore this as I have the Generally Accepted Big-as-you-need curves (this will cost you a fortune as time goes on).
But - it seems to say 031, so, go for it. Beautiful loco; nice cars, though I had to fiddle with a couple of body and truck mountings - not broken, just put in/on wrong. 5 minutes.
Not worried about appearance so, I think I'll go in for it. You have the sound car too?
The will run fine on 048 Fast track. IMHO It looks silly. I have the #5433 J3a locomotive and it is beautiful.
Min 031 curve. Use 54 or 72.
You have any 036 curves to test it on? The engine looks great.
PSU1980 posted:Min 031 curve. Use 54 or 72.
Wish I could, 036, is my max radius.
FYI... For me personally, if I only had O-42 or tighter curves, I would avoid 18" passenger cars all-together and stick with the 15" style. Lionel has re-issued a variety of its 15" Madison cars in recent decades... from complete sets like 6-38308 to individual ala carte Madison/Irving/Manhattan/SagerPlace offerings, as well as a series of Legends of Lionel cars commemorating important Lionel Corporation executives, sales folks, and product engineers.
Best of luck in whatever route you decide is best for you.
David
Those cars are nice but I don't mind the look of the 18" cars in tight curves.
FYI, K-Line made a similar engine and cars, not sold as a set. Their Scale J1e Hudsons (5344, 5343) will negotiate 031 when used with the included longer drawbar. Also their cars will do 031. They have hinged steps which move out of the way on 031 curves. Lionel's passenger cars have extra long couplers. I didn't know the cars were rated for 031 but that probably explains them coupling in the next zip code.
Lionel's cars are lettered for Lionel Lines while K-Line's are lettered for New York Central. Same car names though copied from the 1950 773 Hudson set.
Pete
I'd love both sets. I found the k line engine but not the cars. I want the lionel set first though.
The K-Line set number for the cars is K4470B. They show up on the auction sites every now and then and lately sell for small money. <200 bucks.
Cool! I'll see if I can find them. All 5 are sold together correct?
They were sold as a 5 car set. Sometimes you see them offered individually. I avoid those sellers.
Pete
I have this set and I'll start by saying the J3a Hudson is the most detailed Hudson Lionel has ever produced. On the negative side, the big gap between the engine and tender is a little distracting. Although it was supposed to be a re-do of the 773 Hudson set from 1950, I would have preferred accurate New York Central Madison Cars to go with such a highly detailed locomotive. After all, they weren't so concerned about being faithful to the 1950 set that they were willing to letter the tender Lionel Lines. Just seems inconsistent, but a "had to have" set for me.
Cool! The J3a is beautiful!
railbear601 posted:Yep! I have a brand new 31705 50th Aninversary Hudson Set in my listings on the For Sale - Trade part of this Forum. Check it out. I have reduced it to $700 + $25 shipping. I would prefer this set be picked up rather than to ship it -- look me up on OGR Forum Member-Profile Section for my email address. Thank You--railbear601
I'll take a peak!
I have this set along with the add on diner sounds car. It is fantastic!! I just wish the smoke unit was a fan unit and not the old fashion plunger type.
ZWPOWER13 posted:I have this set along with the add on diner sounds car. It is fantastic!! I just wish the smoke unit was a fan unit and not the old fashion plunger type.
Cool! The sound car is super neat! Can you convert the smoke unit to a fan driven type? It would also be cool to use @gunrunnerjohns super chuffer.
ZWPOWER13 posted:I have this set along with the add on diner sounds car. It is fantastic!! I just wish the smoke unit was a fan unit and not the old fashion plunger type.
I do those conversions all the time, I typically use the MTH smoke unit and of course, my Chuff-Generator and the Super-Chuffer to round out the package. This gets you fan driven smoke, 4-chuffs/rev, and you can install the Rule-17 headlight control and the cab light control if you like.
gunrunnerjohn posted:ZWPOWER13 posted:I have this set along with the add on diner sounds car. It is fantastic!! I just wish the smoke unit was a fan unit and not the old fashion plunger type.
I do those conversions all the time, I typically use the MTH smoke unit and of course, my Chuff-Generator and the Super-Chuffer to round out the package. This gets you fan driven smoke, 4-chuffs/rev, and you can install the Rule-17 headlight control and the cab light control if you like.
Cool! It'll smoke out the room now.
I'm still holding out for Lionel to make a Legacy version of this beautiful locomotive, but I would still look for the whole set if I find one...for the right price. The sounds, despite being the older 4.0E version, still sound really good and accurate for the locomotive.
The cars, while not prototypical, still look great and would match well with the older scale 700E type Hudsons of the modern era for a more scale 'classic Lionel' consist, like with the 18005 model.
John, I will bring it to Hennings, and you can do it for me :-) I am not messing with electronics anymore
Chicken! 
We will certainly do the upgrade if you want it.
Mikado 4501 posted:I'm still holding out for Lionel to make a Legacy version of this beautiful locomotive, but I would still look for the whole set if I find one...for the right price. The sounds, despite being the older 4.0E version, still sound really good and accurate for the locomotive.
The cars, while not prototypical, still look great and would match well with the older scale 700E type Hudsons of the modern era for a more scale 'classic Lionel' consist, like with the 18005 model.
Gyrzboski has the whole set.
The chuff and puff on the engine are pretty good. Both are two per revolution. Looks and sounds good at regular speed. You can tweak the puffer unit with new batting and it will really put out. I would still prefer GRJ's product but just wanted to put this out there for potential buyers.
Rod Miller
gunrunnerjohn posted:Chicken!
Anything older I can fix, I just dont like messing with the electronics anymore with my giant hands..
I have several engines I need upgrades for. Like the Chessie and Reading T1's along with this Hudson!
I will keep you busy for a while...
Trainlover9943 posted:Any thoughts?
I think 0-36 is gonna be really tough for the loco and cars.
Lionels best hudson ever period. The VL loco is loaded with flaws.
LIONEL Enough with Berkshires and Mikados!
Its been 14 years since this stunning J|3a was offered!!!!!!
At any rate, heres the set in action:
RickO posted:Trainlover9943 posted:Any thoughts?
I think 0-36 is gonna be really tough for the loco and cars.
Lionels best hudson ever period. The VL loco is loaded with flaws.
LIONEL Enough with Berkshires and Mikados!
At any rate, heres the set in action:
I think I'm going to take the risk and get it.
ZWPOWER13 posted:I have this set along with the add on diner sounds car. It is fantastic!! I just wish the smoke unit was a fan unit and not the old fashion plunger type.
What is the part number for the diner sounds car? Anyone have one for sale?
Also, can anyone provide advice on the min curve question? I tried running the heavyweight pass cars around 031 - they didn't like it............ Has anyone ran this set through an 042? Thoughts?
Lionel rates the SET at 031 but the cars at 042. I didn't make this up. Probably explains the mile long drawbar.
http://www.lionel.com/products...t-loco-5344-6-31705/
Pete
RichardVB posted:ZWPOWER13 posted:I have this set along with the add on diner sounds car. It is fantastic!! I just wish the smoke unit was a fan unit and not the old fashion plunger type.
What is the part number for the diner sounds car? Anyone have one for sale?
Also, can anyone provide advice on the min curve question? I tried running the heavyweight pass cars around 031 - they didn't like it............ Has anyone ran this set through an 042? Thoughts?
The item number for the dining car is 6-15405. Good luck finding one. These early 00's Stationsounds have become particularly scarce and desirable over the years, even with the improvement in sound technology in the almost past two decades.
These cars run best for me at O-54 or larger.
Norton posted:Lionel rates the SET at 031 but the cars at 042. I didn't make this up. Probably explains the mile long drawbar.
http://www.lionel.com/products...t-loco-5344-6-31705/
Pete
That's funny! The manual says O54 for the engine 
.
Good old consistency.
-Dave
