Hey Folks,
I took the plunge and sprung for one of Lionel's ESE Hudsons w/PT Tender to pull the 8-car set of GGD passenger cars I purchased at York last year. I opted for #5426 with all silver drivers. The other option w/PT Tender would have been locomotive #5429 with 2 pair of silver scullin drivers (first/last) and one pair of black boxpok drivers (middle). I thought about that for a second, then opted for the all-silver-driver look. Here are a few quick iPhone pics...
I haven't tested the loco operationally yet. But from an appearance standpoint, I'm pleased with Lionel's efforts on this model -- at least for a streamlined steam locomotive. I tend to prefer my O-Gauge steamers with LOTS of detail, so this isn't my absolute favorite loco for that reason. But it's a very sharp-looking locomotive nonetheless with its unique silver/black paint scheme. My choice in purchasing one of the ESE locomotive offerings w/PT Tender was two-fold:
- One... I simply like the look and detail-level of an all-black tender w/coal load. And the PT Tender is a huge tender that's tough to beat.
- Two... I knew there would be some color mismatch between Lionel's ESE paint-scheme and that of GGD. So I was hoping the all-black tender would buffer that mismatch somewhat.
Here are a couple of photos of the PT Tender that highlight a very nice level of detail we've come to expect with Lionel's high-end locomotives. And also note that the PT Tender comes with a fully stocked scale coal load in full view vs. the streamlined tender's narrow strip of coal. I was disappointed when Lionel chose to produce the Pennsy scale Turbine locomotive with a molded coal load in the tender, so it's good to see Lionel revert back to providing "real" scale coal in the tender for their high-end locomotives. Overall, mission accomplished regarding the tender.
BTW, one important note worth mentioning about the PT Tender wheelset. I had never purchased a locomotive with PT tender before. So when I was unpacking the tender, I was looking for TWO pair of foam protector sheets between the tender body and front/rear wheelsets. Well, the PT Tender only comes with ONE foam protector sheet for the front wheelset. The rear wheelset (containing FIVE pair of wheels) is integrated directly into the tender body. Only the tender's front wheelset moves as the locomotive tracks through curves. So when the Lionel specs indicate O-72 for this puppy, I wouldn't try operating this loco on anything less than that. And I might even go up a notch or two in the minimum radius department. 
Now, getting back to the Lionel/GGD color mismatch... I knew there would be a color difference between Lionel's locomotive and the GGD passenger cars. So I was hoping the completely black PT Tender would act as a "buffer" of sorts between the two different hues of aluminum coloring. In reality, the color difference is much more apparent than I thought 
, but certainly not a deal-breaker in my eyes. (These are, afterall, just toys -- albeit expensive ones!) Of course, this is strictly a judgement call... and I know there will be folks out there who can't handle the difference. So be it. They probably won't go down this road then.
In any event, here's how things stack up with a GGD ESE parlor car.
Now, if you look closely at the right-hand side of the top photo, you can see three passenger cars in the photo: top is an Atlas-O Amtrak Zephyr car, the middle car is the GGD ESE car, and the bottom car is a GGD Santa Fe El-Capitan High-Level car. As luck would have it, the GGD ESE car has the MOST NOTICEABLE color difference with Lionel's ESE locomotive 
, whereas the Atlas-O Zephyr cars and GGD El Capitans blend in much closer to the silver color of the ESE steamer. The GGD ESE cars are noticeably BRONZE compared to the steamer's SILVER. Oh well... them's the breaks. 
Had I purchased one of the locomotives with the streamlined tender, THAT would have likely been a deal-breaker, since the silver/bronze color difference would be too dramatic between the tender and first adjacent passenger car. But the all-black PT Tender does buffer the difference somewhat as I had hoped it would... although I'll admit the color difference is still noticeable. Maybe an "express-service box car" (or two) might also help in this department! 
One other note about these locomotives... Lionel does NOT provide a dummy coupler for double-heading. So if anybody is contemplating the purchase of #5426 AND #5429 for double-heading, you'll definitely need to get creative. Not sure why Lionel omitted this, because they provided the dummy coupler with the N&W "J" locomotives, which have a very similar front pilot appearance. 
But then the "J" didn't have whistle-steam, and I'd much rather have a locomotive with whistle-steam and no front coupler than vice-versa! 
Unless I run into any operational issues, this locomotive will very likely be a keeper for me -- even with the GGD color mismatch. If a visitor asks about it, I'll just tell 'em the locomotive came fresh out of the shop with a brand new make-over!!!
But all kidding aside... I would caution folks to think carefully before making a Lionel ESE purchase selection. It's nice that Lionel provided some purchasing options. HOWEVER, if you purchase one of the separate-sale J3a Hudsons, you can't purchase the 4-car passenger set separately at a later date -- unless, of course, a dealer (or other seller) breaks up the 6-82528 ESE Passenger Set containing the 4 cars for you. Nor can the separately-available ESE Hudsons be double-headed readily with the locomotive that comes with the ESE Passenger Set. Lionel could have provided ESE enthusiasts with ultimate purchase flexibility, if they would have offered both the PT Tender and the basic 4-car passenger set as separately available offerings... just as they did with the 2-pack add-on and StationSounds diner. 
David
. Between this and your new ES44's.....tough on the old wallet!!! HAHAHA
