Lionel Legacy J3a Hudson Review

Direct link if the video isn't showing here: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QllgF4ejxFE

Too bad Lionel doesn't at least include a set of scale pilot wheels with these high $$ locomotives. The stock wheel is just too small giving a large gap behind the cow catcher.

You're absolutely right Sam. As you know, I've put scale wheels with brakes on my hudsons and it makes a huge difference in the loco's appearance.

Same here, ditch the roller skate wheels for something a little more appropriate.....(28072) ..........Pat

An excellent review. Its a very nice model.

The U-shaped boiler is something Lionel should be eliminating though...MTH has removed it on many of their top-end models, so can Lionel. If fact, they have in their Milw. Road S3 and Reading T1 steamers - both of which are later production.

I guess I've become a rivet counter in my older years...or maybe a want-to-be boiler maker.

Gentlemen- what's a replacement # for a scale pilot truck? Thanks in advance!

nmtrains posted:

Gentlemen- what's a replacement # for a scale pilot truck? Thanks in advance!

You may not need to replace the truck, Put scale dimension wheels with existing truck and add PSC Hudson brake kit. However if you're using tinplate radius curves, it may not be the thing to do.

Ron H

I use this axle set from Lionel and modify the existing brake hardware to fit. These wheels are the exact same size that MTH uses on the scale Dreyfuss/ ESE. A lot cheaper, and no modification to the truck itself, except for the brake hardware....easy peasy.Pat 

This has already been discussed on page 3 of Norm Charbonneau's thread. The Pilot truck from the TMCC and /or more recent Legacy ESE hudson has larger wheels, may not be quite scale but they are much closer.

I'm guessing the Legacy truck is a bit better with the ground wire attached.

Heres the Legacy truck. $22                                        TMCC version, also $22

Per something from the review:

The NYC Hudson was most definitely not "a poor performer at low speeds". But, was not a "drag engine" and was designed to operate best at higher speeds as part of its job description. Later in life and during WWII they could be found on freights. They were big, powerful steam locomotives that could perform multiple tasks, if needed.

Those non-j3 class lights...unh.