Ok, I am going to Order one of these Monsters! My question for anyone more knowledgeable than I, what are the differences in the Tenders, there is a listing for a J3 Tender, and the other two are a PT Tender, I dont know the differences? Any help would be appreciated before I lump down some money 
Thanks In Advance
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What are the minimum radius restrictions on the PT tender (if any)? That'd be the thing I'd check first.
What are the minimum radius restrictions on the PT tender (if any)? That'd be the thing I'd check first.
Lionel has listed ALL of the variations as requiring o-72. I sent an email inquiring if this is truly the case, or would the standard tender negotiate something smaller.
Certainly the PT tender requires o-72. I asked forum members if by chance it would negotiate o-60 and got a firm o-72 only!
I believe the PT tender is 2 or 3 inches longer than the standard j3a tender, and the five rigid flanged axles make it require o-72.
Im ok with the O-72 curves, when I start building the layout next month thats what I will have on the outside rials either that or larger, haven't decided as of yet.
My main question is which Tender was more Prototypical on the NYC?
Im ok with the O-72 curves, when I start building the layout next month thats what I will have on the outside rials either that or larger, haven't decided as of yet.
My main question is which Tender was more Prototypical on the NYC?
The answer is both, as both were used in the Empire State's lifespan, but I would say the PT tender was the more common sight after the regular streamlined tender. The non-streamlined tender was used for the Mercury run.
They all are, the different tenders represent the different arrangements / combinations that this locos had while in service.
The miss matched wheels on some models is also prototypical because the NYC would grab whatever wheels they had for replacement near the end of the steam era, not being terribly concerned with esthetics
It's to bad you can't by a second tender separately
It's to bad you can't by a second tender separately
Who knows. They may do that as they did for the Century Club engine.
Pete
Thanks Guys I do appreciate the input, now to flip the coin and figure out which one I am going for 
From personal experience, the more rigid PT tender can be a little less friendly backing through curves, especially the diverging route of switches. It's a case-by-case, and I wouldn't let it stop me (it didn't; see below). The 2-truck 12-wheel tender is a bit shorter and more sure-footed. But, again, both work.
I beat Lionel to the punch a couple of years ago. I painted this ESE for Mercury service and bought a PT tender on daBay. I copied the paint scheme from a photo from an old "Trains" mag. I really like the gray.
The ESE Dreyfuss or the Century Dreyfuss (to the right)? Favorite? Just don't know.
What are the minimum radius restrictions on the PT tender (if any)? That'd be the thing I'd check first.
Lionel has listed ALL of the variations as requiring o-72. I sent an email inquiring if this is truly the case, or would the standard tender negotiate something smaller.
Just to follow up: I received an email response from Meghan at Lionel yesterday, stating the standard 6 axle tender ESE hudson should be able to navigate o-54.
If this helps anyone.
I'll just throw this in to add to the confusion.
I have the Lionel CC ESE from 2005. All of my loops are 0-72, so that it what I run it on. The owner's manual for the engine states that the min. curve for the engine is 0-54.
I also have the optional PT tender made for the engine, that I have not run yet and is still in the box. The owner's manual for it states that it requires a min. curve of 0-54 and that there is a extra drawbar included for closer coupling for 0-72 track.
Since I have no 0-54 curves, I cannot verify this. I do know that the PT tender on my MTH Dreyfuss Hudson requires 0-72 curves.
See page 2 of the owner's manual.
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