Is this set still worth buying? Whats your opinion. My biggest concern is the engine electronics. If somthing fails with the older odyssey stuff can parts still be had. Other than that I kinda want one.
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If you're referring to the 6-31705 set headed up by the first-issue J-3a, this is one of Lionel's "Korean Flyers" which are well-regarded mechanically. Big Pittman motor with a direct drive to the center axle. I've never read about any zinc pest issues with this set.
I believe this loco has driving wheels which are attached by a tiny Phillips screw through the hub. My memory is a little fuzzy... One of these locos (not sure which one) was catalogued with Boxpok drivers. But to the chagrin of customers, it was delivered with Scullin disk drivers. (In real life, Hudsons wore both types.) I believe Lionel made the Boxpok wheels available to customers who complained, but they are hard to find now. So if you have a strong preference, you might want to ask the seller about this.
The stock electronics would be early Odyssey. Only 32 speed steps, flying magnet shrapnel; I'm not a fan. Probably a cam on the axle for either 2 or 4 chuffs per wheel revolution. I'm sure you could upgrade it to ERR cruise and a lot of the other electronic goodies that have been developed in the ensuing 20 years. Others on this Forum could provide the details, cost, and difficulty.
The set and loco are kind of rare and generally desirable. I think the J-3 has only been reissued once since (a fairly recent Legacy release.) If you like the Anniversary set, it I wouldn't be deterred by anxiety over the electronics. (Disclaimer: I'm not a collector, so if the stock electronics fail, I wouldn't hesitate to replace them with something newer and better.) My $.02.
The engine is a tank. Cars and engine have no mechanical issues. If a board fails you can use a Electric RR board to replace it. It has a two chuff cam and puffer smoke unit. May not be quite prototypical but unlikely to cause problems other than having to change a resistor or batting once in a while. They made a separate sale Station Sounds Diner but that can be hard to find these days.
K-Line made a similar set of cars to go with their scale Hudson, also very nice.
Pete
Hello Roger.
Here is my opinion. Hope it helps. I have owned this set for 20 years and everything operates and looks brand new. Never had a problem with the locomotive or cars. I run the set a few times a year.
If you have time, check out (2) videos I made.
If you can find one, I would not hesitate to buy. Most likely will have to pay a premium over MSRP from 2002. Lionel set # 6 - 31705. Also look for the "add on" Dining Car. #6 - 15405.
Hope this helps.
Donald
As Pete said, the engine is a tank, ….the engine # 38041 is the same engine as 28072 ( with different details ) …….very rugged platform, and lends itself to upgrades a lot easier than others,…pretty much my personal favorite, and a staple on my road,….
Pat
thanks guys for all your imput. thanks also don I have watch your videos a dozen times. they make me want this set for some reason.
so my next question would be. is 1,200 ob in like new condition be two much money. considering all the engine upgrades like fan driven smoke and gunrunner johns super chuffer for starters I would like to do to the engine. the cars would also get led lighting.
maybe thats for me to answer, but just asking what you all think. trainz has one for sale and its in great shape so I may pull the trigger even knowing all the upgrades involved here.
The set at Trainz looks pretty sweet. Its rare to find them for three figures these days. That one looks new.
Pete
Yeah, ….Pete beat me to it, …..truthfully, I paid a grand for my set, ( actually my wonderful wife did ) but I was tickled to death to get it ( 3-4 years ago ) so yeah, in today’s economy, 1200 ain’t bad at all,…..I’d pull the trigger,…..actually, you’d better hustle it up, …..I may want another!!…..🤨
Pat
pete and pat thanks. I may do just that. maybe I should not have spilled the beans on where I saw it 😁
@Lionelzwl2012 posted:pete and pat thanks. I may do just that. maybe I should not have spilled the beans on where I saw it 😁
Tik tok, tik tok, tik tok,….😁😁😁
Pat
First rate build quality, fit, and finish, and ohh that whistle!
That oughta push him right over the edge!…..good job Rick!!….get it Roger!!
Roger!. Roger!, Roger!!!…
Pat
thanks rick. the only problem with your videos is they are too short😊 I saw them on youtube also. nice channel btw.
Let us know if we corrupted,…oops I mean “assisted” your decision Roger!…
Pat
ok all you enablers you. if its still there buy next friday its a sign I have to buy it. plus its payday at my second job. I use it to buy all my toys I mean trains. why not I work hard for the money right plus you only live once.
@harmonyards posted:As Pete said, the engine is a tank, ….the engine # 38041 is the same engine as 28072 ( with different details ) …….very rugged platform, and lends itself to upgrades a lot easier than others,…pretty much my personal favorite, and a staple on my road,….
Pat
I have a 28072 also and it’s a fabulous running engine…..for what it’s worth, I prefer running it more than my PS3 Hudson……
Peter
@Lionelzwl2012 posted:thanks rick. the only problem with your videos is they are too short😊 I saw them on youtube also. nice channel btw.
Short and sweet works though. I have the set as well, waiting to see about getting upgrades to it, which is back burner stuff for now.
if its not sold I will get it and first thing will be to have gunrunner johns superchuffer and a fan driven smoke unit installed. next maybe a cruise m module just to be safe for the long hall.
then a real coal load added as I am sure its just cast in. then led lights in all the cars.
that whistle though is so good. you are right about that rick so I will keep that. I think thats what draws me to this set. not to mention the madison cars.
I have a santa fe set with stationsounds dinner on the workbench for leds and new windows right now. it will go with my legacy northern. this just might be the same as dons set in his video not sure,but it will be close.
Somthing about the lionel lines name on those tuscan red cars and like I said that whistle made me want this set. like pete said these are hard to find so it must be a desirable set to own. being a Korean built loco must be one factor I am sure.
on a side note about the engine. preferably the engine box itself, the end describing the features of the loco says fan driven smoke. this must have been an lionel error back in the day.
I plan on doing the leds in the cars myself. any takers to upgrade the engine for me. thats kinda out of my league.
I'm a tinplate prewar guy at heart but I really like this set. About 5 or 6 years ago, I acquired the diner, and then 3 years ago I bought the rest of the set. The cars are, in my opinion, the perfect blend of modern scale size/detail and prewar/postwar nostalgia with the Tuscan paint and "Lionel Lines" lettering. The K-Line cousins to these cars are equally nice, but have "New York Central" lettering and the set is only 5 cars. No Hillside diner.
As for the Hudson, I like it so much that it is now in the hands of Alex M, who is upgrading it to 4 chuffs/revolution and a fan-driven smoke unit.
Overall, it's a great set in my opinion. Go for it.
@Lionelzwl2012 posted:thanks guys for all your imput. thanks also don I have watch your videos a dozen times. they make me want this set for some reason.
so my next question would be. is 1,200 ob in like new condition be two much money. considering all the engine upgrades like fan driven smoke and gunrunner johns super chuffer for starters I would like to do to the engine. the cars would also get led lighting.
maybe thats for me to answer, but just asking what you all think. trainz has one for sale and its in great shape so I may pull the trigger even knowing all the upgrades involved here.
Hello Roger. I think $1200 is a good price. I assume that does not include the Dining Car? I will just add my opinion on upgrades. I am very happy with how my locomotive runs and also the car’s illumination. I understand getting everything “upgraded” but I would run the set for a little first before doing that. Again, just my opinion.
Good luck with your purchase. I hope you enjoy the set as much as I do.
Don
Great set here is my video from a few months ago on WSWV…..great whistle!!! I did manage to get the dinner car as an add on thanks to BLUECOMET 400, bidding on it for me…thanks again JOHN!!!!
I was glad to help, LAZ!! Not that you need anyone to enable you!! I can't wait to get my Hudson back from Alex with 4 chuffs, fan-driven smoke unit, and that fantastic whistle. NO HOOTERS ON HUDSONS!!
That is a nice looking set. K Line also offered a version of this at the time. I've heard it is a great set also.
@RamblerDon posted:That is a nice looking set. K Line also offered a version of this at the time. I've heard it is a great set also.
The K-Line cars (28th Anniversary Set) are equally nice; the only downside is it is a 5-car set; there was no diner.
@BlueComet400 posted:The K-Line cars (28th Anniversary Set) are equally nice; the only downside is it is a 5-car set; there was no diner.
Too bad the stock Kline Hudson can barely pull its own consist, ….huh John?…..
but we fixin’ that! 😉
Pat
@harmonyards posted:Too bad the stock Kline Hudson can barely pull its own consist, ….huh John?…..
but we fixin’ that! 😉
Pat
That's for sure, Pat! When both Hudsons are back in my train room, I'm going to run both sets at the same time. I have 3 extra cars to make the K-Line 28th Anniversary set a little longer. After you work your magic, it should have no problem pulling them.
@BlueComet400 posted:That's for sure, Pat! When both Hudsons are back in my train room, I'm going to run both sets at the same time. I have 3 extra cars to make the K-Line 28th Anniversary set a little longer. After you work your magic, it should have no problem pulling them.
My build will be better than Alex’s !!……
no!..I’m just kidding!!….Alex does amazing work!!…. Very talented man!!….
Pat
If my wife wouldn't shoot me it wouldn't be there come Friday! Pull the trigger now! Lionelzwl2012, not you Irene.
I took a look at the set. I looks great and the description reads very well. I don't know what you are waiting for - because if someone else pulls the plug you will be greatly disappointed.
But if financing is an issue - then you must reconsider and ask yourself if you can really afford this set at this time?
There will be other sets for sale - but it may not happen for a very long time.
I know I've been looking for a particular engine and set of cars for several years and I have yet to see it for sale. Missed my chance over 20 yrs ago - but I had a family to consider first and foremost.
The only reason I could see to wait on that set is if you want to see if someone down the road sells the set along with the rather rare diner add on. That particular set is on my long list of things I'd like to have but I am not holding my breath. Plus... how many Hudsons do I need??? 
@RamblerDon posted:The only reason I could see to wait on that set is if you want to see if someone down the road sells the set along with the rather rare diner add on. That particular set is on my long list of things I'd like to have but I am not holding my breath. Plus... how many Hudsons do I need???
how many Hudsons do I need???
all of them 😃
Pat
@harmonyards posted:how many Hudsons do I need???
all of them 😃
Pat
They do tend to follow me home from train shops and train shows...
I got one at beginning of the year from a local seller. Now need to get my 072 track setup so I can run it and other full size sets. I had to replace some passenger car lights and put passengers back in their seats. Other than that it looks great. These are NOT the same size as the original madison cars. They are bigger. It will not look good on smaller curves.
Pat's got my Hudson appreciation(addiction) in full gear. Hudson here, Hudson there. Heck, some projected projects that Pat's going to have coming to him are mostly Hudson's. Yeah, there are a few K4's that need some fixing, but they aren't Hudson's. After all, I think I started out with maybe 3 or 4 Hudson's to 0 K4'S, and then Lionel started going crazy with the K4'S. Well, I had to make sure I put the Hudson back on the high side in numbers, not sure what the count is, but not in Pat's numbers(YET!). Of course, those Hudson's would have to go to Pat to become new Hudson's.
The Central proper ordered 275 Hudsons. 195 for the proper, the rest for her subs, …..The goal fellas, is to run out of available cab numbers. So,……ready, set, execute!!……😁
Pat
update if you all care....
yall did it. you made me want this set so today thanks to evilbay and trainz its all mine.
now the weight to get it game. hope its as nice and works as described by the trainz photos and descriptions.
will let you know first hand what I think of it when I get it up close and in person. roger
@Lionelzwl2012 posted:update if you all care....
yall did it. you made me want this set so today thanks to evilbay and trainz its all mine.
now the weight to get it game. hope its as nice and works as described by the trainz photos and descriptions.
will let you know first hand what I think of it when I get it up close and in person. roger
Glad we could help/ruin you!!……it’s our pleasure,…☺️
Pat
Congratulations, Roger! It's fun to be a train enabler once in a while, but I suspect you were going to buy it regardless of what any of us said here.
As some have said here, the SS diner is somewhat hard to find, but not impossible. I have seen several show up as orphans on auction sites over the years.
Well done!!
John
Enabler is such a soft term, …..I prefer pusher,….que Steppenwolf please,…..
Pat
@harmonyards posted:Enabler is such a soft term, …..I prefer pusher,….que Steppenwolf please,…..
Pat
Respectfully disagree, Pat. Pusher, to those of a certain age like me, has negative/drug connotations… I think bad or evil influence is more appropriate 
(And, for once, I wasn’t involved!!!)
