Please humor me here as I present a 'new to me' Hudson on it's first run under my ownership and roster of the AT&SF in the western NC mountains! With all the recent hoopla about the Legacy and then MTH Premier Dreyfuss Hudsons, it was hard to resist the urge to acquire one for my stable. I've not purchased a new (as in current release) locomotive in many years due to going through an amicable divorce about 6 years ago which greatly curtailed the financials of our RR operations. She liked the trains too and she received the Lionel Classics standard gauge Blue Comet set along with some other nice pieces when we parted. She's in South Florida now and we're still good friends too. Previously, my only Dreyfuss was a brass Weaver model many years ago when I had my shop back in New Orleans. The Sleuthe unit smoke was marginal and sounds were weak to say the least. Am very impressed with this 2014 issue of the Dreyfuss from MTH with features that are really nice - PS3, their wireless drawbar, running lights under the boiler, blackened side rods, and the drop pan from the cab to the tender.
Took her to a friend's really pretty layout over near the Asheville Regional Airport Tuesday for my initial run with it. Such a nice locomotive. Steve's layout is unique among many of our regular 3 rail highrail setups. Trackage is typical Gargraves with Ross turnouts but it is very well detailed and has many scratch built structures that are not often seen. Whereas most of us have lots of the same buildings and stations from several manufacturers, this one is refreshingly different.
I brought my MTH RPO car and we coupled Steve's Lionel NYC heavyweights for an 8 car consist. Really pretty as this version of the 20th Century traversed the rails in western NC.
Sharing the right of way with Steve's Lionel Legacy Hudson from a few years back. Great detail and sound.
Mark
