"My" New Lionel NYC J3a Pacemaker Set

Looks great Rick. I have kept an eye out for the set myself, but haven't bit on it yet. If you do upgrade, would you post it here or on a new post?

Rick, come on you tell us how nice the whistle is and provide no video?

Looks right at home on the layout!  👍🏻

I’d drink to that Rick, it’s one of, if not the best Hudson they’ve produced....I didn’t get mine till last Christmas, after a long hunt....one of my favorites....only upgrades I did was fan smoke, a PSC headlight,  and a 4 lobe cam...easy peasy to install, ...just to round off a well rounded locomotive........glad you found one,...I’ve been watching your WTB’s hoping you’d land one!.......enjoy!

Pat

 Dave,Thanks for hooking me up!

 Pat, you were one of the "influencers" I had in mind .

Marty, here's some whistle video. It's a bit excessive (think Ed Dickens LOL!) as I wanted to get the random high tone in there that's more prominent when the Loco is running at speed, as you know is typical TMCC "multi whistle" operation.

The sound of music to my ears.

Congratulations Rick on finally scoring one of these. Lionel was on top of its game when they made them. Had they only dupicated the front along with the paint on their last run I know they would have made at least one more sale and likely many dozens more.

Pete

@Norton posted:

Congratulations Rick on finally scoring one of these. Lionel was on top of its game when they made them. Had they only dupicated the front along with the paint on their last run I know they would have made at least one more sale and likely many dozens more.

Pete

Pete, let me add all the mods I’ve made to this family of fine Hudsons is from your direct lineage....from the cam, the headlight, even the fan smoke, all your design and influence ......they definitely had their act together.....I take no credit for mod design, I’m simply the parts changer on these....

Pat

Now I may have to get my CC 773 out. 

@Norton posted:

Congratulations Rick on finally scoring one of these.

Pete

Thanks Pete! Your posts regarding these engines as the model relates to the prototype as well as your improvements Pat mentioned, had influenced me as well.

Funny how "rivet counting" can be an aquired taste.  When I started O guage 15 years ago I would never even noticed a casting parting line.

On a side note. I sure love the quality Korean build of these. Almost zero axle end play and lateral play when compared to my ESE hudson.

Whatever manufacturing changes were made. These tight tolerances disappeared after the very first run of legacy offerings.

Beautiful set, enjoy!

Peter

OK Rick

I had to break out the CC 773 and 671.  The 773 whistle is still one of the best.

The 671 Turbine with the 12-wheel tender isn't a slacker either.

I almost replied to Rick's want ad and have flirted with selling mine since I bought the special run from Pat's trains but after reading these comments, I think I'll keep it now.  @harmonyards, how hard is it to change out the cam?  I added two lobes in the past with quick setting JB weld to my 779 Berk and N&W 611 and then carefully removed what was needed to get four even chuffs; it really didn't take that long.  I'm a drummer so I like things to be in time. 

Really nice job on that fastrack...  Lovely.  Inspires me to get working on the mess in the basement that is my train board!

@Larry Mullen posted:

I almost replied to Rick's want ad and have flirted with selling mine since I bought the special run from Pat's trains but after reading these comments, I think I'll keep it now.  @harmonyards, how hard is it to change out the cam?  I added two lobes in the past with quick setting JB weld to my 779 Berk and N&W 611 and then carefully removed what was needed to get four even chuffs; it really didn't take that long.  I'm a drummer so I like things to be in time. 

 

Larry, the 4 cam is Pete’s design,....I can take no credit for what he made....follow his instructions under your original reply....he deserves the credit for that 4 cam design, I just install them!..😉

Pat

Thanks!  What's the best fan driven smoke unit to use for this application?

@Larry Mullen posted:

Thanks!  What's the best fan driven smoke unit to use for this application?

I use the MTH PS2 smoke unit,...I remove the 2 MTH resistors ( heating elements) and replace with a single 22ohm resistor towards the front of the stack....then fill the other remaining holes in the unit with solder....the element is wired to the TMCC factory smoke wire and to ground....I use a 5 volt source powered from track power, and use a second cherry switch sistered to the chuff switch to make and break one of the fan smoke motor leads....so technically speaking, my set up is sorta divorced, the element is wired to the TMCC, but the motor is an independent system, not reliant on the tmcc....if I don’t want smoke, ....( which is rare for me ) I just turn off the factory smoke switch, and I don’t worry about the fan running.....it ain’t gonna hurt a thing....and my theory is stagnant sitting smoke motors can go bad just from not being used anyways......hope that helps...

Pat

Larry, in my case I used a Lionel smoke unit but its no longer available. I upgraded mine maybe 8 years ago. If you have trouble getting your hands on an MTH smoke unit, the ones used in the Lionel Lionchief engines will fit. You will have to change the resistor. I use 22 ohm 2 watt wire wounds connected to the R2LC. Basically how the existing puffer unit is driven from.

Pete