New Lionel Dreyfuss Hudson

Can you post some photos please?   That's amazing that it survived the upside down packing!  When might that have happened - from the factory or dealer?

C.Sam, unfortunately I didn't take a picture of the upside down train insertion, I was so taken back by the event and trying to get it out of the styrofoam case that i didn't think to photograph it.  I'm almost certain it wasn't the dealer, my guys treat me like a King over there and once I informed them of the mishap they told me to bring it in immediately for a swap out.

Can you tell us what model you purchased? I think both tenders are coal but the models with the most cut away trim did not get cover plates for the front pilot. I wish Lionel had included them. Maybe putting in the larger coupler would fill the hole. The scale one is pretty small.

How many people will want to install 'The Claw' on the front of a locomotive like this?  Possibly a very few for special occasions but to omit the cover seems foolish doesn't it?  It's just like Lionel still putting small pilot wheels on their top tier locomotives like this. They should come standard with scale parts and the smaller pieces an option for those who need to run on 048/054.

How 'bout some quick photos Greg?     :-)

Excuse me Gents, I’ve been doing housework and didn’t get back down to the train room.  I purchased the #5445 (serial 2331411) in the 2023 catalog. Nos 2331412, 2331430 also have the coupler covers omitted and they also have Coal Tenders. All of the Oil Tenders on pg 21 & 22 have coupler covers. I called Lionel  Customer Service and the young lady told me to send them an email. Hopefully they can send me a cover or I’ll just have to wait a year or so for the parts list.

For what it's worth, The New York Central never had any steam locomotives, especially Hudsons, with "oil tenders".

There are no oil tenders - there are two with PT tenders....

The models with the standard Hudson Tender were supposed to be "as built" with complete shrouding and they have the cover over the front coupler. The models with ithe PT tenders represent later years after the maintenance people removed some of the shrouding for convenience and it appears that eliminating the cover may be considered part of that maintenance short cutting.

Hey thanks everyone for the input & knowledge but …. I still want the cover. 😊

@marshelangelo posted:

Hey thanks everyone for the input & knowledge but …. I still want the cover. 😊

You’ve probably already done this, but check the area where you opened the box. The cover for mine (short tender version) was in the box floating around with no packaging around it. I’m actually surprised it didn't scratch the loco during shipping.

@MrMuffin'sTrains posted:

There are no oil tenders - there are two with PT tenders....

Further, in Mr. Muffin's video where he goes down the line looking over each version, looks like the 1940 version with the PT tender don't have the cover.

It's obviousl that the part is made but getting a spare from Lionel in the correct color may be a problem. Call them and see what Dave tells you.

@marshelangelo posted:

Excuse me Gents, I’ve been doing housework and didn’t get back down to the train room.  I purchased the #5445 (serial 2331411) in the 2023 catalog. Nos 2331412, 2331430 also have the coupler covers omitted and they also have Coal Tenders. All of the Oil Tenders on pg 21 & 22 have coupler covers. I called Lionel  Customer Service and the young lady told me to send them an email. Hopefully they can send me a cover or I’ll just have to wait a year or so for the parts list.

WOW, that's really low class!  FWIW, there's no certainty that the parts list will list that item separately!   I note the TMCC model has the cover listed as unavailable.  I suspect you'll be waiting for a while before a detailed parts list shows up.

Hi,

Does anyone know the key command for the add coal sound for this engine?

I have the 5447 with the PT tender. I emailed Lionel customer service this week and they shipped the cover the next day, no questions asked. Should be here next Wednesday. I understand why it was not included in the model, but will be nice to have nevertheless. Will let everyone know if it matches paint wise!

Wow, I decided to look back on this thread which I had assumed was done and some more of you gentlemen have logged in and made my day. I’ll have to send out the email again and try and give Lionel a call also. I’ve went thru the box 3 times already, a 4th won’t hurt and it’s encouraging if I don’t make a discovery that at least BAM Railroad got thru to Lionel so it’s definitely worth another try. It’s funny, I had originally ordered the 5447 and switched over to the 5445, my kind of luck. Thanks again everyone for there input. I’m feeling a lot better.

Are you guys pleased with the light color on these?  Anyone have the 'Fantasy' model as I've heard it's much closer to the earlier Hudsons produced by Lionel, MTH, and Williams/Weaver.

Same issue here, purchased the 2331411 #5445 (PT tender).  No coupler cover included. Will send Lionel an email and see what happens.

If I remember correctly, the lack of coupler covers was intentional and mentioned when they did the catalogue review/release.  It was a piece of streamlining that was commonly removed/left off in real life, and those models missing it are intended to model that state (just like the "cut back" streamlining).

@PSM posted:

If I remember correctly, the lack of coupler covers was intentional and mentioned when they did the catalogue review/release.  It was a piece of streamlining that was commonly removed/left off in real life, and those models missing it are intended to model that state (just like the "cut back" streamlining).

That's what I understand as well . . . still . . . would be nice to have the cover and the option to put on and remove! Maybe they could have engineered all of the streamlining to be removable with magnets!

@MrMuffin'sTrains posted:

There are no oil tenders - there are two with PT tenders....

Just wondering why you don't show a picture of the 5454 "fantasy" locomotive to show the contrast of the color? Are you sold out? Lionel got it right!

@c.sam posted:

Can you post some photos please?   That's amazing that it survived the upside down packing!  When might that have happened - from the factory or dealer?

I would guess he opened it upside down.

@marshelangelo posted:

Hey Everybody, I also received my Dreyfuss Hudson this week with an interesting discovery.  I was shocked when I opened my box to discover that the locomotive was pressed down and wedged upside down in the box.  Happily I can say the train operates flawlessly, but a day later I happen to look at the train and I discovered that the front pilot had no cover on it to hide the scale coupler.  I called my LHS and went over to it the next day to realize that if the locomotive had an Oil tender, the cover on the locomotive was present but if the tender had coal there was no cover included and in the catalog the pictures show this detail as is.  Does anyone know why some came with the pilot covers and some did not ?

They never burned oil. The covers over the top of the tender cover a coal load and are for streamlining. The covers over couplers are there if you have an earlier 1930s version streamlined locomotive. They are not there for an 1940s version with the PT tender and cut down streamlining. I have both versions. Did you miss the coal load under the covers?

They all should have coupler covers. Not aware of any O scale Dreyfuss ever produced that didn’t have one either part of the pilot casting or removable with a scale coupler behind it.

Pete

@biscuitag97 posted:

You’ve probably already done this, but check the area where you opened the box. The cover for mine (short tender version) was in the box floating around with no packaging around it. I’m actually surprised it didn't scratch the loco during shipping.

From his picture he has the PT (passenger tender). That version does not come with a coupler cover. Never had one and never will. He is looking at the blue train next to the Dreyfuss that has an oil tender. But it is not a Hudson Dreyfuss J3A. I forget what it is. I would have to look it up. It looks similar but it's not the same thing.

@Norton posted:

They all should have coupler covers. Not aware of any O scale Dreyfuss ever produced that didn’t have one either part of the pilot casting or removable with a scale coupler behind it.

Pete

Have any O gauge Dreyfusses ever been produces with the PT tender?

The catalog pictures them with no covers.

@Dave 69 GTEL posted:

Have any O gauge Dreyfusses ever been produces with the PT tender?

MTH did one around 2001, again in 2016, and there is another one due next year. There are photos on the web showing them with coupler covers and PT tenders.

Pete

Here was a picture of a real one.

Please see post below for link to photograph.

@Dave 69 GTEL posted:

Here is a picture of a real one.

Do you own that image or have permission to post it here?

I have seen that one but its not indicative of the way they all appeared. Besides it was likely opened so the shop switcher could push it into the roundhouse.
best delete that photo before the thread gets pulled as well as yourself.

Pete

@H1000 posted:

Do you own that image or have permission to post it here?

Good question. I will take it down and instead post the link to raw noncolorized photo.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/...0998/in/photostream/

5447

https://nycshs.omeka.net/items/show/120573

Pete

@Dave 69 GTEL posted:

Good question. I will take it down and instead post the link to raw noncolorized photo.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/...0998/in/photostream/

Wow! I have never seen one that dirty! Very interesting.

@Norton posted:

5447

https://nycshs.omeka.net/items/show/120573

Pete

As Ed McMahan used to say; "You are correct sir!" Here is another photo from the NYC Historical Society taken in 1947. It seem to have a coupler cover. Lionel did not model it that way. Maybe to save a couple of nickels. I don't know.

https://nycshs.omeka.net/items/show/194706

"As Ed McMahan used to say; "You are correct sir!" Here is another photo from the NYC Historical Society taken in 1947. It seem to have a coupler cover. Lionel did not model it that way. Maybe to save a couple of nickels. I don't know."

https://nycshs.omeka.net/items/show/194706

Actually, it looks to me like there is no coupler cover on this locomotive (zoom in).  Much of the streamlining below the running boards has also been removed.  I think sans coupler cover is the way to go for an in-service look.  I agree it would have been nice to leave that as an option for the modeler.

@Scott R posted:

"As Ed McMahan used to say; "You are correct sir!" Here is another photo from the NYC Historical Society taken in 1947. It seem to have a coupler cover. Lionel did not model it that way. Maybe to save a couple of nickels. I don't know."

https://nycshs.omeka.net/items/show/194706

Actually, it looks to me like there is no coupler cover on this locomotive (zoom in).  Much of the streamlining below the running boards has also been removed.  I think sans coupler cover is the way to go for an in-service look.  I agree it would have been nice to leave that as an option for the modeler.

It's a little hard to make out but you could very well be right. That picture previously, with the coupler cover in place may have been a fresh from the factory look. Perhaps post WWII and now running older equipment the NYC wasn't "keeping up appearances."

Good Afternoon Gents: I received an email from Lionel Customer Service, saying my package will be delivered Thursday, 11 December.  I missed Lionel's coverage of the 2023 catalog, so I need to check it out on their info.  Dave 69 GTEL, I definitely didn't open the box upside down, even if I did, then the tender would have fallen out.  The locomotive was wedged in upside down, but nonetheless, with all of the factual information being given about the pilot cover and the train itself, it broadens my understanding on this model.  Stay tuned, BAM Railroad & I have covers to receive from Lionel.  Thanks everyone for listening and their input.  MARSHELANGELO

@BAM Railroad posted:

I have the 5447 with the PT tender. I emailed Lionel customer service this week and they shipped the cover the next day, no questions asked. Should be here next Wednesday. I understand why it was not included in the model, but will be nice to have nevertheless. Will let everyone know if it matches paint wise!

Let us know how you make out. I sent Lionel an email today regarding the same issue.