Newly-Tooled Scale NYC Commodore Vanderbilt Hudson - Who would like to see one?

Such a beautiful and historical locomotive certainly deserves a modern rendition...

I'd love to see an all new rendition of this classic design. It's been awhile since notable buzz has gone around it anyways.

Yes!!!

Nick,

You are absolutely correct, a 2 and 3 rail 'O' gauge, 1:48 scale model should be produced, with the correct detailing, etc. and since this is a historic beauty it should be in brass, enhancing its' overall value.

After all, the prototype was an important passenger carrier and help to create railroading history.

Ralph

I also have to figure the cost of production wouldn't be so bad with this model. The shroud is very simple, there really isn't much in the way of added detail.

I would be in for one. The Commodore Vanerbilt is one of favorite my NYC steam engines.

If you can get someone to do an accurate model of the CV, maybe they could also do a firs class model of the Rexall engine, which had similar but not identical shrouding.  The Rexall engine was a Mohawk, 4-8-2 rather than a Hudson.  It travelled many miles off of the NYC back in the 1930's.

Paul Fischer

So wait, after all that hunting for a dark colored one that you finally picked up at York.. You got rid of it?

Well you are one fickle b***** aren't you

I just saw the pictures you posted, looks nice

As redoing them, hard to say, I don't think Lionel would do them again. It was my impression they built way too many of them and they took years and several repaints to get rid of them. They may be on the "Don't ever make this mistake again" list

Actually, as I recall, the CV engine that Lionel made was a pretty accurate model of the real engine.  The only real inaccuracy was, of course, the color and I understand that when the old Lionel folks were trying to get the color for the engine, someone did some research and came up with a paint number.  The only problem was that this was the paint number for the lettering on the original, instead of the color of the sheet metal, but Lionel went ahead and painted the whole production run, anyway.

But, if I'm not mistaken, that engine was powered by an old "Pulmor" motor, three pole and open frame and therefore did not perform particularly well.   It would seem to me that there are some people, like Frank Timko, that could install a modern can motor along with updated TMCC electronics and you would have a nice running, scale engine with all the "bells and whistles" like the new ones have.

Paul Fischer

I would personally prefer Lionel didn't do them again, since it would very likely mean yet another run of that old 700E design that I'm trying to move on from. I do admit if Lionel were to re-release the Vision Hudson as a Commodore Vanderbilt that would be neat simply as a great operating model, but I'm still pulling for a freshly designed one.

It depends on how picky for detail you are (I'm a nit-picker in many areas). Like all American made Lionel Hudsons, the CV models were generally accurate in shape and graphics only. The finer details have aged considerably and are no longer up to par with what's possible today.

It's mainly the running gear that doesn't cut it for me anymore. The drivers, even the open spoke ones, are still all wrong and the rods and linkage are rather chunky and crude. This was very apparent when I had the model running next to the more sophisticated designs of imported Lionel and 3rd Rail Hudsons. I did make a partial attempt at improving this running gear on my other American made Hudson project. I commissioned a new set of more accurate Roller Bearing rods to be made for that model, but it's been 6 months and I am still waiting for a test batch that might not even work. That has been a fun project just the same, but it too will be up for sale soon as there's just no getting away from that aging design that I've finally tired of.

I personally love all NYC streamlined steam, but the CV is my least favorite. It is, to my eyes,  a bathtub turned over. I just do not get the sense that there is sufficient demand for a super detailed CV that would warrant any manufacturer taking the financial risk of producing one. For someone like me who is not a rivet counter, the Lionel version is perfectly fine. I do plan to upgrade my early production CV to a can motor, ERR cruise commander, RS and fan driven smoke. 

For those who do want a super CV I do hope you get your wish.

Mack

I would like to see it built. It was streamlined in the West Albany shops, not 10 miles from here, so it has a historical and local interest to me. Fred

I have all the versions from Lionel, but would love to see a new one!!

The 18045 can only pull about 6 heavyweights,My weathered version can only do about 6 as well and the black 18063 can pull about 7. . I would like to see a new one with Railsounds 5 and a more powerful motor.

I have the Mercury and the dark gray Vanderbilt. I had Train America upgrade both with new smoke units and DCS (They sent the Vanderbilt to Timko first) And yes Lionel did over-produce them and one of the big issues was the fact that they missed the color so bad on the first one. However that was in 1999-15 years ago. I believe it takes 7 to 10 years for the train market to absorb an engine. If a manufacturer can wait at least 10 years for a re-issue there should be more than sufficient demand for a profitable re-release. If they do a build to order on the Vanderbilt I think they would be pleasantly surprised at the number of orders. I'm in on this one I love the Vanderbilt.

Scott Smith

Count me in on this one too!!  I have the original release and have not been completely happy with it since the true "scale" bug bit.  I think it is time!!

Alan

I'm going to be the party pooper and say no, because the Commodore Vanderbilt gives me nightmares.

Well, I did say who would like to see one, not who wouldn't. Posting here that you are not interested or think the locomotive is ugly doesn't much help our cause, ya know? 

I'm with you Nick,

At the time, the NYC CV Hudson was a beautiful aerodynamic 'Futuristic,' 'Modernistic' designed locomotive.

It was the latest in railroading.

Count me in for one.

Ralph

1 - a new can-motored mechanism would be sufficient for me of the CV - though my

well-run-in (bought used) AC motor version runs really well as a cruiser. Maybe a bit finer cross-section on the valve gear, for some?

2 - the Mercury K5 Pacific(s) were sharp and impressive - I don't care what others say, as

they are Wrong. (Henry Dreyfuss styled them, you know; Kantola styled the CV.)

The 3rd Rail version runs well, especially for a loco with no cruise. Gearing is pretty

good (not as good as the WBB 4-6-0, which is hilarious). 

3 - the issue here is actually that the J1e Hudson #5344 has yet to be completely and

rationally represented in O. The as-built 5344 has been well-modeled by Lionel (700E and beyond), MTH, and better by K-line. It has been well-represented in it's de-streamlined (twice), as-scrapped appearance by Lionel (ex-CUSE the Vandy tender). It has been well-done by Lionel as the CV - but could be better underneath.

4 - What is missing is the Century-styled 5344 as it appeared on Mercury service (the 

Pacifics had been re-assigned). It looks like a J3a but it's a J1e. Scullin discs, but

not the same Scullins as the J3a. Different here and there, tender and all. The

Century-styled Hudson that never pulled the Century dressed that way.

I want #4 more than another CV. Then I would have a complete 5344 Progression.

Now that I think about it, if Lionel were to re-release the Vision Hudson with the CV streamlining, it wouldn't look half bad. Lionel did slightly revamp the running gear on that model, I think the drivers were borrowed from the K-Line Hudson and they look much nicer than the old school 700E ones. My first choice would still be 3rd Rail importing a brass one, but I could probably live with a Vision CV Hudson.

As for the Dreyfuss Mercury 5344, probably never modeled since it's arguably the least known stage of that locomotive's life along with the final as-scrapped appearance. I'd bet most people would think it was a fantasy model of 5344. Little would they know...

(Interesting to note in this photo the pilot truck is still wearing the CV white walls.)