So, what's the best J?

Well as you already stated, the unshrouded is one of the must haves. In my opinion Lionel has better sounds. As for controls, I like DCS so MTH tops my lists. If you could have only one, I'd say cab number 611. Beyond that, make your choice based upon your preferred control scheme. If Lionel released a Legacy 611 J, I'd have to have it.

Gilly

Oh

You mean trains?

Transman, dude...!

One under steam....  I have an unshrouded J which is very nice by MTH #605 w. PS2 love it....

You have seen the light!!

That's a tough question none are perfect all are great. None of them have the shine the real one does.

Please excuse the photos below I ran out side and took some quick pictures:

Lionel #606

These were made to represent to the WWII era J's. The one big issue is the marker lights are nearly twice the size they should be. Many who have heard the whistle on the real J like this one the best-the flaws with the sounds--2 chuffs per revolution and you can hear a tape loop in the whistle.

Lionel 611

The bug like marker lights were corrected with the newest Lionel J. I like the location of the bell which was moved just above the front trucks the way it is now at the VMT. Sounds are great, however 2 chuffs per revolution. This is my favorite locomotive due to the fact it is the ONLY engine my wife ever bought me.

MTH 608

This was in the 2004 volume 2 edition. It has DCS. I like MTH's sound set on this better than I do the other MTH J's. It still has a tether between the engine and tender and the 2004 model J's had a screw on the pilot trucks that was a bit too long and shorts out the engine. They will send you new screw and you are good to go.

MTH 613, 602, 604

These all came out in the 2008 volume 2 catalog. They have MTH's version of the wireless tether and come with the variable whistle. Unfortunately the variable whistle is weak in these and sounds just a bit electronic (my VGN triplex that came out before this was great). I believe it was the 602 and the 604 that had the extra car options-the Express Mail cars were a really neat option. The N&W had 14 J's numbered 600-613. So if you are looking for the last J built that would be the 613.

I wish you good hunting in finding J's. I know there will be several dealers looking for J's for their stores at York they are beginning to get hard to find.

Scott Smith

the one i own.-jim

The model the Norfork and Western built in 1':12" scale!

I do wish somebody would make the 610, so I can run her on the PRR!

 I do hate that dull finish . hey but I hate it on most engines I like em shiny like they just came out of the shops.
Whatever "J" I get will go into the shop for a "cosmetic" rebuild. Enamel shines and so will mine

David

Cmon Steve there is only one J 

The PRR J was a modified C&O engine!  Could the PRR J do 100 MPH? 

Scott - Very helpful - thanks for that - helps me sort it out... I think I will start hunting for the most recent Lionel model but be on the lookout at York for one of the MTH Premiers....

Ben - That's clearly the best looking one! Scott has my MTH Premier C&O Texan and one day his wife will answer my mail, pack it up and ship it back to me!

Oh lordy here we go LOL . The J theoretically was designed and balanced to 140 MPH  . Did any of them ever cross the century mark? Who knows
Instead of an argument let's all just say she was pretty and fast so that made her pretty fast. The last thread on the subject got pretty heated as I recall.

David

Mr.M ,
That'll be some time after Scott has left this world. She still hasn't figured out that the words 'Hand deliver only" on every letter she gets isn't being put on there by the post man. It's so she doesn't see any receipts.
I'd say the guys during WW2 didn't get there mail censored like she does.

David 

The best J was the last one I had, a long long time ago.

The REAL one in Roanoke, VA! 

Bill,
We are talking about a J that rolls on the rails..... not between your thumbs

David

I have the Lionel Scale N&W J #606.

I think it has the best sound and chuff sounds of all the ones I've ever heard. The whistle is outstanding.

The only proble I have is the 2 chuffs. I've never had a problem with the marker lights, some say they are to big. I kinda like them.

Hope this helps.

Mike R

I sure as *%&^ wouldn't be in the cab at 140mph .... unless it was on one of the Acella mainlines ... even then ... if a rod cut loose ... whew!!!

PRR Supervisors riding the 610 during the PRR tests recorded several speed readings over 100 MPH, with the highest being 111.  Note - this was NOT N&W folks recording these speeds - it was the PRR people.

For a comprehensive writeup of these tests, you can go to back issues of the N&WHS magazine The ARROW, by Dave Stephenson.  These were also run in the PRRHS magazine the KEYSTONE.

EdKing

The ARROW/KEYSTONE article is worth reading!

Not much difference between 140 and 60 even in a modern engine.

Correct safety procedure at either speed for either engine is to interlock your fingers behind your head. Put your head between your knees and kiss your butt good bye

David

DPC:

You might want to check your e-mail address on file. I tried to sent you an e-mail and it bounced.

did you take out the "X"'s?
Try     Dcecil3@aol.com

David

Passenger Train Collector.

Brian,
Sent you an e mail LOL

David

DPC, Lionel did make a shiny J, in 1981, #6-8100. It is not scale, as it uses the postwar mold. It is my favorite non-scale J, because of the shiny paint! However, when it came out, many collectors complained because they thought it was not realistic.

Yea ,
I guess I'm a weird duck but I've grown very tired of all the matte finished Loco's
Even ones like the GG-1 that could be kept relatively clean are made in the Matte finish. Me I'd like to see a shiny Southern Crescent and a Shiny  J but I guess I'm in  the minority. I'm not going to shine up everything I have but the J and crescent are on my get list and those two will see a couple coats of clear coat just as soon as they're in my hands.

David

i'll have to go old school but my favorite is my postwar 746

As someone else cracked open this box above, the best "J's" (...besides the one between your finger and thumb...) had the following class designations: J1, J2 and J3, and

had only 6 drivers.

(Of course, the NC&StL's Dixies (4-8-4) were J2's and J3's...the J1's were 4-8-2's.)

Not even close.That's like wanting a Norfolk and western J and settling for a Yugo

David

The hands down, nicest looking "J" is the scale Williams version IMHO

So, what's the verdict???  Which one is the best?

If someone has the Williams J and a scale J could you post a photo for comparison purposes, please.

(I had to go back 10+ pages to find this!!!)

Just checking to make sure you know the Williams J Lionelbill was referring to was the  old Brass scale one, not the 746 postwar type one.

jake,

How would I know if the Williams J I'm looking at is scale or the 746 postwar?  I know nothing about postwar trains.

Mr. Muffin,

You bought one at York---When do we get to see it...Pictures, Videos!

Scott Smith

Obviously, the one(s) YOU own!  

And I believe they would be correct. The 8100 is a fine representation of the restored 611 but, unless I'm mistaken, the original J's did not have the "shiny" black paint when they were in service in the '40s and '50s.

Back on subject, I have all of the Lionel traditional size Js and my favorite is probably the 18040 model from 1995. It has good sounds but not TMCC. However, I also have the MTH 608 that Scott S. mentioned and it is a terrific example of this engine. 

The first one that comes out next ... it'll have Legacy or P3, whichever system you prefer .  .

quote:

The first one that comes out next ...

Hopefully, we will get an early A before another J.