Thoughts on latest MTH Premier Hudson?

Based on my personal experience with new MTH offerings, in my opinion, you'll be better off if you buy an older one on the secondary market--even an older PS-1 version--and have it converted. A few years ago, I purchased a NOS MTH MT-3020LP J1E Hudson and had it converted to PS-3 (thank you, gunrunnerjohn) and it performs extremely well. Back when these were built, MTH was still fitting them with Pittman motors. The PS-1 versions typically sell for relatively short money, leaving you with plenty of room for the cost of the PS-3 upgrade. I believe you'll have a better end-result, and it may even cost you less than the price of a brand-new one.

I have an MTH Premier Boston & Albany Hudson #606 (20-3583-1 with PS3) delivered in 2015 with green boiler and graphite-colored smokebox. It's a great-looking model that I run by conventional transformer control with an MTH Z4000. The one issue I had in the beginning was that the wireless drawbar sometimes loosened at the tender. MTH provided a fix with a retainer to prevent this problem but I fixed it with a small piece of clear plastic tubing around the bottom of the tender post and the problem hasn't recurred since. It otherwise has been trouble-free. MTH has also reissued this engine more recently with a different road number.

MELGAR

That one is a beauty and truly unique Melgar!

Sunrise, I bought a recent production (2020 Vol 2 catalog) NKP Berkshire and it too has the wireless drawbar and also the cab curtains which stand out as a nice touch. It seems slightly more detailed that the older models. I would venture a guess that the new Hudsons are likewise adorned with more detail than a much earlier one would have. Whistle steam also. I'll not buy a MTH steamer with the large connecting cable again as I don't have a layout to be able to leave the locomotive parked between operations and dislike coupling and uncoupling 'the snake'!

Here is a photo showing the curtain on a Premiere Mikado - it's white. Similar to the Berkshire.