I'm looking for information on Westside Brass J1e Hudson. I have reason to believe they were imported in the late 70's and were the only brass J1e ever available in the O Scale market. Can anyone add to this?
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I know Lobaugh produced kits of the J1 Hudson, and they were brass.
Last I heard anything about Westside... I don't know... are you sure it wasn't KTM or Pacific Fast Mail??
Thanks for the info. It (the J1e I'm trying to learn about) was manufactured by KTM but imported by Westside Model Co. US Hobbies was the importer before Westside of KTM products. I have incidental information that the one I picked up at a TCA show last week is one of 205 imported and the only brass model J1e produced. Though Loughbaugh would be likely manufacture of a J1e I suppose. I'm looking to see if anyone else has one or has seen one. Its a wonderful looking model. Stunning really.
I think Overland imported the J1e also.
Ed
Lobaugh collector here. First I have heard of a Lobaugh J1e. Sure you are not thinking of ScaleCraft J1d?
I have a Westside J-1e. I do not know when it was released since I bought it several years later. Some time after that, a J-1e was released by Brian Marsh of Overland. I believe it had more detail than my Westside, but heard that it was a poor runner due to electrical shorts. (I also heard that one area that shorted was when the pilot truck wheels hit the underside of the air pumps.) Sounds easy to fix, at least to me.....
I do know that a "J-1" was released prior to my Westside, but it was prototypically incorrect with a number of J-3a features, including incorrect smokebox length, etc.
Thanks for your input. I was able to dig up one online resource by W. L Gwyer who has an online article about what is available in NYC O Scale Brass. He stated a similar thing about in 'incorrect' J1e that was "nothing but a J3A with spoked wheels". Though he stated it was a US Hobbies import and followed the Westside. (I don't know that is possible since I understood Westside started importing KTM brass after USH.) The only evidence I have that this J1e is Westside is that I have a letter from a Mr. Givins to the purchaser. This letter indicated that 205 models were imported in 1978 and that there was no "G-File" available for that model as of 1980.
What J3A features did the 'incorrect' J1e have? Mine has a coffin feed water heater per the J1e as well as crescent counter weight on the No. 2 Driver.
Thanks again.
The NYC Hudson I have is the Westside/KTH Dreyfuss, very nice piece.
Actually in todays market a USH hudson even painted would sell for 700 - 900 tops the final Westsides a little more, by way of comparison the latest Key steam loco a 4-8-4 is tentatively quoted well over 5K. Interestingly at the time I could have bought a Lionel 700E for 300.00.
I never had the "incorrect" early J-1e, but a friend did, and he pointed out the smokebox error. I have an "early" USH and the Boxpok drivers were not Hudson Boxpoks, so I installed a set of Scullins.
There were at least two different runs of Westside J-3's, and the only difference that I can see is that the 2nd run has the detailed cab interior/backhead.
I am not as familiar with the J-1E, other than the Westside with cab interior that I have. I have seen the Overland engine at meets, and they seem to bring between $200-$400 more new than the Westside. Based on operational issues with the Overland, I prefer the Westside.
Originally Posted by hibar:
Actually in todays market a USH hudson even painted would sell for 700 - 900 tops the final Westsides a little more, by way of comparison the latest Key steam loco a 4-8-4 is tentatively quoted well over 5K.
That 5K is the point of comparison I was thinking of. Any idea what number of models need to be built to do a "run" at 5K a pop? That USH Hudson gets looking better and better.
Simon
Delighted to say that I would never know the difference. My first choice would be a 1-700E, and my second a USH.
I have the original 763, 2-railed, of course, and an MTH with new frame, cylinders, and drivers. Also have a Scale Craft and a scratch/Williams Dreyfuss. None are as accurate as the $5000 model, and I don't care.
Good thing I am not a 3- rail scale type - I would go nuts with the errors.
Hudson 5432: You speak of the "one with cab interior". The one i picked up has a wonderfully detailed cab interior including throttle handle, stoker, ejector control, seats, brake stands and separately applied piping and valves. Maybe this is a good indicator. I guess I need to post a few pictures to get some opinions.
(I'm a Lionel Prewar/early postwar guy. though I have a smattering of 2 rail scale I'm not versed in all the differences between a J3A and J1e. Other than some of the obvious such as the feedwater heater type, reverse valve, location of the boiler pop-off valves and sand dome.)
I'm curious to know what the error was in the smoke box.
I bought this because I recognized it as a J1e and that it is nearly identical to my prewar Hudsons. Makes me appreciate what was done in 1937 with cast zinc!
Originally Posted by Hudson5432:
I never had the "incorrect" early J-1e, but a friend did, and he pointed out the smokebox error. I have an "early" USH and the Boxpok drivers were not Hudson Boxpoks, so I installed a set of Scullins.
There were at least two different runs of Westside J-3's, and the only difference that I can see is that the 2nd run has the detailed cab interior/backhead.
I am not as familiar with the J-1E, other than the Westside with cab interior that I have. I have seen the Overland engine at meets, and they seem to bring between $200-$400 more new than the Westside. Based on operational issues with the Overland, I prefer the Westside.
The Key ATSF 4-8-4 project lists some 14 +/- potential variations of this loco, reservations will determine how many variations get built. As these are truly hand built models less than 10 of some variations may be built with the total number of all may not exceed 100-120[just my educated guess as these projects are driven by a very small number of buyers many of whom provide extensive prototype info to Key]think of these models today as custom built.
No pictures yet? MTH with Lobaugh drivers:
