Hudson

ModelRailroadForums.com is a free Model Railroad Discussion Forum and photo gallery. We cover all scales and sizes of model railroads. Online since 2002, it's one of the oldest and largest model railroad forums on the web. Whether you're a master model railroader or just getting started, you'll find something of interest here.


S

Switch Track

Member
I'd love to own an HO Hudson and lighted passenger cars. Is there a quality manufacturer of a Hudson? I want one that resembles an early model.


Merry Christmas,

ST
 
Im not too up on the early/late Hudson looks but I do know IHC makes one. I bought a IC Hudson and am waiting for it to arrive. I know IHC is not top of the line but I have heard thay have taken steps to improve them in the last few years. From what I hear they compair to a spectrum or slightly less in quality. Some are DCC ready others are still DC only. You will have to check as in the same model line you can have both so dont assume they are all DCC ready.

Merry Christmas
Trent
 
Hudsons

I think the best Hudsons are made by Broadway Limmited although they do run over $200.00 with sound. I took this photo of one on my 90' turn table. They just fit with a little over hang.

NYC_George
 


trainworld.com should still have one or two made by Broadway Limited Imports (BLI). I don't know if you can still get any of the Rivarossi models, but try ebay. They are reasonable. IHC should be good runners, but rather sparse on detail, and their valve gear is not the best looking. You get what you pay for with IHC, although they do run well.
 
Look for Bachmann Spectrum Lighted passenger cars on e-bay as well. Usually come in four car sets and the price is reasonable compared to other good quality passenger cars. They run and look good.
 
Selector, Thanks for the info. I did check www.trainworld.com, and it's listed as being in stock.

I think what I am going to do is wait until Jan 3rd and go to the train show at the Anaheim Convention Center. I hope I can find what I want there.

After thinking about this hobby more carefully and weighing many factors, I think I am going to stick with DCC. At most I am going to run two trains, and I can easily buy another good-quality transformer and still we way ahead of the price game. Therefore, I might be able to score a great deal on an excellent Hudson w/o DCC.


Merry Christmas,

ST


Merry Christmas
 
Note that the BLI Hudson is sure to have the QSI dual-mode decoder in it, meaning that you can operate it safely on a DC layout and still enjoy the sounds. You'll just have to get used to flicking the reverse toggle on your DC transformer back and forth to get bells and whistles to sound.
 
Selector,

Now that little device sounds very appealing! Thanks for sharing it.

From the 'net research I've done to date, I've narrowed my choices to the BLI model and the Rivarossi. A few hundred bucks is a lot of money; however, aggravation caused by saving a few bucks buying what I don't need or like is far more expensive!!!

Anyway, I hope to see both models in actual operation at the model train show at the Anaheim Convention Center on Jan 3rd.


Merry Christmas,

ST
 


There is no doubt that the BLI hudson is a work of art. But my $60 Rivarossi NYC Hudson that I picked up at the show in Toledo this weekend is more my price. And I can fix a Rivarossi when things go wrong. There is a guy on ebay from time to time that has a drop in can motor to repower them to run much smoother. The detail on the Rivarossi was super for its time. You will tend to see them at the shows for around $75-$95. He had mine priced at the lower number, I offered him 60 and he took it. Mine has the later metal cased/round 3 pole motor, its the easiest one to remotor, and it had little to no wheel wear. So its not been run much. Its missing the bell on the boiler, but that is easily replaced with a nice brass casting. While the detail isnt as good as a Broadway, the price is easier to digest, and the deeper wheel flanges track better on our club layout. They dont bother me either. I wish BLI would do the Hudson in diecast like the PRR K4 they did. The extra weight would be nice, Hudsons tend to be slippery for pulling a decent length 20th Century Limited. The Rivarossi one does good with the light weight Rivarros cars, but the new stuff from Walthers or even the heavier Athean 5 axle coaches really tax its pulling power. Cheers Mike
 
the IHC Hudson I bought last month has ran flawless for the first 100+scale miles around the club layout. I maxed it out pulling 28 40' freight cars all day on sunday and for a few hours on monday with 8 Rivarossi passenger cars. at home with a 3% grade it only pulls about 13 freight cars up the steep grade. No big deal for me as my sidings can only hold 9 cars with an engine so I rarely operate with long trains.

I will say that the IHC does not have the details that some others have but if you are a little skilled in weathering and painting its not a bad deal.

Trent
 
IHC is basicly what AHM was years ago. From what I know from a friend that owns a hobby shop, its the same person that ran AHM. So IHC bacisly took up where AHM left off when it was broken up years ago. Many of the earlier IHC engines remind me of the old AHM/Rivarossi engine. Thier newest high line products are almost on par with Broadway Limited. I wouldnt hesitate to buy an old Rivarossi Hudson or IHC Hudson. Just the IHC is more generic and the Rivarossi is a NYC Hudson.
 
I am going to the model railroad show tomorrow at the Anaheim Convention Center. I will be looking for a Hudson. What should I look for when buying a used locomotive? Would it be a breach of railroading etiquette to ask for a demonstration? And if I am so indulged, of what should I be vigilant when observing and inspecting a used steam locomotive?



Happy New Year,

ST
 
How well it might run, depends on how long it has sat without use, or being serviced. Most older Rivarossi's need torn appart, all the old hard and congelled grease removed, and relubed prior to being run regularly again. When I get them, they will run, but usualy noisy and with a bit of jerkness. While some of the jerkiness is from the older 3 pole motor, most is dried up grease or lack of oil on bearings. DO NOT take a Rivarossi motor appart, they have ball bearings in them that are not sealed, if you take it appart, the mini balls go everywhere and your done. Take a good 9v battery with you and a jumper lead with alligator clips on both ends, makes an excellent tester to see if the engine will run, so you can look for problems with the side rods, valve gear or drive gears. Cheers MIke
 


I always test run a loco when I buy new and old. just ask the owner if you can do a few simple tests. if hes smart he will be glad to show you how it performs.

I watch and see what the locos does at its "stall speed". if the speed of the drivers slow down dramaticly when you simply hold it in place from the rear coupler, with wheels slipping,the motor may be weak or undrpowered. any good engine should be able to easly spin the drivers under its own weight (traction tires or not) if it has a hard time doing this simple task walk away. Not only will it run poor but if you ever add sound to it the sound will never stay in pace with what the engine is doing when pulling a long string of cars.

also most engines that can run very slow and maintain a steady wheel RPM are properly geared and have a strong motor. you can test this also by holding the coupler and watching the wheels spin at a slow speed. if its smooth and does not jerk violently you have a good motor.

these are all the things I look for if im paying a premium price for an engine

Trent
 
You must log in or register to reply here.




Affiliate Disclosure: We may receive a commision from some of the links and ads shown on this website (Learn More Here)

Back
Top