Trains.com

Should we start renaming postwar Lionel Hudsons?

1510 views
10 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    January 2019
  • 24 posts
Should we start renaming postwar Lionel Hudsons?
Posted by panzerpete75 on Thursday, January 6, 2022 2:44 PM

I've been wondering about this for a while. Both in CTT, and across the internet, the 773 is referred to as a "scale" or "semi-scale", and both the 646/2046/2056 Hudsons (the ones that share a boiler casting with the Berkshires) and the 665/685/2055/2065 Hudsons are called "baby" or "small" Hudsons.

This doesn't make sense to me, other than being some outdated lingo, since the boiler shells and motor frames are different. The smaller 2055 type seems to be O-27 sized, and the 2056 type is closer to "true" O gauge, though their tenders look a bit small. Wouldn't it be better to refer to the 646/2046/2056 as a "medium" Hudson?

I know this doesn't matter much in the overall scheme of things, but this thought has been bouncing around the back of my head ever since I first started reading CTT.

I personally own a 2056 medium Hudson and a pair of baby Hudsons, a 2055 and a 2065, all of which run quite well!

Thanks!

  • Member since
    December 2005
  • From: Hopewell, NY
  • 3,233 posts
Posted by ADCX Rob on Thursday, January 6, 2022 6:29 PM

They already have names.

panzerpete75
...the 646/2046/2056 Hudsons (the ones that share a boiler casting with the Berkshires)...

These are the Baldwin Hudsons.

Add in the 8600 and relatives in 1976 & up which are essentially identical.

panzerpete75
...the 665/685/2055/2065 Hudsons are called "baby" or "small" Hudsons.

These are the Alco Hudsons.

Add in the 8206/8603 and relatives in 1972 & up which are essentially identical.



Rob

  • Member since
    January 2019
  • From: Henrico, VA
  • 9,728 posts
Posted by Flintlock76 on Thursday, January 6, 2022 7:11 PM

Ow, you guys are making my head hurrrrrttt...  

Being a simple man I just call them Hudsons, life's confusing enough as it is!

By the way, I've got a 2055 and a 2056 myself.  I like the 2055, but I LOVE my 2056!  I call it "The Bruiser."  The thing'll pull tree stumps!

  • Member since
    December 2005
  • From: Hopewell, NY
  • 3,233 posts
Posted by ADCX Rob on Thursday, January 6, 2022 8:29 PM

Flintlock76
...my 2056!  I call it "The Bruiser."  The thing'll pull tree stumps!


You should try a 2046!

Rob

  • Member since
    January 2019
  • From: Henrico, VA
  • 9,728 posts
Posted by Flintlock76 on Thursday, January 6, 2022 8:44 PM

ADCX Rob
You should try a 2046!

OOOOOOO, I just MIGHT!  There's a train show coming here in a few weeks.

The hunt is on...

  • Member since
    January 2019
  • 24 posts
Posted by panzerpete75 on Friday, January 7, 2022 9:35 AM

ADCX Rob

They already have names.

 
panzerpete75
...the 646/2046/2056 Hudsons (the ones that share a boiler casting with the Berkshires)...


These are the Baldwin Hudsons.

Add in the 8600 and relatives in 1976 & up which are essentially identical.

 
panzerpete75
...the 665/685/2055/2065 Hudsons are called "baby" or "small" Hudsons.


These are the Alco Hudsons.

Add in the 8206/8603 and relatives in 1972 & up which are essentially identical.

 



 

 

Thanks for the info, I can't find much info on the MPC-era trains.

  • Member since
    December 2005
  • From: Hopewell, NY
  • 3,233 posts
Posted by ADCX Rob on Friday, January 7, 2022 10:23 AM

panzerpete75
Thanks for the info, I can't find much info on the MPC-era trains.



This LINK AT TRAINZ is a pretty good jumping-off point to get some background info.

Rob

  • Member since
    July 2021
  • 116 posts
Posted by trainlivebob on Friday, January 7, 2022 11:38 AM

I agree, the 2046 is my most efficient hauler.  I test a set consist of cars with different locos.  Some cant pull it , a few can, and I measure the voltage for identical lap times.  The 2046 pulls at the least voltage.  What I dont have is the amp draw to know the exact watts.

  • Member since
    January 2019
  • 24 posts
Posted by panzerpete75 on Friday, January 7, 2022 11:58 AM

ADCX Rob

 

 
panzerpete75
Thanks for the info, I can't find much info on the MPC-era trains.

 



This LINK AT TRAINZ is a pretty good jumping-off point to get some background info.

 

 

Do you know did they start switching to plastic body shells?

  • Member since
    January 2019
  • From: Henrico, VA
  • 9,728 posts
Posted by Flintlock76 on Friday, January 7, 2022 12:25 PM

trainlivebob
I agree, the 2046 is my most efficient hauler.

I've a small layout myself, the old traditional 4x8, but my 2056 will pull 16 modern era cars without breaking a sweat, just as well as my 736 Berkshire.  The 2055, not quite so many.

The thing is I run on nickle-silver tracks, so MagneTraction doesn't do me any good, even if it still works. 

  • Member since
    December 2005
  • From: Hopewell, NY
  • 3,233 posts
Posted by ADCX Rob on Friday, January 7, 2022 2:26 PM

panzerpete75
Do you know did they start switching to plastic body shells?


Not for this series of steamers.

Rob

Join our Community!

Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account.

Search the Community

FREE EMAIL NEWSLETTER

Get the Classic Toy Trains newsletter delivered to your inbox twice a month