TMCC NYC Hudson on eBay...good deal?

[USNRol]

Been watching this auction...this is at least the second listing...price lowered from $300 to $280 on his buy-it-now.  Seems like a good deal.  Is conventional Railsounds a disappointment? Does anyone know this Loco to be deficient in any particular regard?I've already Pre-ordered the K-Line Hudson from the catalog with RS and TMCC for $409 wonder if I screwed up?  This seems like virtually the same loco for about a hundred and fifty bucks less and it's Lionel instead of K-Line.
http://www.trains.com/trccs/forums/1079348/ShowPost.aspx

Roland

[Buckeye Riveter]

I have this locomotive.  Mine has never been in for repair and it is seven years old.  I have had to do a TMCC reset which is really nothing.  It runs and pulls good. 

This video  http://s173.photobucket.com/albums/w79/pfoh/?action=view&current=BOWRR.flv

will give you and idea of the engine.  It is the first one in the video.  You will also see my K-Line Mikado, which has had major problems.  If the price was under $260, I would feel better about your price.

[USNRol]

Wow thanks Buckeye!  I've seen your video before...I like your NYC Hudson.  Sounds and looks great.  Was yours equipped with TMCC when new or did you have that added in later?  Does it get around 027 curves/switches ok?  And I'm a little surprised by your price read...Any idea what new retail was on your unit?  what do you suppose makes the K-Line I've preordered (See link in first post) more expensive than the 6-28065?   Maybe it'll have RS 5.0?  Is it more detailed?  Yours looks well detailed.  I considered the train in the auction to be "good as new" condition.  Anyway lotso ?'s...appreciate the sounding board!

Roland

[Buckeye Riveter]

Wow thanks Buckeye!  I've seen your video before...I like your NYC Hudson.  Sounds and looks great.  Was yours equipped with TMCC when new or did you have that added in later?  Does it get around 027 curves/switches ok?  And I'm a little surprised by your price read...Any idea what new retail was on your unit?  what do you suppose makes the K-Line I've preordered (See link in first post) more expensive than the 6-28065?   Maybe it'll have RS 5.0?  Is it more detailed?  Yours looks well detailed.  I considered the train in the auction to be "good as new" condition.  Anyway lotso ?'s...appreciate the sounding board!

Roland

The 5412 came from Lionel TMCC/RS ready.  I had the Lionel TMCC/RS installed. 

When we tried it on the O-27 Christmas layout it derailed.  My 5412 was $200 new and then I added $80 for the TMCC to be installed.

The K-Line is more detailed.   I doubt if the K-Line will have the RS 5.0 unless it was specifically specified in the catalog or web page.

[Anonymous]

I bought this hudson new.It came with the N.Y.C. freight set.Never had a problem with it.Smokes good runs strong.I added TMCC and the electro coupler it was easy to do.It came with O-31 track.5412 has racked up a lot of miles for me.Glad I bought it.

[USNRol]

Thank again Buckeye.  Your info has been very helpful;  apparently the lister ended the auction I was watching...maybe sold it locally.  Still think his price was very fair especially in consideration of no sales tax and the excellent like new condition he was claiming.  You may have gotten a good deal and/or own a train that has at least held its value!

Too bad about the derailments on 027...did you ever investigate what exactly was causing it? 

Thanks Again,
Roland

[lionelsoni]

To get my 773 to run on O27, I had to do three things:

I widened the gauge as much as possible and put shim washers on the axles to eliminate end play, so that the middle drivers would not touch the center rail on O27 turnouts.

I devised a spring arrangement to keep the rear-truck pivot centered as much as possible, to let the locomotive back through an O27 turnout without picking the frog.

I converted the front truck to a simple pivot, located somewhat farther back than the original, and made the new tongue long enough that the wheels clear the cylinders on corners.  The truck now appears slightly too far forward on straight track; but at least it doesn't derail.

 

[NH_Chris]

Roland:

Though the opportunity to buy the Lionel engine has passed, I thought I'd add my remarks to give you another viewpoint.  If I understand which Lionel you're talking about, I've had the same engine.  I also own a K-Line semi-scale Hudson (K3270-5405CC) that is similar to the Hudson Lionel is now cataloging as 6-21298.

Overall, if I had to decide between the earlier Lionel and the newer "K-Lionel", I would prefe the K-Lionel version.  Whether the added details, etc. are worth the extra $$$, is another question.  The early Lionel is typical of late-'90's semi-scale engines.  The detailing on the body is nowhere near as nice as the cast-in and added-on details on the K-Lionel. 

I added TMCC to my Lionel, but could never get it to run right (even with resets). The engine had no cruise control, and I could not get the lights to work right.  For example, the reverse light on the tender would never extinguish, IIRC.  The Railsounds are fine, about the same as you would get on the K-Line (assuming Lionel doesn't upgrade them to 4.0).  The wheels  also had a problem with white paint overspray.  I sold mine off a few years ago.

I bought my K-Line semiscale Hudson through the K-Line club for $300.  It has K-Line cruise control (which sent the engine to the deadline when it stopped working) :( 

 I'm not sure what Lionel is doing to replace the K-Line cruise, probably just removing it.  Lionel may also change the paint sheen, from the look of the catalog picture.  The K-Line club engine was painted in flat black, the K-Lionel looks to be more of a satin finish.  The rods and valve gear and handholds are also a bit blackened on the K-Line, and look to be bright on the K-Lionel. 

Aside from my Hudson's cruise control dying, the engine is lovely - real coal load, opening vents on the cab, engineer figures, lighted markers on the tender, etc., etc.   Hopefully these features remain on the K-Lionel.

NH Chris 

 

[USNRol]

Bob,

Good tips.  I'd be lucky if I could ever "rig" up enough custom springs, pivots, swing arms as would be required to get a 773 to negotiate 027 turnouts.  I plan on having an 042 minimum mainline to run bigger locos on, but I'll also have 027 turnouts for yards and industrial sidings.  If I'm not mistaken the PW 773 was full O-Scale right?  The K-Lionel is billed as Semi-Scale which I take to mean it'll probably be compressed length-wise a bit; I'm hoping enough to get through 027 but if not OK.

Chris,

Thanks for the EXCELLENT info you've shared.  You've also made me feel better about the fact I've Pre-Ordered the K-Lionel...I'm optimistic it'll be very nice.  It would be nice to be surprised with a Cruise feature but not required...I love modulating the throttle for steady speed.  The Paint sheen in the catalog is nice...I like it.  If they ship with Flat black instead I won't be disappointed; it'll just look more like a PW 773 to me.  RS 4.0 is that the same as 5.0 or the previous version?  Maybe Lionel has plenty of 4.0 boards laying around their factories and will ship it with those instead of having to procure standard RS units??  That'd be cool.  I have nothing with sound other than PW Diesel Horns and Steam Whistle tenders now so anything will be an upgrade! 

Also.  The 5412 Hudson pictured above has been relisted at 260 with a 286 buy-it-now.  Still probably a good deal for a runner hudson with TMCC

Roland