NYC 4-6-4 UNLETTERED DCC/SOUND

Broadway Limited Imports is pleased to bring to HO the most accurate and desirable Commodore Vanderbilt Hudson ever produced. In the summer of 1934, J-1e Hudson #5344 was pulled from service and sent to West Albany to be fitted with the first sheet metal shroud in America. Painted gun-metal gray with aluminum trim, the locomotive was named "Commodore Vanderbilt", after the successful US businessman who previously owned the NYC railroad.

Developed by the Case School of Applied Science, the shroud covered the locomotive and tender. The shroud was not just for looks, but rather was well-planned and functional. Hinged panels made maintenance points accessible, and a grilled recess on top of the cowling aided the updraft of smoke. Two major benefits of streamlining were improved air flow and improved insulation. Engineers estimate a 2% aid to air flow and the shell certainly minimizes heat loss. Unfortunately the disadvantages of increased weight and exta maintenance tended to outweigh the benefits.

The Commodore Vanderbilt had her inaugural trip on February 19, 1935. After working for about 8 months, she was sent to West Albany Shops for further improvements. Boiler pressure was increased to 250 lbs, roller bearings were applied to the side rods, and disc drivers replaced the original spoked drivers. #5344 maintainted this appearance until July 1939, when she was returned to the shops again and given a shroud similar to the "Dreyfuss Hudsons".

In this production, we are offering models of the Vandy Hudson in her original appearance with spoked drivers, and also in her later and longer-lasting appearance with roller-bearing siderods and disc drivers. We will deliver the models ready to run on 18" curves. To accomplish this, we have removed two small pieces of shrouding at the front, and the locomotives will have a modified rear trailing truck. The two shroud pieces and a prototypically accurate trailing truck are included in the box, and can be easily installed as desired. Each of our Vandy Hudson models has a die cast boiler and tender body, and all models come with our Paragon4 DC/DCC Sound System with synchronized puffing smoke and integral GoPack capacitor.




Industry-leading Model Features:

ALL-NEW Paragon4 Sound & Control System

Synchronized Puffing Smoke with Chuff Sound

Variable Puffing Smoke Intensity and timing

Integral DCC Decoder with Back EMF for Industry Best Slow Speed Operation in DC and DCC

Precision Drive Mechanism engineered for continuous heavy load towing and smooth slow speed operation

5-Pole Can Motor with Skew Wound Armature

Heavy Die Cast Boiler, Tender Body, and Chassis for Increased Tractive Effort

Premium Caliber Painting with Authentic Paint Scheme

Prototypical Light Operation with Separately Controllable Headlight, Reverse Light, and Cab Light

Factory-installed Engineer and Fireman Figures

Prototypically Accurate Models for As-Delivered and In-Service Appearances

Many Separately Applied Details such as Handrails, Grab Irons, Ladders, Piping, Cab Glass, Whistle, Brass Bell, and Many Others

Equipped with Rubber Traction Tires for Increased Pulling Power

Recommended Minimum Radius: 18 inches

Accurate Prototypical Sounds for the NYC Commodore Vanderbilt Locomotive