tm takes a look at the famed Hudson made by lionel part 1 looks into the making of the scale new York central in 1990 to celebrate lionel's 90th anniversary the one thing I liked is having a look at the old lionel factory that was in Detroit when kughn was in charge where you see the trains being built in your vary eyes part 2 takes a look at all the Hudson's lionel has made as a guide you'll want to buy this program into a look at one of lionel's famed model train introduced in 1937

Additional remarks by chris collins:
Narration: Just enough.
Would kids enjoy this? Yes.
Image quality: Good.
DVD Value: Excellent Value!
Recommend to others? Definitely.

This video is a wonderful compilation of the basic history of Lionel's classic steamer. The first half is a interesting look at what it takes to build a toy train, from design to production and is a worthwhile watch by itself. The second part is even more interesting, with detailed reviews of each of the successive variations of Lionel's Hudsons from beginning to the latest versions made at the time the video was shot. It is very entertaining to anyone who loves Lionel's "scale" Hudson loco. The only thing I would like to have seen, were the inclusion of the smaller post war "baby hudsons" and even the pre war 226E and how Cowen's obsession with making detailed toy trains that looked more realistic than ever before in the late 30's led to the fabulous 700E being produced. None the less, it is a great video and well worth the price to have.

Additional remarks by Garrett:
Narration: Just enough.
Would kids enjoy this? Yes.
Image quality: Excellent!
DVD Value: Excellent Value!
Recommend to others? Definitely.

In part 1 made in 1990 or 1991, there is an introduction from one of Lionel's presidents Richard Kughn. There is also a brief history of the model, and everything is covered piece by piece from the shells, to assembling the wheels, to spray painting, to adding the original 1989-1993 steam railsounds on the tender to the final assembly line, which has the old number 7 song in it.

In part 2 that was originally made in 2001, it starts of with the runby/pacing of the 1990 hudson. then Narrator Stew McDonnell says that in every arena, one emerges & becomes the best. In baseball, it was Babe Ruth. In popular swinging jazz music, Frank Sinatra. In a world of Steam Locomotives, It was the New York Central's hudson. Some black & white films of the hudson are shown especially photograps of the 4-8-2 mohawk, and the K5 class 4-6-2 pacific not to mention the LIMA Ohio Built 2-8-4 berkshires. An interview with Thoroughbreads bookwriter Al Staufer is included. Construction of the Hudson Began in 1926. The first one Class J-1-A number 5200 is shown in photographs. Like many other hudsons, 5200 operated on the 20th century limited. There are other hudsons which include the J-1B's C's & D's. The J-1E was built in 1931. The final one was none other than 5344. While this program was focused on the hudsons, there are other toy trains shown in this video. Which includes That in 1935, Lionel made the Red Comet, the Boston & Maine's Flying Yankee, Union Pacific's City of Denver, and the popular Blue Comet. Back then, model railroaders want full scale trains. Not Whimsical toy trains. And thus, Lionel's very first realistic model: The New York Central Hudson Was Born. Some advertising photos of the toy hudson was shown, especially the 8mm films. Lionel's first Hudson was Pricey back then, but on the Bright side, It was only $75.00. After all, $75.00 for a locomotive on a lionel layout is more affordable than $600-$2500 per engine. A short interview with Lionel Collector Jim Flynn is included. Did you know that there are some handsome carrying cases made to transport the most splendid engine in Lionel History? Also back in the Late '30s, Lionel also introduced some realistic freight cars. Which includes a Pennsylvania Boxcar, A Sunoco Tank Car, a Baltimore & Ohio Hopper, And the NYC Caboose. What about passenger cars? well Joshua Lionel Cowen painted the Milwaukee Road's Hiawatha, & UP's M-10000 coaches red. A short interview Lionel Collector Donald Fiore is included. Did you know that Lionel Used to make a Locoscope? Well, its a little plastic model of the hudson that was used to view frames of 16mm film. The first hudson was built from 1937-1942. Its original Price was $75.00, but in the 2001 video, it is at a massive value of $4000. Some looks of the hudson operating on one of the TMBV Studio layouts are shown. Another short interview with Jim Flynn is included. A special version known as 700EWX was made to run on tubular track, especially T-rail. The 700T tender came with a tinplate Box Coupler to match with 800 & 2800 series Freight & passenger cars. Lionel also made the hudson in an unassembled building kit form. It came in 6 boxes. The first 4 are for the Locomotive. The 5th box is the tender. And the 6th box is for the air whistle. Another interview with Doanld Fiore is included. Did you know that Lionel also produced the Scale Freight cars in Kit Form? At $75.00, the scale hudson cost 3 weeks pay for the average worker. In order for the customer to save money, Lionel Introduced the 763E. The first versions were painted gunmetal gray, & came with a tinplate style Vandrbilt type tender. An extremely rare 2263W was made with Black Journals. In 1940 the engine came with a matching 2226W tender. The tender is one of the most prized posesed items in Lionel History. In 1941-42 the entire engine & tender was painted black. The original price was $37.50. The 2001 video says that the curent Value is $2200. The manhattan cars were Lionel's first realistic looking Coaches. Some runbys of the 763E are shown especially a meet with the 1990 model. At the transition of the 30s to the 40s, Lionel made OO gauge. The 3 rail versions were numbers 001E, & 002E. The 2 rail versions were numbered 003E & 004E. Each cost $32.50 Per engine back then, but the 2001 video says that the current Value is $550. The Gauge was discontinued after the end of WWII. More of these OO hudsons were shown in other TMBV titles: A century of Lionel with Tom Snyder, Lionel OO & HO In Action, & I Love Toy Trains Parts 12 & the final show. Another interview with Jim Flynn is included. 2 Different carrying cases were made. Of course Lionel Carrying Cases are extremely rare. Another interview with Donald Fiore is included. A Special OO hudson was made during Lionel's Golden year. Also During the Golden year, Lionel introduced one of the most Prized Posessed Steam Locomotives: the 773. It was the first engine to have a different road name besides NYC, have an operating smoke unit, and also an operating knuckle coupler on the rear of the tender. Prior to the debut of the 773, some photos of the 1946 catalog is included. Which contains the Pennsy Turbine, and the 703 hudson that was shown in the catalog but never produced. A short interview with Hudson Experts Steve Simon & Mike Hill are included. The tender was numbered 2426W which was also used with the berkshires. An interview with Lionel consultant Lenny Dean is included. As Lenny explains about the engine, some mini cameras were used to have a head on shot and a ride behind the tender on the layout next to the UP Alco set. Afterwards one of the interviews with the Late Dave Garrigues is included. When the 773 was first released, it was $55.00, According to the 2001 video, it was $1800. 2 prototypes were made with the rubber stamped NYC logo in Silver. During Lionel's Dark days of the 60s, Everyone was leaving their true spirit of railroading both real and toy behind, forgotten, and replaced with wirplanes, and automobiles. The 773 came back in 1964, but unfortunatelly, it came with the wrong tender shape with the wrong name: Pennsylvania. The following Year, Lionel Changed some of their tenders from Pennsy to NYC. One of the interviews with John Palm is included as he laughed about how lionel got the model wrong. The 1960's hudson was shown on one of TM's overused Studio Layouts: the Postwar Super O Track layout with a Popular Santa Fe F3 diesel. I don't know if its true, But i think the Layout itself had since been sold to its new owners, or even demolished. When the 773 returned in the 60s, Its original price was $90.00. According to the 2001 video, it is at $1200. Of course 1966 was the final year the hudson was made. Afterwards a man was doing some commentary of steam as some silent 8mm films with dubbed audio are shown. At the Transition of the 60s into the 70s, lionel moved from New York to Mt. Clemens Michigan, as the Breakfast Cereal Company General mills purchased lionel. On an all 70s, layout, there are 2 santa fe black and yellow diesels operating a freight train. What TM didn't know, is that Lionel returned the hudson in 1981 with the Chicago & Alton, and in 1982 with the life of Joshua L. Cowen Set. In the 80's the NYC hudson was back, but it was numbered to 783. The 83 was representing the year 1983 to bring the hudson out, but there were lots of delays in mexico due to Misunderstanding Language communications. One of the few interviews with Lionel Employee John Brady was included. There are also some catalog photos of the engine itself. Like the C&A and the JLC set, The 783 was one the first lionel hudsons to have steam driven piston valves, the mighty sound of steam, and the electronic whistle. Some runbys of the 783 hudson on a hi-rail studio layout is shown. An interview with Lionel engineer Steve Ziemba is included. What's the same thing about the engine itself? Well, Both the original Price back in 1984, and the current value according to the 2001 video, says that the engine itself is only $600. Magnets were added to beef up the Magne-traction. A look at the box for the hudson is included. According to the Display track for the 783 hudson, Lionel Returns to Michigan on October 21, 1985. In 1986 Lionel produced another Hudson. It was the Boston & Albany 784. When First Released, it was $695.00, The 2001 video says that this engine is at $1000. Some Catalog photos are included. The B&A hudson Was one of Lionel's Prized Collectibles of the 80s along with the Standard O gauge Freight cars & 2 cabooses. John Brady Explains the 784. Note the Early Prototype with the engine painted in gray. The following year (1987), another hudson was made, it was the NYC 785 painted in gray. 1987 was also the 50th anniversary for the debut of the hudson. Back when it was released, it was $795. The 2001 video says that this engine is $600. John Palm talks about why did lionel painted the gray instead of black. The caboose Unfortunately is a plastic reproduction of the prewar semi-scale version. For Lionel's 90th birthday, All collectors really want-is the realistic 700E number 5340. Like the 1984 model, this 1990 engine had the same original price & current value of $1200. A special effect was included as the camera would stay where it was, put the assembled 700KW engine on one frame, and the 1990 model in the next frame. While there are rumors, and unexpected thoughts, did you know that NYC had a J-1D hudson numbered 5390? well it was originally built as 6615. Some runs of the engine on Chris & Marlene Rohlfing's layout are shown as well as the TM studio layout. The late Dave Garrigues & John Brady explains what's wrong with the prototype of the 1990 model. The 5340 was the first lionel hudson to have electronic railsounds. Listen to that incredible whistle, as the engine runs along with some meets with the 1991 pennsy turbine. Lionel also made the 5340 hudson painted in mostly gold for only Lenny Dean himself In 1992. Also that year, Lionel made different models of the streamlined Dreyfuss hudson made out of brass only. The Brass models were the most expensive Lionel items ever made in the 90s & beyond. The 2 rail version came in 5 different numbers & 2 13 passenger car sets. The engine was priced at $2500, The coaches are $500 each. An interview with Mike Hill is included, as well as printed promos and a dubbed silent film. Fine art models also made the brass engine in 3 rail form, but it didn't get much details like their 2 rail counterpart. At the Second Half of 1994, Lionel Introduced 2 New Upgrades for future generations, especially in the new century. There was the Handheld Trainmaster Command Control System, and Railsounds 2. The first Hudson with the 2 new features was the Chesapeake & Ohio 490 Which the real engine itself is still on display at the B&O museum in Baltimore. An interview with former Lionel designer Dan Bigda was included. Lionel not only went to baltimore to photograph 490. but it was also used for measurements and designs for the toy counterpart. 6 prototypes were made to create the details. The first was made out of foam. The second was Ren shape which cuts like butter. The third was handmade with details at the top. The Forth was made out of rubber mold. When first released, it was priced at $895, while the Current value says $950.. The late Dave Garrigues explains. Lionel also made plans & prototypes for the Empire state express, but it was never made in the final product. During the final 3-4 months of 1995, Richard Kughn left lionel, and the company was rebranded as Lionel LLC. In 1996, Lionel Introduced 2 different models of the hudson. One was a rare 773, the other was a Controversal color of the Commodore Vanderbilt. Why Did I say Controversal? Well, let's just be safe and what the boys say about it. Did you know that the CV was originally J-1E 5344 under the upside down bathtub? When it was first released, it was priced at a massive $1295. The current value of the engine is $700. In 1997, Dan Bigda thought it would be a good idea to weathered the 1996 streamliner. According to Dave, People want to buy a train that looks new instead of being damaged. Like the 1996 model, it was originally $1295. However, it was produced in low numbers, unacceptable, and it is now valued at $1500. In another attempt to appese their critics during 1999, Lionel made a Darker gray (Almost Black) CV. It was the first Lionel Hudson to be equipped with the Towercom & CrewTalk Sound Features. Some runbys of the engine is included as well as a head on shot. The original price is $1200, & the Current value is $900. Listen to that incredible sound chip. Lionel also made modern CV Engines bringing back some tributes to Prewar lionel. Which are the 265M Blue streak & the 264E Red Comet. In 1997, Lionel made one of the worst Hudsons. Why did I say that? Well the hand rails are plastic, There are some bending rubber tubes, Scullin disc driving wheels, and the B&O Style tender. One good thing about the 1997 model? The railsounds. Dan Bigda explains the problems & situations. When first released, it was originally $1100, now it is $100 off. The correct tender, Would've been a PT type. This misake was inspired by the 1964 Pennsy gaff. Also in 1997, Lionel also made a hudson which was part of the warhorse series. It was the AT&SF. The Model Looks Like a NYC Hudson, But Santa Fe's version, has a bigger smokestack, bulkier sand dome, & the side rods & gears. One good thing about the engine? The railsounds. Listen to that incredible whistle. When first released, it was $1300. Now it is $900. With Lionel's Century Club making its debut in 1997, the last engine made for the line was the comeback of the 773 hudson from 1950. Some differences includes the NYC logo on the tender marked as 2624RS like it was shown in the 1950 catalog, and human figures glued inside the cab. Back then it was priced at $1100. It was also the first Lionel Hudson to be equipped with Railsounds 4.0. Mike Braga Explains. For Lionel's 100th Birthday in 2000, a Gold Scale hudson was made. It's cab number was 1900, Lettered Lionel Lines on the Tender, and also on the caboose. To avoid marking with prints, there was some rubber gloves included, as well as a special case. Due to the big move from America to China, the Gold Hudson was Lionel's final locomotive to be made in america. It was Priced at only $1400. There is also some photos of the Century Club 2 which contains the actual debut of the empire state express. The are some updates after the 2001 video was made, which includes 2 Standard Gauge hudsons: Milwaukee Road Hiawatha 101 which feature the same whistle from the 1999 Commodore Vanderbilt, & the NYC CV that has the same whistle from the 2001 Dreyfuss Hudson. These 2 engines were shot at Richard Kughn's Carail. Plus ther is J-3A 5444 Which was the first engine to have realistic details. First priced at $1050, and it is now $800. It is also the first engine to have a DC can motor. More Black & white films are shown. Also in 2001, Lionel Finally made a Diecast Version of the Streamlined Dreyfuss Hudson. The black screws are used to secure the drivers. It also has 8 lights: one for the head, one in the cab, and 6 over the driving wheels. It is also the Same price as the 5444. Listen to the Railsounds on both the locomotive & the Stationsounds car. Lionel also made an Uncataloged 773 Hudson which is a Century Club Leftover, except that there are small differences. It was first priced at $1300, it is now priced $200 more. Lionel also made another J-3A hudson: the 5433 without its classification lights, and it has Boxpock drivers. Listen to the railsounds on this engine. The Pullman coaches are Standard O Scale Versions of the Postwar Irvington cars. The original price and current value of this TMCC set is yet to be announced. When Lionel introduced the NYC hudson in 1937, it was dubbed: the Scale model of the century. Now Over 80 years later, the legend is still going strong.

Additional remarks by Steamboy:
Narration: Could have used more.
Would kids enjoy this? Yes.
Image quality: Good.
DVD Value: Excellent Value!
Recommend to others? Yes.