Bachmann's Best Ever? | New York Central J3a Hudson Review | HO scale Steam Locomotive

Bachmann's stellar new New York Central J3 Hudson really shows off the state of the art for what a good running and powerful steam locomotive model can be, but is it powerful enough to handle an 18 car 1930's era 20th Century Limited Consist?

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[commandingofficerkanawha]

I work at a hobby store when we got these engines in. Me and my train buddies bought all of them immediately and they have become some of our flagship engines matching the pulling power of some our massive articulated broadways at a much cheaper price. They’re truly amazing engines and we are very happy to have them be part of our locomotive fleet! My most recent video actually features all 4 Hudson’s lined up side by side plus my Commodore Vanderbilt making an impressive quintuplet of Hudson’s taking over our clubs layout

[ApartmentRR]

I like this review format! Excellent video!

[LordRusty]

What appears nice with having the motor where it is, is the fact that it allows light to show through where the drivers are located! Very realistic.

[Thunderbirds]

Looks like a quality buy that all period railroaders should consider!

[gtown]

Very good review! And your approach combined prototype data for comparison was unique.

[Ikindaenjoytrains]

It looks beautiful! I definitely need one of these.

[gilbertporter]

Since they this, they announced they will do the Streamlined 20th century limited version. I hope they do the Entire state express version, as well as the standard NYC Hudson with that centipede tender.

[SouRwyProductions]

I just got one of those from my parents for Christmas yesterday and I love it. It’s a beautiful model, one of the best, largest, most powerful, fastest locomotives in my collection. I mainly only buy locomotives less than $200, so the J3a was a bit outside of my normal price range. That being said, the only problem I had with it was the molded on handrails on the tender. On any other model of that kind of price, that would be almost impossible to justify. However, it doesn’t matter too much on the J3a. I have also given mine a ceremonial name, akin to any locomotive named after an important person. I have given mine the almost ironic name “Alfred E Perlman”

[davidjackson]

Nice review! Please keep up the good work. I just discovered your channel and I love it. I'm a huge fan of the Hudson, it's my second favorite steam engine (the 4-4-0 being #1). Again, thanks for a great video!

[thomasavensjr.]

What an impressive NYC j3a class Hudson type locomotive model, I enjoy viewing the detail features on steam locomotives and this Hudson model is a well presented product from Bachmann. Sometimes I wish that I modeled the steam era as there are many steam locomotive models available in ho scale that I really like, this Bachmann j3a Hudson model interests me and I am really tempted to purchase one of these Hudson locomotives.

[Alcofoamer]

The Hudson is my favourite, but I've been trying to buy one. I've been moving away from HO to Gauge 1. I have a BLI J-1e in HO, but in Gauge 1, I have a J-3a from MTH and a live steam J-1c from Aster. However this model is screaming my name and I can't underemphasize how much willpower I've been using to resist temptation.

[James-Railyard]

I have one on order, I can’t wait for it!
Another reviewer found it to pull more than a BLI Vanderbilt Hudson, and the CV Hudson has tires. Guess BLI should’ve finished the boiler shell instead of just giving us a bowl on a chassis. I might get a second one of these Bachmann Hudson’s and switch the decoder for Tsunami2 and see which I prefer before converting both or keeping one each.
Amazing video my friend. Definitely a different review from what I’m used to.

[KISSFanDan]

It’s a damn shame that none of these escaped the scrappers torch in real life. They should’ve at least saved 2 examples. One of the Dreyfuss streamliners and one non-streamlined.

[mrmarkle]

Just spent 500 on this when they have a new release coming in August for I actually like it alot.

[boxcarthehusky]

You should adapt it to the Alta California railway, give the Alta a Hudson

[gamerfan]

The only problem I have with Bachman is. Sorry…





WHERE IS THE MOHAWKS!!! We have Hudson and Niagara for decades from many companies. But we basically never have a mass produced Mohawk in Ho scale except for MTH. A Mohawk would be an amazing choice for Bachman to do it, because they already have the ability to make the USAR mountains for years.

[evanhizon]

You know, if Bachmann can make a J3a Hudson, newly tooled from the ground up, to the point that it can rival the BLI Hudson, I don't see why they can't remake their NYC Niagara. If Bachmann was able to make their Hudson that is so detailed and diecast body and chassis, they should remake their NYC Niagara with ALL NEW tooling using the same method for their Hudson.

[jjmia]

I have a 2 8 2 BLI mikado prr and without traction tires and my slopes on my layout ( which is barely anything like under a 1% grade ) can haul max 14 cars, its not bad freight trains but theyre not long and yes I love the mikados to go slow but not when they cant pull 20 cars.

[FSKPilot]

I simply won’t pay $450+ for a locomotive that doesn’t get the eccentric cranks right. That’s a basic steamer detail.

[avlisk]

"Excellent running Bachmann steam locomotive right out of the box" are words I am happy to finally hear. Never been a Hudson fan, always preferring Atlantics and Pacifics, but this loco is strangely appealing to me. Thanks for the review.