Broadway Limited Imports, HO Scale, 2840, Commodore Vanderbilt Hudson 4-6-4 with Spoked Drivers, New York Central, #5344

PARAGON4 SOUND/DC/DCC EQUIPPED WITH SMOKE

Introducing the Most Accurate and Desirable HO Scale Commodore Vanderbilt Hudson

Broadway Limited Imports is thrilled to present the HO scale model of 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 for a groundbreaking transformation. It became the first locomotive in America to be fitted with a sheet metal shroud, painted gun-metal gray with aluminum trim, and was named "Commodore Vanderbilt" after the successful US businessman who once owned the New York Central Railroad.

The shroud, developed by the Case School of Applied Science, was not only aesthetically pleasing but also functional. It covered the locomotive and tender, with hinged panels for maintenance access and a grilled recess on top to aid smoke updraft. Streamlining brought improved airflow and insulation, although the additional weight and maintenance somewhat negated these benefits.

The Commodore Vanderbilt made its inaugural trip on February 19, 1935. After about 8 months of service, it returned to the West Albany Shops for upgrades, including increased boiler pressure to 250 lbs, roller bearings on the side rods, and disc drivers replacing the original spoked drivers. #5344 maintained this appearance until July 1939, when it received a new shroud similar to the "Dreyfuss Hudsons."

Our production includes models of the Vandy Hudson in its original appearance with spoked drivers, and in its later, longer-lasting appearance with roller-bearing siderods and disc drivers. These models are ready to run on 18" curves, with two small pieces of front shrouding removed and a modified rear trailing truck for better maneuverability. The box includes the shroud pieces and an accurate trailing truck for easy installation. Each Vandy Hudson model features a die-cast boiler and tender body, equipped with our Paragon4 DC/DCC Sound System with synchronized puffing smoke and an 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 Best Slow Speed Operation in DC and DCC

• Precision Drive Mechanism for 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

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

• Many Separately Applied Details: Handrails, Grab Irons, Ladders, Piping, Cab Glass, Whistle, Brass Bell, and More

• Equipped with Rubber Traction Tires for Increased Pulling Power

• Recommended Minimum Radius: 18"

• Accurate Prototypical Sounds for the NYC Commodore Vanderbilt Locomotive

Broadway Limited Imports is proud to introduce Paragon4: The new benchmark for premium HO sound-equipped locomotives.

These DC and DCC-Sound equipped locomotives feature the ALL-NEW Paragon4 sound and control system. Each Paragon4 locomotive comes with BLI's integral DCC Decoder, offering dual-mode DC and DCC operation with superb back EMF motor control, improved DC motor control, built-in capacitor pack for reliable electrical pickup, industry-best onboard sound with Rolling Thunder functionality, Pro Lighting Mode for prototypical light control, Switcher Mode for precise low-speed control, recordable DCC operation for automated playback, and the same excellent detail level as our Paragon3 Series models.

Paragon4 Sound & Control System Features:

• Operates in DC & DCC with improved DC speed control (use DCMaster for DC Sound)

• Built-in capacitor pack to navigate imperfect track

• Capacitor Pack automatically disabled on program track for full compatibility with JMRI Decoder Pro

• Pro Lighting Mode offers individual control of all lights on model

• Switcher Mode for precise low-speed control

• Record & Play Operation - Records and plays back sounds and movements once or repeatedly for automatic operation

• High-Resolution Audio

• Quillable Whistle for various whistle lengths and patterns

• Choice of 3 selectable horns

• Alternate Whistle/Horn where applicable for locomotives with air horn and steam whistle - both the main whistle and alternate can be easily played

• Adjustable bell ringing interval for faster or slower bell

• Numerous user-mappable functions with available keys

• Johnson Bar Sound at Direction Change

• Multiple realistic passenger and crew sounds play on command

• Grade Crossing Automatic Signal

• Automatic Forward/Reverse Signal - When activated, stopping triggers a stop whistle toot. When moving forward from a stopped position, toots twice. When moving in reverse, toots three times.

• Chuff sound intensity varies with load

• Individually adjustable sound volumes for each effect

• EZ Reset Button for quick return to factory default settings