Today we examine the “Lionel Vision line 700E Hudson.” Pairing the terms “Vision line” and “700E” is a bit confusing, because the name “Vision line” suggests high-end super-scale detailing; while the no. 700E is a specific prewar Lionel model. So if you see “Vision line” and think “ultra-detailed scale-like model,” think again where this Hudson is concerned.
One of the selling points of this model is Lionel’s use of some of the same tooling used to build the first 700E. So what you have is 75-year-old tooling coupled with Vision line technology. You also have a few interesting tweaks that make this model stand out from its prewar predecessor.
Opening the box
I was no less impressed by the bulk and obvious detailing of this version of the 700E than any prewar kid would have been. The steamer is large and solidly built and has an impressive array of pipes, detail points, and add-on pieces. The front end, with its pilot, drop coupler (you can replace it with a toy coupler for double-heading), uncoupler arm, and compressor shields, lets you know this locomotive means business.
Couple the distinctive pilot with the archetypical smokebox face with its center headlight and number board, ring of rivets, grab irons, jumbo hinges, and marker lights, and you’ve got a winner.
The boiler features an ample quantity of water and steam lines, sand lines, and other mechanical details.
The sand dome lifts off to reveal locomotive controls, and the tender has a similar feature – lift the water hatch and you’ll find a thumb-wheel for volume control. You won’t need that small screwdriver for sound control again!
Topside, you’ll find a turbine, pop-off valves, and, over the cab, opening roof vents.
The cast-in detailing is satisfactory. There were a few spots where I thought the detailing is soft, and there are two distinct, round mold marks on the fireman’s side of the locomotive. There are also two cast-in pipes on the lower part of the frame that didn’t quite align with the parallel pipes from the boiler casting. This may have been true on the original 700E.
The cab is outstanding, with crew figures, a detailed backhead, red-painted valve handles, and gauges that are backlit. There is also a firebox glow that suggested a random flickering of the flames, instead of a steady glow from a red light bulb.
There is no folding drop deck between the cab and tender, and the cast-in (non-opening) windows on the sides of the cab are so 1939. Also, I would have liked to see marker lights on the tender.
The tender is a solid, heavy model with a chunk coal load, backup light, and add-on steps and ladder.
Many people who have seen the model have asked, “Why gray?”
The gunmetal gray of the prewar no. 763E inspired Lionel’s paint job. That is okay by me because if you like Hudsons, this gives you a slightly different model and a different cab number (no. 5331) to place in your fleet.
The application of paint is fine as are the lettering and numbering.
On the test track
This is an outstandingly smooth runner, especially in the lower speeds, thanks to Lionel’s Legacy command system. It glides with amazing smoothness in the low-speed range, and the synchronized chuffing makes this locomotive almost a form of art-in-motion.
The two premier external visual features for this model are the operating whistle and bell special effects.
Before I played with them, I thought the whistle concept was great, and the operating bell (it moves in synchronization with the digital bell sound) was something of a gimmick. I’ve changed my mind, I like them both!
The synchronized bell ringing was outstanding. I ran the Hudson loop after loop with the bell ringing and eventually had to turn the volume down to humor other staffers working in the CTT workshop. I thought the bell action was a more significant “bang for the buck” feature than the whistle, but both are certainly bonus features.
For the whistle special effect, you first remove the cast brass-colored whistle to expose a hole into which you pour smoke fluid using a special funnel and then replace the whistle. The whistle “steam” comes out of a hole in the boiler under the simulated whistle.
We occasionally had to pucker up and blow into the whistle exhaust hole to pop air bubbles that blocked the smoke. This didn’t happen often, but it did tend to destroy the mood.
The whistle does propel a trace of fluid residue onto the shell, so keep your eyes peeled and wipe the locomotive down if needed. We also noticed a bit of fluid residue around the smokestack, no doubt a by-product of the engine’s robust fan-driven smoke unit.
The sound package is good, the steam sounds and their reproduction are robust, and the whistle was good (perhaps a bit higher pitched than I’d have imagined). Thanks to the design, which lets you quill the whistle, you’ll have a great time running the Hudson on your layout. I, for one, have not mastered the quilling feature, probably for the same reason that I could be master of the 1980s arcade game Tempest, but hand me a paddle controller for X-Box and I’m all thumbs.
The chuff rate is the standard four-per-wheel-rotation, and it is synchronized with the running gear and the locomotive stack exhaust.
We tested the locomotive with Lionel’s Legacy command system using an MTH Z-4000 transformer as the power supply. All functions worked fine.
Our sample’s command-mode low-speed average is 1.2 scale miles per hour, while its conventional-mode low-speed average is 5.2 scale miles per hour. Our high-speed average is 65.4 scale miles per hour, though if you have a longer and straighter right-of-way than ours, you may be able to nudge it higher. Since this model was on loan to Classic Toy Trains, we didn’t want to return it as a boxcab version due to excessive speed on a curve!
Drawbar pull is 2 pounds, 1 ounce.
The locomotive has four power pickups, 1½ inches apart, then 1¾ inches between the pairs. The tender has two power pickups 6 inches apart.
Lionel has placed a lot of operational fun and flexibility in this model. So even while admiring the job Lionel has done, I’d note that if you want a Hudson based on the original 700E but with 21st-century tech improvements, this is for you. If you prefer a Hudson with all the detail rendered by modern tooling and production techniques, you could have a bit of a wait.
I can say that Lionel’s Vision line 700E Hudson was a pleasant surprise, and Lionel has done this venerable warhorse a good turn in updating it for a new generation.
Features: O-42 operation, can-style motor, whistle and bell sound effects, smoke unit, backlit cab gauges, Legacy command and sound system
If only this could run on my 31 and 32 diameter curved track plan, I'd seriously consider buying it.
My son bought 1 and he loves it. The first high end steam locomotive from Lionel that all the features work as advertised out of the box. Great job Lionel too bad not made in USA.
Nice but, $1.600.00 wow wow wow!!!!! But will it last as long as the old one, like the one I have!!!!! With all those electronics, will they last 50 years? I dont think so.. I keep the old one!!!!! …..no electronics to go bad, but nice try Lionel. Too much money
Nice review of a high-end product, and coupled with the written article this video gives a good overview of the Hudson. I was happy to see the backlit gauges and firebox effect. Nice touch to show the night running sequence. Expensive? Yes, but this is the iconic Lionel pre-war locomotive made new for today's operator/collector, and it has the heritage of the classic 700E paired with modern Lionel technology. I think Lionel did well with this one. I'm happy to see high-end locomotives such as this even if entry level is what I can comfortably afford at this time. The hobby has plenty of room for all tastes and budgets.
Yeah, it's nice, but $1600? The moving bell is very cool, and the sounds are great. But using the old tooling has to have drawbacks, like missing details we've come to expect on a premium priced model. Sorry, Lionel, but there's now way I'm laying out $1600 for this.
Hi. I think you ran this engine too fast around track to appreciate. I didn't see any smoke out of stack. The tender should have lited marking light. ps-I think in todays market most of these steam engines are all the same.ps-other than the sounds and smoke. I don't see any new improvements,for this type of money. Basically I have a 1990 700K from lionel, I still like the old pullmor motors for long term, as opposed to a can motor.ps-i think other than the moving bell, its ok.
Sorry Bob, Your review on the hudson 700-e did not cut it this time.
For such an expensive model you just ran the locomotive around the test track giving no though explaination of the old versus new tooling methods.
It's my opinion, i regret to say this model for all of it's special features is over hyped & priced.
You could purchase two or three MTH Premier locomotives for the same cost.
Another example where the manufactures are leaning towards high income earners,( have a close look at all the latest catalogs ) , & squesing the average person out of the hobby !