BLI Broadway Limited 2841 NYC Commodore Vanderbilt Hudson #5344 Disk Drivers Paragon4 Sound/DC/DCC HO Scale

Broadway Limited Imports presents an incredibly accurate and sought-after Commodore Vanderbilt Hudson model in HO scale. In 1934, J-1e Hudson #5344 was given the first sheet - metal shroud in America, painted gun - metal gray with aluminum trim and named after the famous businessman. The shroud, developed by the Case School of Applied Science, covered the locomotive and tender. It wasn't just for looks; it improved air flow and insulation, though increased weight and maintenance were drawbacks. The locomotive's inaugural trip was in February 1935. After 8 months, it got further upgrades like increased boiler pressure, roller - bearing side rods, and disc drivers. We offer models in both original spoked - driver and later disc - driver appearances. These models are ready to run on 18 - inch curves, with removable front shroud pieces and a modified rear trailing truck. The box includes the removed shroud parts and a prototypically accurate trailing truck. Each model features a die - cast boiler and tender body, and comes with our Paragon4 DC/DCC Sound System with synchronized puffing smoke and an integral GoPack capacitor. Our models boast industry - leading features such as an ALL - NEW Paragon4 Sound & Control System, synchronized puffing smoke, variable smoke intensity, and a precision drive mechanism. The Paragon4 system offers dual - mode DC and DCC operation, superb back EMF motor control, and many other advanced features like high - resolution audio, a quillable whistle, and record & play operation.

Using this locomotive model is easy. First, make sure your track has a minimum radius of 18 inches. You can operate it in either DC or DCC mode. For DC sound, use the DCMaster. When you're ready to run the train, power it up, and you'll enjoy the synchronized puffing smoke and accurate prototypical sounds. The locomotive comes with a built - in capacitor pack to handle imperfect track, but it will be automatically disabled on the program track for compatibility with JMRI Decoder Pro. You can control the lights individually in Pro Lighting Mode and use Switcher Mode for precise low - speed control. If you want to have some automated fun, use the Record & Play Operation. For maintenance, keep the locomotive clean. Wipe it gently with a soft cloth to remove dust. Check the wheels and moving parts regularly to make sure they're not jammed. If you want to change the appearance, you can easily install the included shroud pieces and the accurate trailing truck. And if you ever need to reset the settings, just press the EZ Reset Button.