Can We Make This Rivarossi Dreyfuss Hudson Run Again?

[@DarthSantaFe]

Glad it turned out to be an easy fix and now runs so well! Mine had defective drive wheels, and became a whole complicated project of replacing the original wheels with some higher quality Bowser wheels, and then replacing the small steel weight with a ton of lead weight to give it some traction since the new wheels didn't have tires.

[@SMTMainline]

Hats off to you for putting that much time and effort into a locomotive like this. I don't find Rivarossi locomotives are great pullers even with traction tires so I can imagine why you needed to add a lot of weight.

[@dancalmpeaceful3903]

From what I've learned about Rivarossi's is that they are nice to look at...but not great for pulling or running. Their brush layout (how the brushes are pushed against the commutator) is laughable and poor. You need to make sure those ridiculous little springs are pushed hard against the brushes. You're lucky to get it to pull 6 cars when it's running well....and sometimes they make this bizarre noise like when you run your fingers against the spines of a comb... Just really a bad design...but as I say....nice to look at.

[@DarthSantaFe]

@@dancalmpeaceful3903 I’d say they’re more “hit and miss.” Some of the old Rivarossi steam models I have run as smooth as any BLI or Spectrum, and others have needed extensive tuning. The brush layout of one carbon and one woven metal on a flat commutator was common in motors dating back to old Lionel and Marklin, and they would wear quickly with a bad commutator or run forever with a good one. Early models from the 50’s through the early 70’s were fairly heavy, but they kept reducing weight as Italian manufacturing got more expensive. That’s my experience anyway, and I understand that many have had especially bad luck with them.

[@dancalmpeaceful3903]

@@DarthSantaFe Any recommendations or tricks that you know of to improve performance? Mine is noisy at times and weak. Sometimes it gets hot too. I"ve torn this thing apart more times than I can count to oil and grease it and clean the commutator...

[@DarthSantaFe]

@@dancalmpeaceful3903 Try cleaning the commutator again completely and then using modern Athearn brushes (ATH90037) in place of the originals. Gently file the bottom of the brush flat and file the sides down until it easily slips into the Rivarossi motor, then straighten the tip of the spring so that it rests in the slot on top of the brush. The newer material is harder, cleaner and more slick than the old carbon and brass, so it should help the motor to run smoother and more consistently. Also, make sure to oil the bearing between the brushes only a little so that oil doesn't get into the commutator. I hope that helps!

[@drmsig.r1000]

I love that Hutson I wish the classes would had been preserved it would of been so beautiful to see one running at such high speeds

[@Stormysteamie]

About a year and a half ago, I had this engine, but it was custom painted by the previous owner. It had a long black stripe on the tender with a big ol' G on it. When I got it home, the motor pretty much seized up after a 3 or 4 runs. I tried my best to fix her up, but I've never been able to bring her to life. To make her steam. And I'm sorry to say that, as of Oct 2021, the engine is gone. It's nothing but a pile of parts in my junk drawer. If only I saved it. But you know what? Since there's a couple of train meets coming soon, in my area of course, I may have another chance to own this engine once again. This time, I'll do my best to make sure it's safe, sound, and running. Great video! Skylite Junction would get a kick outta this I bet. Happy belated 40k subs!

[@stephenrick6672]

Thanks for the video. I have this train. It's the 1938 Twentieth Century Limited. If you get a Niagra you can use it with the cars to run the 1944 version of this train. The nose of this hudson is the iconic symbol of the art deco era.

[@SMTMainline]

I have a Bachmann Niagra but it's in horrible shape.

[@americansaxon2101]

This is my favorite steam locomotive. Thank you SMT!

[@mercuryoak2]

I absolutely couldn't wait til you got this running. I remember when you were at store trying to see if it ran and then you ended up buying it which i will say you did great at the price deal. The fact it needed not much ro get running and minor repairs is well worth what you got for it. Great run by with music. It looks great just charging down the track like it did way back in 1930s or 1940s .

[@SMTMainline]

I really like the paint scheme the NYC had, it matched well with the streamlined look this train had.

[@HighRail_Division]

I love the Hudson’s! They are by-far my favorite locomotives, and I’m so glad that you could fix this one up! Under 10 minutes for a repair video is quite impressive… Amazing work once again, Harrison! - Storm

[@SMTMainline]

This has been a great purchase, it looks great and it's been pretty reliable.

[@HighRail_Division]

@@SMTMainline That’s great to hear! This is definitely a locomotive that’s on my dream list; I have 2/4 of my dream engines. Bachmann recently released their own line of Dreyfuss’ but I don’t know if I exactly trust them. 😂

[@MMRails]

Groovy compilation at the end. Another success. Reminds me of that time you fixed that other steam engine, in that other video. Remember that one? That was a good one.

[@SMTMainline]

That was a good one, yes.

[@parkerfougere8378]

What a beautiful full engine. Nice video Harrison.

[@acrranscaleandlifejourney4330]

Pretty train you have there. Glad it was easier to fix then you thought it would be. Good haul. Thanks for the video.

[@NicholassTrainChannel]

Nice video mate that was quite a simple restoration. It looks great running with those passenger cars.

[@Burlington_Route]

This is really helpful as I have a Hudson that Ive needed work on since may

[@engineerpat5290]

AWESOME FIX!!! LOVE THE 20TH CENTURY LIMITED!!!!

[@alanwbelcher]

Nice video Harrison! Love that you got it running again and the ending with nice music was well done. Thanks!

[@rayronvr]

You got one heck of a deal. That is great!!

[@williammcgeehan3424]

The streamlined Hudson engines were used in NYC publicity stills in the 1930's with New York Central's Central Tower ( Buffalo Terminal ) in the background.

[@owenmccarthy2521]

As a native Buffalonian, I can confirm that. There are a few posters in the Buffalo history museum, the Buffalo City hall, and the Terminal( for special occasions)

[@texasmodelrailroader3572]

Very happy you got it running quickly! Can't wait to see it more in Livestreams!

[@joallawestervelt6918]

That is a really cool looking train and locomotive. Nice fix Harrison

[@martinross5521]

Great work Harrison, another handsome set running again. Big cuddles to Nerf Cat

[@johnlongssilverrailz5873]

Good job. A suggestion - to repair cab corners use a 1/32 styrene shim to create a shelf. Then glue the broken corners to the shelf. No need to put glue on the edges. Mask and repaint roof if necessary.

[@houseofrandomness]

You're a wizard Harrison. 😃

[@therandomtransformersanima6236]

I absolutely love the Dreyfuss, it’s my favorite steam loco and I’m so glad that I found one of the old O scale 2-6-4 versions, by far my favorite train I have in my collection

[@theoldbayrailfan]

You uploaded this at the right time the hallmark ornament for this year is the Dreyfus Hudson

[@SMTMainline]

No way!

[@theoldbayrailfan]

Yeah you should check hallmarks website

[@shaygetz52]

nice work... I got mine for $75 USD with five cars. I've since added another NYC RPO and two express reefers to make a nice mixed train from the late 40s. I went on to replace the plastic wheels with the earlier metal tired ones. Metal wheels help the trains keep the track clean.

[@keithross4511]

Pretty cool! Great information on all of your repairs.

[@rwheatley0206]

Beautiful Train my friend. Looks awesome.

[@RJCormanRailfan]

I'm surprised that it was that easy to bring that beauty back to life!

[@ChristopherBrown-mq1lg]

Great locomotive 👍 glad you got it running.

[@strobson1]

aloha harrison i was feeling down this evening till I saw your video and you said groovy. one of my favorite words. picked me right up. mahalo

[@TheEasternVirginiaRailfan]

SMT you did a nice job fixing up the engine

[@brianbenson1973]

Serenity!! SMT! 😎

[@paulbervid1610]

Great work Harrison.

[@shockstrains5077]

awesome train glad you could get it running

[@scottsrailroadingadventure9502]

Nicely done! I enjoy the videos.

[@confusedbakugo1373]

I love how the problem was so simple. "Ah I see the issue, the driveshaft is completely detached from the motor." Hahaha.

[@sfm_ferguson5033]

THATS BEAUTIFUL

[@Graulas]

the holy engine has been fixed!

[@christopherlaflam6383]

Great steal! I got the whole set off Ebay years ago for a lot more money. Love the looks. I don't even know if it runs - layout is in storage and my collections are on display.

[@stillplayswithtrains1442]

Nice! I so enjoy watching your vid's.

[@muir8009]

That's a seriously handsome train. By crikey. yep, go on about BLI, or rapido et al. Really excellent detailed modern production, but look at this Hudson's valve gear, that is a very well executed model, just looks soooooo good. May even excuse the pizza cutters it looks so good. And you paid how much for the whole train?!? Just a pity no manufacturer did a model of what the dreyfuss swapped over for the haul to grand central. Almost ironic the the T1's were plentiful by lionel, Ives and American flyer, but post tinplate just nothing.... be a could image to see your 20th century cars being hauled by a t1b to Harmon... cheers Harrison, your making my day my man :)

[@SMTMainline]

They weren't bad models at the time, not the best by today's standards but in 1975 I doubt you could find much better without scratch building.

[@ferrovocho28]

Really nice train!

[@CR7659]

So far as I know the only Rivarossi engines that suffer zinc issues are the 1950s era Atlantic, Consolidation and the tender from the 0-8-0. By the time this was made the majority of components are plastic. This may even be a fairly late one since it has a conventional gear drive. Some, the articulateds in particular, use a long shaft that runs two vertical shafts into each set of drive wheels. I think I've seen some Hudsons that do this also. Those I have run into where the bearings lock up on the shafts and you need to free them up. There also is apparently a variant of these from the Con-Cor era that adds a Kato motor and flywheel. I would expect that engine alone to sell for around $100 US, the cab damage might reduce the price some. So it sounds like you got a good deal there. I usually sell those cars for $10-$15, the lighted ones would probably be $20.

[@SMTMainline]

I had zinc issues on a 70s era Berkshire so I wasn't sure if this one was going to be the same.

[@CR7659]

@@SMTMainline I never heard of that before, but even I still learn things. By coincidence I picked up one of these Hudsons today, $50 US, no box.

[@ivovanzon164]

If it was a case of zinc pest, it should be quite visible. The main symptoms are that the metal parts starts growing and distort the plastic parts

[@SMTMainline]

I guess their 80s era locomotives didn't contain any zinc.

[@vuurvrproductions4656]

day 1 of waiting for my favorite youtuber to show his Ho scale runaway train 1985 train again

[@SMTMainline]

That might be a few months but here's some mint music from the same year --- kzbin.info/www/bejne/r3ave3d_g5aqbLM&t=

[@dbtech7914]

That's a nice engine. Good job.

[@railroadguy100]

That is really good. Possibly add some extra cars behind the locomotive

[@franklincarlson4939]

So Pretty

[@n4pwx]

Thank you so much for the video my man.

[@Devilninja333]

Re-watching this after I got my own., I realize you’re missing the handrails either way it’s a beautiful locomotive and I’m glad I got my own

[@bluenugget5658]

Just wow

[@0v3rr1d3]

Yes! LOVE me some 20th Century Ltd

[@davidztog9011]

Damn Harrison, that's a steal for the set. You always make it look too easy getting a locomotive back on the rails. How's the Hershey Factory progress? And what about the status of the separate project at the end of your main layout? Thanks for sharing. 👍👍👍

[@SMTMainline]

Not much progress on ether since I've been away but I wanna start working on both daily as the weather starts getting cold.

[@Petemonster62]

I wonder if anyone has tried WD40 to combat zinc rot? SMT, a modeler sent you some wood ties a while back - did they send you spikes too? If so, you could go to a hobby shop or train show & look for a few lengths of code 148 rail to hand-lay some track on a board, gauging it to HO gauge. You could try running your OO scale engines on it & see how it works.

[@Brian_rock_railfan]

Awesome

[@yambo59]

Im from the US and you so remind me of me when I was younger with my layouts, loved tinkering for hours running my trains and like you I was always fixing things and block wired my old layout - in my case I was a gearhead as I loved cars too but now im old and its all behind me now. Im wondering if you have a mailing address as im feeling the need to pass along a lot of stuff to someone who likes this sort of thing and will give a good home to some of my old but useful stuff.

[@TroublesomeSlateTruck]

Good Work With The Video.

[@4everdc302]

Advanced loco repair chapter of the SMT manual. Don't know if these loco's ran the CASO but I'll find out.

[@Kolonol1]

Zinc rot didn't affect any of the red box engines actually...the frames were all plastic...the plastic does get old and crack ..there are many fixes...mine all include styrene, super glue and black paint in my air brush

[@davidv.3135]

Very cool!

[@kaedenthecsxamtrakandthoma8318]

6:08 that Dreyfuss Hudson is cool

[@s0uptim3]

Quick and easy! I’ve got my own Dreyfuss Hudson that needs a new motor, and i’ve had a hard time finding a match to the motor that comes in the engine. I don’t know the name of that specific type of motor so much search hasn’t had much luck. I spent good money for the engine, sad to see it needs a new motor

[@cheesewonton7263]

I can’t believe you fixed up the sd40-2! Awesome (I know it’s not a sd40-2, I’m joking)

[@SMTMainline]

Lol

[@garycousino4016]

Good deal with the cars included

[@elleryparsons5766]

Keep on Model Railroading Harrison.

[@lucaknight_]

I ask because you used one for the internalls and a different one for axels

[@lucaknight_]

Ive been looking for one of those things for ages also what you use for lubricant (like brand and thats stuff) and where do you apply it

[@SMTMainline]

In this case I was using Labelle 106 and 102.

[@BobNewcomb]

Just now getting my stuff from the 70s out to run again. I have this locomotive and am working on it. What is the white cream you are putting in the gear box at 2:32 of this video. Love you page. Thanks!!

[@SMTMainline]

It's labelle 106 grease oil.

[@bluenugget5658]

Wow

[@TexasRailfan21-RailfanRyan]

Wow you have an amazing New York Central 20th century limited set from riverosity next to your two Hiawatha locomotives that is quite the streamliner it was Henry Dreyfus who designed all the streamlining for the New York Central Railroad Raymond Lowey designed the Pennsylvania and Otto Kuhler design the Hiawatha it's surprising that he went with the 4-4-2 Atlantic which hasn't been made since the Dawn of the 20th century what makes the A-Class Atlantic locomotives so efficient then a conventional Atlantic locomotive is that the Wilshire valve gear was placed on the front driver for efficient friction at high speed versus a conventional Atlantic had the wheelchairs gear on the back wheel of the driver set

[@SMTMainline]

Thanks for the information.

[@carolosten995]

Rbp trains would like this

[@Leatherface123.]

YOOOO FINALLY

[@trainfan998]

I've got the engine but i need the coaches.

[@Mrstation22]

Do you know how I can get a tender pin to connect the engine I need a spare for this same locomotive

[@juansilveti9336]

saludos linda locomotora super con sus vagones

[@robertcrundwell2782]

Very nice.

[@TheEverythinChannelMan]

1 interesting thing that I noticed is that the train’s number is 5446, whereas I have the exact same train model, but its number is 5445.

[@NicoWashowich]

Ok I need to know how you got that because I've been looking for a long time and I can't find one for a good amount of money!?!?

[@SMTMainline]

Luck of the draw?

[@gamerfan8445]

I just got one for my brother

[@thatonecaledonian812]

How do you get rivarossi locomotives to not randomly stop when moving. In the vid you said you cleaned the wheels but i’m Still confused

[@Zackseals8]

do you plan to get hudson j1 class 4-6-4

[@jimorlando5700]

I’ve been struggling with getting a decent traction tire to work on my Rivarossi Hudson. It can barely pull itself. Any advice would be appreciated! Thanks!

[@SMTMainline]

I believe Marklin E656520 Traction Tires work on them.

[@DietPizza1]

Any suggestion between MTH, Rivvy, and BLI?

[@themmustangs]

I have the same loco got it off an auction site with the passenger cars loose I think I paid $90cad if I can remember right it doesn't run motor doesn't even try to spin I'm trying to get mine apart it has 2 rods near the motor holding chassis to the body the rods don't want to come out so trying to find a video or a service sheet showing how to remove them, I didn't know about the common issue with these I'm new to the hobby still my main brand is triang but I like rivarossi aswell and have quite a few of them

[@SMTMainline]

I'm pretty sure you have to remove a screw under the front wheels first, then slide the two parts of the chassis that connect to the shell.

[@themmustangs]

@@SMTMainline got it apart I had to bend the rods a little found a service sheet looking at the rods near motor someone bent the one end tight so had to un bend it found my issue motor is seized she has some rust going to try and see if I can save it if not will use a motor I got in a parts lot had it for awhile just never tried running it till now I think I did alright since I got 5 matching cars with it got the rivarossi blue goose aswell same time period it runs and has 3 gray Santa fe cars I'm trying to get the matching cars for it having no luck if you happen to know someone who has a set of blue goose cars they want to sell please let me know

[@newyorkcentralsystemgames]

Yo Smt how much money would you sell the train for if it were for sale. I really love the 20th century limited with a Dreyfus Hudson but am short on money and am looking for a cheap one. I love your videos, they are super cool and your a great KZbinr. -LTArailways

[@SMTMainline]

I don't know if I wanna sell this one just yet lol

[@kulpsrailroad6343]

I have one of those

[@highspeedboom]

You won’t find zinc rot on those Rivarossi hudsons, they are stamped steel

[@sombatstudios]

What's your track plan? And how is the lift bridge and Hershey factory going ?

[@SMTMainline]

Not much progress on ether at the moment but I wanna get working on both going into the fall.

[@kensbackshop6399]

Its called the zinc magot when frames start to deteriate

[@myvideosetc.8271]

Is strange, should be a rivarrossi speciality, because all old Marklin engines have a zinc chassis and this things are eternal, no one asks in train flea markets if a Marklin engine works.

[@muir8009]

@@myvideosetc.8271 No, no. not just rivarossi, rivarossi not really using much zinc anyway. Oh yes, Marklin has had the same zinc pest/rot, all the pioneer users had it. Any early diecast Marklin, hornby meccano, lionel, American flyer etc all had the same issue. The pioneer Dorfan: barely anything has survived. Just that after the war the main manufacturers using it had got it all sorted out by then, so no issues have cropped up since in their production.

[@myvideosetc.8271]

@@muir8009 Interesting, I have some marklin stuff and is from the 60's-70's that is completelly fine. which time frame are we takling about?.

[@muir8009]

@@myvideosetc.8271 just what I've written above?!?

[@myvideosetc.8271]

@@muir8009 yeah but what span you consider "early"

[@district2productions]

Could I buy some locomotives from you

[@samuelbenge524]

Do you a any Js or As?

[@themidochannel]

🦂🦂🦂Stinger the ninja train🦂🦂🦂

[@tinytowntrainstv]

Steal of a deal! They're still out there to be found for the DIY fixer-uppers! Thanks. T4

[@kaedenthecsxamtrakandthoma8318]

Your Dreyfuss Hudson looks like a shark

[@jamestheredenginefan5268]

Train Cars? You Mean c o a c h e s

[@elijahstach6346]

Ok

[@samuelbenge524]

Is Harrison your first or last name is you don't mind

[@SMTMainline]

First

[@kaedenthecsxamtrakandthoma8318]

Hey smt mainline can you buy a class j locomotive and a Union Pacific fef-3 locomotive please those are the coolest locomotive in the world

[@gtcreations7666]

You should buy a 3d printer I heard that they're much fun

[@themidochannel]

🦂

[@michaelschultz5127]

Where's nerfcat ???