The year 2000 brought another Aster/LGB engine. Aster again excelled in manufacturing/ hand-assembling a complete brass locomotive model, this time the Aster Hudson NYC.
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| LGB Aster 20542 - Courtesy of ebay.com |
The engine was first advertised on page 2 of the " LGB INFO 2000" literally drowning in a deluge of new LGB engines and cars..................
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| LGB INFO 2000, page 2 upper portion |
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| LGB INFO 2000 - page 2 lower portion |
Hiding among 43(!) new engines and cars finding the Aster Hudson was more of a puzzle game than real marketing. And it will remain another puzzle why LGB didn't see fit to give the Aster Hudson some real advertising at all. Other than in the 2000-catalog (page 101) there was no mention of this new beauty. The edition volume was again 600 out of which some would sport a digital decoder. Obviously LGB had second thoughts about selling all engines manufactured. Nonetheless LGB installed analog sound in all but those with digital sound (LGB # 20542.8). The Hudson NYC sports the engine number "5405".
(
While YT is writing this, your Famous Klaus is testing the just programmed new ESU decoder he installed into an ABA F7 unit : custom sound editing the decoder. My dear man.... YT ears are buzzing with the ROARING SOUND of an F7 of majestic proportions.... was the office relocated to the RR yard and nobody told me..?)
LGB had again decided to have each wooden box individually numbered. The price tag was around US$ 3,600.00 and about US$ 4,000.00 for the digital sound version. Today's value hovers around the same price but be vigilant; if you'd like to buy an Astor/LGB NYC Hudson today check carefully if all parts are intact and present. LGB/Aster or LGB service blow-ups are NOT available for any Aster/LGB loco. LGB never offered them and neither did Aster.
Currently (April 2020) a German company for model trains had 20 LGB/Aster 20542 assembled by a supply craftsman shop that utilized original Aster/LGB Hudson brass/metal parts. These engines are outfitted with a digital sound and a digital pulsed smoker, the price tag is Euro 2,999.00 plus shipping (about US$ 3,300.00)
The
archetype for the # 20542 is of course the 4-6-4 NYC Hudson, built after 1927 as one of the most powerful steam engines ever built before being replaced by Diesel engines. The archetype is a J-3 class engine built by ALCO. Wikipedia gives this information:
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| non-streamlined J-1 class New York Central Hudson # 5249 |
(see:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_York_Central_Hudson):
"The New York Central Hudsons were a series of 4-6-4 "Hudson" type steam locomotives built by the American Locomotive Company and the Lima Locomotive Works from 1927 to 1938 for the New York Central Railroad. Named after the Hudson River, the 4-6-4 wheel arrangement came to be known as the "Hudson" type in the United States as these locomotives were the first examples built and used in North America. Built for high-speed passenger train work, the Hudson locomotives were famously known for hauling the New York Central's crack passenger trains, such as the 20th Century Limited and the Empire State Express. With the onset of diesel locomotives in the mid 20th Century, all Hudson locomotives were retired and subsequently scrapped, with none preserved."
Fun fact: later versions like the streamlined Hudson 20th Century Limited gave birth to the phrase "red carpet treatment" since their passengers walked to the train on a specially designed crimson carpet.
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Streamlined Hudson 20th Century Limited, promotional photo
Courtesy of Wikipedia |
++++++++++++++++++++++to be continued......................................
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