Beautiful 773 you've got there! Some of the rust in the cab could use a cleanup, but other than that she looks like she just rolled out of the Lionel factory. Personally I have a '37 763E in my collection, albeit in need of a new shell due to zinc rot on the original. A couple things that weren't touched on in this video that I figured should be noted: - There are '64-'66 773s out there paired with 2426W tenders due to owners swapping out the comparatively diminutive 2046-style tender. The slide bar on the steam chest is the only surefire way to know if it's a '50 773. - There is actually a third tender out there, produced by a third party. When Lionel sold off their prewar parts stockpile, Madison Hardware got a good bit of it. One thing they got in decent quantity was 700T scale hudson tender parts. Frames, whistles, trucks, bodies, coal loads, everything to build entire tenders. When the '64 773 came out they offered a modified version of the 700T with postwar drawbar & couplers to replace the 2046-style tender. This tender is harder to come by than either of the others but it is out there, one sold on eBay not too long ago.
@8:53, the plug above your pointer suggests that you have the motor brush plate from a 671R locomotive. These are even rarer than the loco itself as they were used in the later 40s with the short lived radio control model sets. The plug was relocated to the left post and a lead from the tender supplied the remote control E unit command. You could also control the whistle, uncouple cars and dump loads from cars ect. As they used tube tech and were difficult to keep on frequency, plus they were quite a bit more money, they were a very limited production.
It is a beauty and the 1950 Hudson is at the top of my wish list. I have a 1937 700E which is in excellent condition with no metal warpage. I also have the gunmetal 1937 763E with the Vanderbuilt tender which is also in pristine condition and a 1940 black 763E also in pristine condition. I inherited the black 763 E from my father in 2011. He bought this locomotive at a York, Pennsylvania TCA show in 1977 so it has a history with my family. I received my 700E from my father and mother as a birthday gift in 1986 after I meticulously reassembled it as it had been taken apart by it's original owner for cleaning but never got to it before he passed away. His brother sold it to my father. I worked slowly and meticulously knowing what it was and I had to make sure everything was correctly reassembled. I needed a 'new' original motor as the old motor was a 7-pole DC motor from the 1940's which the original owner had installed. I also had to purchase a 'new' original lubricator arm (700E owners will know exactly what I'm talking about) and put it into place which was a bear! None of the locomotive had to be repainted as the original owner was very careful with his model so all I had to do was clean it with dawn dish soap and a soft bristle tooth brush. I finally finished the project and presented it to my dad in August 1986 as a birthday gift but little did I know, the following October (my birthday) there was a gift card on the table and when I opened it, it was a made-up owners certificate for this 700E locomotive. Little did I know I was working on my own birthday gift, I thought I was doing it for my father. This 700E had it's original oak display board which alone could sell for around $1k and it has it original slide shoe pick-up for outside third rail operation common in the 30's and 40's. It also has it's original owners booklet which is in excellent condition. Mr. Bryant (the original owner who bought this locomotive in July 1938 from a King's Department Store) obviously took extremely good care of his Hudson. Yes, I still have these locomotives because of sentimental reasons. I have not serviced the 700E since 1985-86 and it runs so quiet and smooth. I recently serviced the black 763E by taking it apart and replacing all the old remaining grease with new gun grease. I also cleaned the motor brushes and now it runs like new. I did the same with my gunmetal 763E and it too runs so smooth. No hi-tech stuff to fail while sitting on a shelf for more than a year, just a simple, reliable performing model. Your video helped bring back a flood of memories surrounding these engines so thank you for posting this video. My father did have a 1950 Hudson but he sold it at a train show so I did not get to keep it. He bought it from a friend of a friend out west in New Mexico in 1986, it was really nice. I would have like to have had it too but that's okay. I had a modern 700E by Lionel from 1991 but sold it. If you ever get this model, it is a very fine running locomotive.
Great loco for sure! Just a heads-up I noticed that yours is missing the screw for the grease port on the underside. Looks like a good runner, thanks for sharing!!
Very cool! That is one gorgeous locomotive. The 2426W originally came with the post-war 726. If I remember correctly, it is the post-war version of the pre-war 2224 tender. I'd love to get a 773, someday. An excellent review and video, as always.
@@johnblair8146 You are correct. The 2224 was a 4 wheel tender and the 2226 was the 6 wheel. I should have made sure when I said which tender was which. Thanks much for the correction.
@@johnblair8146 Thanks. I'm more familiar with post-war tenders. I saw some pre-war tenders at York, but I don't know anyone who collects pre-war, other than having a few items, here and there.
Nice video, the best locomotive ever made by Lionel would be the 1937-42 700E Scale Hudson bar none. The 700E is the most collectable and sought after engine ever made. The 700E is the most expensive at $5000.00 plus depending on condition and can fetch in the $7000.00 + range with original boxes and display track etc. The 700E can be cheaper than $5k if warped and has replacement parts or lacking parts etc. The 700E also came with the full scale sized 700T tender. When the 700E was made in 1937, a kid actually counted the rivets on a real NYC Hudson and Lionel's was off by 3 rivets. Joshua Lionel Cowen did not make the correction on his tender. Today's locomotives boast more detail like the Lionel Vision Line Hudson's, but are made by Chinese contractors and not by Lionel. The 773 is a true beast and great locomotive (I have a 1950 773) but lacks the detail of the 700E. The 773 tender is a 1946 version that is scaled down and also lacks the detail of the 700T tender, but is still a great Post War tender. The 2426 style tender was introduced with the 726 Berkshire O-27 scale locomotive. The newer MPC Hudson's 783, 784 & 785 (all come with 2426 tenders) are better built than the 773. They have "high stack" motors (larger) and more magnets for magnatraction and better smoke units. They are not nearly as collectable as the 773. On my RUclips channel, I run all 3 of the MPC Hudson's and my 773 on my clubs layout. You can also see a 700E & 1-700E (1990 version of 700E) in a lash-up. Keep up the great work, good video!
That incident with the customer who counted the rivets is actually THE origin of the term "Rivet counter". It's a fun fact that such a widespread term has it's origin in the Lionel's Hudson😅
The 773 is at the very top of my Lionel wishlist, but I am very happy with my 784 Boston & Albany Hudson (and not just because it was the only one I could afford lol)
I have the Century Club version of the 773. Lionel originally wanted to re-release the 773 Hudson in 1996 but ultimately decided to release it in the year 2000 instead for their 100 anniversary.
I think your 773 is definitely top of the Line and a beautiful Lionel Postwar Hudson scale locomotive. I would love to have one of the postwar versions but can't afford right now they seem to sell for $1000 plus on ebay. I do have the scale 763e Lionel Hudson with Vanderbilt tender that was made in the 1990's I bought back in 2011 new condition I have never used it was looking at it a moment ago. Is the body of your tender that goes with your 773 diecast? Thank you for sharing and I also like your background information you provided.
I think for its time yes it was fantastic and a worthwhile collectible but not the best in the overall collection of modern trains. We have many tmcc ,lagercy, and mpc locomotives to consider
Beautiful 773 you've got there! Some of the rust in the cab could use a cleanup, but other than that she looks like she just rolled out of the Lionel factory. Personally I have a '37 763E in my collection, albeit in need of a new shell due to zinc rot on the original.
A couple things that weren't touched on in this video that I figured should be noted:
- There are '64-'66 773s out there paired with 2426W tenders due to owners swapping out the comparatively diminutive 2046-style tender. The slide bar on the steam chest is the only surefire way to know if it's a '50 773.
- There is actually a third tender out there, produced by a third party. When Lionel sold off their prewar parts stockpile, Madison Hardware got a good bit of it. One thing they got in decent quantity was 700T scale hudson tender parts. Frames, whistles, trucks, bodies, coal loads, everything to build entire tenders. When the '64 773 came out they offered a modified version of the 700T with postwar drawbar & couplers to replace the 2046-style tender. This tender is harder to come by than either of the others but it is out there, one sold on eBay not too long ago.
@8:53, the plug above your pointer suggests that you have the motor brush plate from a 671R locomotive. These are even rarer than the loco itself as they were used in the later 40s with the short lived radio control model sets. The plug was relocated to the left post and a lead from the tender supplied the remote control E unit command. You could also control the whistle, uncouple cars and dump loads from cars ect. As they used tube tech and were difficult to keep on frequency, plus they were quite a bit more money, they were a very limited production.
It is a beauty and the 1950 Hudson is at the top of my wish list. I have a 1937 700E which is in excellent condition with no metal warpage. I also have the gunmetal 1937 763E with the Vanderbuilt tender which is also in pristine condition and a 1940 black 763E also in pristine condition. I inherited the black 763 E from my father in 2011. He bought this locomotive at a York, Pennsylvania TCA show in 1977 so it has a history with my family. I received my 700E from my father and mother as a birthday gift in 1986 after I meticulously reassembled it as it had been taken apart by it's original owner for cleaning but never got to it before he passed away. His brother sold it to my father. I worked slowly and meticulously knowing what it was and I had to make sure everything was correctly reassembled. I needed a 'new' original motor as the old motor was a 7-pole DC motor from the 1940's which the original owner had installed. I also had to purchase a 'new' original lubricator arm (700E owners will know exactly what I'm talking about) and put it into place which was a bear! None of the locomotive had to be repainted as the original owner was very careful with his model so all I had to do was clean it with dawn dish soap and a soft bristle tooth brush. I finally finished the project and presented it to my dad in August 1986 as a birthday gift but little did I know, the following October (my birthday) there was a gift card on the table and when I opened it, it was a made-up owners certificate for this 700E locomotive. Little did I know I was working on my own birthday gift, I thought I was doing it for my father. This 700E had it's original oak display board which alone could sell for around $1k and it has it original slide shoe pick-up for outside third rail operation common in the 30's and 40's. It also has it's original owners booklet which is in excellent condition. Mr. Bryant (the original owner who bought this locomotive in July 1938 from a King's Department Store) obviously took extremely good care of his Hudson. Yes, I still have these locomotives because of sentimental reasons. I have not serviced the 700E since 1985-86 and it runs so quiet and smooth. I recently serviced the black 763E by taking it apart and replacing all the old remaining grease with new gun grease. I also cleaned the motor brushes and now it runs like new. I did the same with my gunmetal 763E and it too runs so smooth. No hi-tech stuff to fail while sitting on a shelf for more than a year, just a simple, reliable performing model. Your video helped bring back a flood of memories surrounding these engines so thank you for posting this video. My father did have a 1950 Hudson but he sold it at a train show so I did not get to keep it. He bought it from a friend of a friend out west in New Mexico in 1986, it was really nice. I would have like to have had it too but that's okay. I had a modern 700E by Lionel from 1991 but sold it. If you ever get this model, it is a very fine running locomotive.
Great loco for sure! Just a heads-up I noticed that yours is missing the screw for the grease port on the underside. Looks like a good runner, thanks for sharing!!
Awesome video, I don’t have a 773, been waiting for a deal😂😂. I think the 736 Berkshire is a close second.
The locomotive is definitely on my list. Congratulations on locating one for your collection! It’s a great runner! 👍💯
Very cool! That is one gorgeous locomotive. The 2426W originally came with the post-war 726. If I remember correctly, it is the post-war version of the pre-war 2224 tender. I'd love to get a 773, someday. An excellent review and video, as always.
2226, not 2224.
@@johnblair8146 You are correct. The 2224 was a 4 wheel tender and the 2226 was the 6 wheel. I should have made sure when I said which tender was which. Thanks much for the correction.
@@johnandrus3901 the 2224 and 2226 are completely different. the 2224 is shorter than the 2226. the 2224 casting was never rereleased after the war.
@@johnblair8146 Thanks. I'm more familiar with post-war tenders. I saw some pre-war tenders at York, but I don't know anyone who collects pre-war, other than having a few items, here and there.
@@johnandrus3901 The 2226 had a shell length of 8.5 inches, while the 2224W shell is 8 inches long.
Wow it looks great.
The 773 is the holy grail postwar engine! Although I think I’m gonna have to settle for a 783 due to prices
Nice video, the best locomotive ever made by Lionel would be the 1937-42 700E Scale Hudson bar none. The 700E is the most collectable and sought after engine ever made. The 700E is the most expensive at $5000.00 plus depending on condition and can fetch in the $7000.00 + range with original boxes and display track etc. The 700E can be cheaper than $5k if warped and has replacement parts or lacking parts etc. The 700E also came with the full scale sized 700T tender. When the 700E was made in 1937, a kid actually counted the rivets on a real NYC Hudson and Lionel's was off by 3 rivets. Joshua Lionel Cowen did not make the correction on his tender. Today's locomotives boast more detail like the Lionel Vision Line Hudson's, but are made by Chinese contractors and not by Lionel.
The 773 is a true beast and great locomotive (I have a 1950 773) but lacks the detail of the 700E. The 773 tender is a 1946 version that is scaled down and also lacks the detail of the 700T tender, but is still a great Post War tender. The 2426 style tender was introduced with the 726 Berkshire O-27 scale locomotive. The newer MPC Hudson's 783, 784 & 785 (all come with 2426 tenders) are better built than the 773. They have "high stack" motors (larger) and more magnets for magnatraction and better smoke units. They are not nearly as collectable as the 773. On my RUclips channel, I run all 3 of the MPC Hudson's and my 773 on my clubs layout. You can also see a 700E & 1-700E (1990 version of 700E) in a lash-up. Keep up the great work, good video!
That incident with the customer who counted the rivets is actually THE origin of the term "Rivet counter". It's a fun fact that such a widespread term has it's origin in the Lionel's Hudson😅
Yep!
The 773 is at the very top of my Lionel wishlist, but I am very happy with my 784 Boston & Albany Hudson (and not just because it was the only one I could afford lol)
Tried to buy one in a pawn shop. Owner wouldn’t sell it; he just displayed it and an old, smaller engine.
I have the Century Club version of the 773. Lionel originally wanted to re-release the 773 Hudson in 1996 but ultimately decided to release it in the year 2000 instead for their 100 anniversary.
Still running strong
It is on the top of my want list. The 1950 Berkshire is second on my list.
Best I can afford are the o27 ones like the 2055. Ones like you got seem to go for stupid prices.
I think your 773 is definitely top of the Line and a beautiful Lionel Postwar Hudson scale locomotive. I would love to have one of the postwar versions but can't afford right now they seem to sell for $1000 plus on ebay. I do have the scale 763e Lionel Hudson with Vanderbilt tender that was made in the 1990's I bought back in 2011 new condition I have never used it was looking at it a moment ago. Is the body of your tender that goes with your 773 diecast? Thank you for sharing and I also like your background information you provided.
Yes, That tender is the 2426 tender. (Die Cast)
Love it👍👍👍
I don't have the 773 but I do have the 785 from 1988 which is alo a fantastic locomotive
Where did you get it from?
These are prized pieces
I saw the 700e for 8000 at a show
These old engines will outlive us all
My grandpa bought it from a family friend I think around 10 years ago
I think for its time yes it was fantastic and a worthwhile collectible but not the best in the overall collection of modern trains. We have many tmcc ,lagercy, and mpc locomotives to consider
Modern CRAP doesn't count!!!!!
Yep best steam engine lionel manufactured .
700e