Lionel 700K Scale Hudson Kit 1939-42
April 1st, 2008
In 1937 Lionel introduced the famous 700E Hudson locomotive. This was a scale 1:48 model of the New York Central steam locomotive. The assembled 700E came with a walnut display stand and was the first commercially produced die cast O scale locomotive made.
The 700E Hudson was very popular with the newly emerging O scale operators. By the mid 1930s a movement towards scale or realist locomotives had grown up in the US and many operators built kits. Factory assembled scale locomotives and cars weren’t available. So the Lionel Hudson was a first.
In 1939 to accommodate O scalers who wanted to build their own locomotive Lionel began offering the 700E in kit form. 5 kits built the locomotive and tender, and a sixth kit contained a whistle for the tender. The kits could be built for inside or outside third rail.
To make it easier for modelers on a budget, Lionel sold the kits separately. Some modelers built the locomotiove and never painted it black so there are a few original gray 700K locos out there. (The one shown at the top of this page is an original kit locomotive assembled and unpainted.) I always wanted to build a 700K so since I had acquired most of the parts I decided to build my own Hudson kit.
The first kit 700K-1 came with the frame with wheels mounted, the crossheads and valve gear.
The second kit 700K-2 included the motor, e unit, collectors - inside and outside, the headlight and a lead weight.
The third kit contained the boiler and cab assembly and all the trim. Below is a photo of a Hudson boiler without the trim installed.
Here’s both sides of the boiler after mounting trim. I set the boiler on the frame with wheels for these pictures.
As I get further along in the assembly of my Hudson I’ll add more pictures and update this page.
700K-4 contained the ash pan, ladders, coupler and pilot, boiler front and some small bits of valve gear that attach to the boiler.
 | US $8.99 (1 Bid) End Date: Sunday Jul-06-2008 15:04:25 PDT Bid now | Add to watch list |
LIONEL PARTS ~ COUPLER LIFT BAR FOR 700E
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LIONEL PARTS ~ SIDE ROD SCREWS FOR 700E, 763E, 675,ETC.
 | US $8.99 (0 Bid) End Date: Sunday Jul-06-2008 15:05:53 PDT Bid now | Add to watch list |
LIONEL 700E SCALE HUDSON - 9 pieces of feedwater pipes
 | US $4.95 (0 Bid) End Date: Sunday Jul-06-2008 18:32:44 PDT Bid now | Add to watch list |
LIONEL 700E - 763E Rear Hudson Truck Prewar - Super !!
 | US $24.95 (0 Bid) End Date: Sunday Jul-06-2008 18:37:54 PDT Bid now | Add to watch list |
Photo of original 700K Hudson in primer gray courtesy of an anonymous collector.
