While I don’t dispute the choice … Broadway Limited’s “HUDSON” … I do take issue with it’s limited availability!
I was “out of Country” during its all too short available/production time, and wasn’t able to find one … anywhere … when I returned … even those that DO advertise it don’t seem to have any available.
Contacting Broadway Limited, and getting the “textbook” answer … "It’s still available …somewhere … " is arrogance in the first degree.
Maybe I’m overreacting, but I feel that if a product is to be a “true” product of the year, it should be in the market/available for a much longer time
Unfortunately that the way things seem to be going towards more limited runs - P2K are like this but to a lesser extent, try finding some more unusal roadnames in P2K and you’ll be lucky.
With regard the Broadway Limited Hudson no-one I know in the UK has seen one yet. Try looking on eBay theres been a few on there - but you have to pay top dollar prices for them.
jackmann: George’s Trains up here in Canada has at least 3 as of 2 weeks ago. http://www.georgestrains.com
IMHO the Product of the Year award is given to the product that will have the greatest impact on the model railroading world. And the BLI engines definitely reach that mark. Whether or not a product is widely available does not necessarily discount that the product deserves high recognition. For a brand new company to design a product from the ground up, with ground-breaking features, and a competitive price in this economy is amazing in itself- let alone trying for widespread release. Many ‘dealers’ that make a living only selling hobby goods on eBay have taken in a lot of the stock. One can find just about any engine one wishes to there, and with some comparison shopping at a click of the mouse, the availability is not that limited. Sure you give up the luxury of holding said items in hand before purchase, but that’s a trade-off for convenience in today’s market.
My thoughts on some of the replies to my “ranting” …
“With regard the Broadway Limited Hudson no-one I know in the UK has seen one yet. Try looking on eBay theres been a few on there - but you have to pay top dollar prices for them” … … "Not seen yet … "? hmmm, as for eBay, no thanks … I’ve seen some of the unrealistic bidding there
.“jackmann: George’s Trains up here in Canada has at least 3 as of 2 weeks ago”
Oh? … I searched their site … found nothing … not even a listing for BroadwayLimited products
“.IMHO the Product of the Year award is given to the product that will have the greatest i
impact on the model railroading world. And the BLI engines definitely reach that mark …”
True … BUT … if an item is so “good”, why isn’t it available NOW? Kinda seems unfair to have an item be called “Product of the Year” etc., ect… that isn’t avaible anymore … UNLESS you want to pay eBays overpriced game, if one is listed that is!
I will not buy anything from eBay … too much price gouging, especially in regards to (HO) Brass engines and rolling stock
snort!
I guess if I had to name a loco, I would go for the p2k DL-109.
I still see them advertised in MR, but since I ordered mine practically the day they announced them, I guess dont know how available they are-is one heck of a toy tho 
jackmann: George’s Trains website is awful. Use the contact info and call them, I saw 3 Hudson’s in their display case when I was in there last.
While I don’t dispute the choice … Broadway Limited’s “HUDSON” … I do take issue with it’s limited availability!
I was “out of Country” during its all too short available/production time, and wasn’t able to find one … anywhere … when I returned … even those that DO advertise it don’t seem to have any available.
Contacting Broadway Limited, and getting the “textbook” answer … "It’s still available …somewhere … " is arrogance in the first degree.
Maybe I’m overreacting, but I feel that if a product is to be a “true” product of the year, it should be in the market/available for a much longer time
Unfortunately that the way things seem to be going towards more limited runs - P2K are like this but to a lesser extent, try finding some more unusal roadnames in P2K and you’ll be lucky.
With regard the Broadway Limited Hudson no-one I know in the UK has seen one yet. Try looking on eBay theres been a few on there - but you have to pay top dollar prices for them.
jackmann: George’s Trains up here in Canada has at least 3 as of 2 weeks ago. http://www.georgestrains.com
IMHO the Product of the Year award is given to the product that will have the greatest impact on the model railroading world. And the BLI engines definitely reach that mark. Whether or not a product is widely available does not necessarily discount that the product deserves high recognition. For a brand new company to design a product from the ground up, with ground-breaking features, and a competitive price in this economy is amazing in itself- let alone trying for widespread release. Many ‘dealers’ that make a living only selling hobby goods on eBay have taken in a lot of the stock. One can find just about any engine one wishes to there, and with some comparison shopping at a click of the mouse, the availability is not that limited. Sure you give up the luxury of holding said items in hand before purchase, but that’s a trade-off for convenience in today’s market.
My thoughts on some of the replies to my “ranting” …
“With regard the Broadway Limited Hudson no-one I know in the UK has seen one yet. Try looking on eBay theres been a few on there - but you have to pay top dollar prices for them” … … "Not seen yet … "? hmmm, as for eBay, no thanks … I’ve seen some of the unrealistic bidding there
.“jackmann: George’s Trains up here in Canada has at least 3 as of 2 weeks ago”
Oh? … I searched their site … found nothing … not even a listing for BroadwayLimited products
“.IMHO the Product of the Year award is given to the product that will have the greatest i
impact on the model railroading world. And the BLI engines definitely reach that mark …”
True … BUT … if an item is so “good”, why isn’t it available NOW? Kinda seems unfair to have an item be called “Product of the Year” etc., ect… that isn’t avaible anymore … UNLESS you want to pay eBays overpriced game, if one is listed that is!
I will not buy anything from eBay … too much price gouging, especially in regards to (HO) Brass engines and rolling stock
snort!
I guess if I had to name a loco, I would go for the p2k DL-109.
I still see them advertised in MR, but since I ordered mine practically the day they announced them, I guess dont know how available they are-is one heck of a toy tho
jackmann: George’s Trains website is awful. Use the contact info and call them, I saw 3 Hudson’s in their display case when I was in there last.