Anything inherently "wrong" with K-Line O gauge track?

Nothing wrong with k-line O gauge track unless you are purist looking for the LIONEL NY stamping on the ties and/or rails or are looking for matching aesthetics as some pieces have different tie configurations when compared to Lionel. Bottom line is K-Line track pieces mate and interchange functionally fine.

Thanks for the reply.

I was able to retire very early at age 52, because I keep my money in my bank.

Mannyrock

When are you returning to the hobby shop for the rest of the K-Line track?  John

But it's not Lionel 

That's all that's "wrong" with a lot of things some days.

Nothing wrong with Menard's for the price either.

The long ones also cut down on the number of joints; another electrical improvement.

I'm glad you got to see the difference up close, first hand, and early on, how nice newer track can be to run trains on.  (I also kinda knew you needed to try to salvage the old stuff too. I did; and still balk on pulling it... but now you know... and hey, that's still likely 20yr old K-line; newer metal maybe better )

If you are talking K-Line SuperSnap track, which is tubular rail on black ties made of plastic, the only issue is voltage drop across the connections. Easily solved by lopping off the loops and and using steel pins. Hardest part is trying to find more sections. ShadowRail is basically SuperSnap with pins, if you can find it.

I have noticed a difference in thickness the steel of O-72 curves, with the oldest Lionel being the thickest, and the thinnest being K-Line. Not sure if I kept the K-Line curves to prove it.

Some K-Line long straight sections have even spaced ties instead of trying to simulate multiple 10" sections into one piece ala Lionel; 1 - 1 - 2 - 1 -2 - 1 -1

When I was using regular tubular o gauge track 95% of it was K- line. I bought hundreds of pieces from MB K-Line when in Baltimore. Not one issue whatsoever. 

I have used K line track on our Christmas layout for nearly 20 years. I've never had a problem with it.

@romiller49 posted:

...bought hundreds of pieces from MB K-Line when in Baltimore...

 M.B. Klein's probably sold a lot of K-Line track over the years.

I used K-Line Shadow rail for my current layout, just shy of 20 years old! Not problems whatsoever! 

Most of the tubular, other than 10" straights, I've bought over the last 30 years has been K-Line.  Still in use for large holiday layouts every season and on modules for club shows.  The 40" straights with ties every 2-1/2" are desirable as the tie spacing matches O-72 curves and look better on my modules.

I am starting to retire some of it due to grunge.  My storage is not climate controlled and the track is run hard and put away wet - residue from smoke fluid seems to inhibit rusting.  I note my Lionel 40" straights are rusting at an earlier age.  I salvage ties to add to Menards track.  Time will tell if Menards track, with its galvanized coating, will resist rusting as well as the K-Line.

I have several boxes of SnapTrack wide curves but since straights are hard to find, I don't use them.  +1 on adding pins.

Like Tracker John above, I love those close ties that K-Line has, and use the 042 curves and the long straights on my layout. It reminds me of the Lionel Prewar Showroom layout. 

For those of you who also like that look, I can heartily recommend Williams 031 tinplate curves (if you can find them).

I use K Line 096 Curves on my Layout with no Problems.

Mikey

If you use it, make sure you put jumpers from one outside rail to the other.  One drawback is that they are not "tied" together like the other track types.  Our club uses this track and we had to put jumpers on every section we installed to make sure the Common Rails on the left/right were connected.

@C&O Allan posted:

If you use it, make sure you put jumpers from one outside rail to the other.  One drawback is that they are not "tied" together like the other track types.  Our club uses this track and we had to put jumpers on every section we installed to make sure the Common Rails on the left/right were connected.

I think you are confusing K-Line Traditional Tubular Track which has METAL CONDUCTIVE TIES jumping the outer rails for the plastic rail Super Snap track, which is not the product being referenced by @Mannyrock.

@bmoran4 posted:

I think you are confusing K-Line Traditional Tubular Track which has METAL CONDUCTIVE TIES jumping the outer rails for the plastic rail Super Snap track, which is not the product being referenced by @Mannyrock.

My mistake - I thought he was talking about the traditional track.

The only thing "wrong" was the clerk. If there is more at that price, email me the store's name and address so I can buy all of it.

There is a HIGH probability that he is on the autism spectrum, like me.  Eye contact is extremely difficult for us. Nothing wrong with K line track, but it doesnt have Lionel on it, so it's probably a slow seller for him.  

The K-Line track I got is all metal, no plastic.  Looks exactly like regular Lionel tubular O, except the ties are black instead of brown.

I went back this afternoon and got the last four bundles.  Again, all spanking brand new K-Line, 16 pieces for $8.00.

The pin holes are so darned tight that I have to expand each one.

The clerk is not a clerk.  He is the owner!   The little shop is in one of those old brick buildings which is now used as a "Flea Market Mall."   100 booths of total Chinese imported junk!  Except that he claimed the front right corner of the building, put up a set of walls, added a door and nice overhead lights, and made himself a nice little 20 ft by 20ft train shop.  He sits behind a big counter, which is glassed in.  Not sure if it has always been this way or it is Coronovirus Plexiglass.

I agree that he may have mild spectrum disorder, but his obsessive compulsive disorder seems to be his biggest problem..

My youngest brother was diagnosed at Duke University Medical Center as a full blown paranoid schitzophrenic 40 years ago, at age 19.  Prior to that, he was number 1 in his High School Class of 1,250.   It all happened in a period of about 3 months.  He sees people who aren't there.  Constantly thinks that someone who passed him on the street and gave him a strange look is plotting to kill him, etc. etc.  I am his financial Trustee.  What a job!

Mannyrock

@Mannyrock posted:

 Looks exactly like regular Lionel tubular O, except the ties are black instead of brown.

K-Line tubular O, like Lionel tubular O, has black ties.  K-Line tubular O-27, like Lionel tubular O-27 since 1970, has brown ties.