Engine for K-Line Golden State streamliners?

I have the MTH Premier Rock Island DL-109 A/B diesel set "The Rocket" to pull nine a 8-car K Line "Golden State" 18" K Line extruded aluminum car consist.  The diesels alone are a beautiful set and the Alco engine sound effects are just as good as the MTH RS-1 locomotives.

I don't have any GGD aluminum cars for comparison, but in my opinion the  K Line aluminum cars are still the best looking passenger cars available.  The details on the long string of red and silver "Golden State" livery set are notable, but the conversation starter concerning individual railroad companies multi-cooperative efforts in creating some long distance passenger trains lies with the names of Pennsylvania, Southern Pacific and Rock Island in black lettering on gold background in the upper corner at both ends of each car.  

So far no comments (at least outloud) concerning the fact that the engine markings are for a different RI passenger train.

I run mine behind the PRR T1, RI E-8s (K Line), and SP Daylight.  Don't know if the PRR and SP ever used those locos on the  Golden State, but its my roster ;-)

On the SP, except for a short time after introduction of the Golden State when they painted some E units in the red/silver paint scheme, all trains were pulled by regular diesels in the Daylight paint scheme, Alcos or E Units.

Like Martin D., I placed a MTH Alco DL109 with RI décor on point with K-Line Golden State plastic coaches -- the consist includes the all coaches with RI, PRR, and SP nameplates. Admittedly it's not as impressive a passenger train as a version with the long-length aluminum GS coaches, but I had to take reality into account; i.e., limited funds and limited shelf space. The attached photo shows me taking the coaches apart for placing passenger figures inside all the cars.  The GS train set now rests on a display shelf in my Train Room.

Mike Mottler   LCCA 12394

I have the Railking E8's pulling the string of 12 Golden State Streamliners.

@Martin Dougherty posted:

I have the MTH Premier Rock Island DL-109 A/B diesel set "The Rocket" to pull nine a 8-car K Line "Golden State" 18" K Line extruded aluminum car consist.  The diesels alone are a beautiful set and the Alco engine sound effects are just as good as the MTH RS-1 locomotives.

I don't have any GGD aluminum cars for comparison, but in my opinion the  K Line aluminum cars are still the best looking passenger cars available.  The details on the long string of red and silver "Golden State" livery set are notable, but the conversation starter concerning individual railroad companies multi-cooperative efforts in creating some long distance passenger trains lies with the names of Pennsylvania, Southern Pacific and Rock Island in black lettering on gold background in the upper corner at both ends of each car.  

So far no comments (at least outloud) concerning the fact that the engine markings are for a different RI passenger train.

I thought about going with the aluminum "Golden State" set (they're gorgeous) but layout limitations at the time (11' x 6' "L"-shaped) required I go with the shorter plastic Streamliners.

To respond to the original question about a 1668 pulling the K-line plastic cars, I seriously doubt it. I don’t own any of the K-line plastic cars but I know they have some drag. I do have a 1668 and they are not great pullers. I’m guessing it might handle 3 of the K-line cars, maybe 4.

As for the real GS train, SP or RI motive power would only be prototypical. The PRR cars were only through cars that were cut in or cut out in Chicago and transfered to PRR trains.

I have the k line 18” so little heavier.   I chose the Lionel RockIsland to pull these k line 18” aluminum.    Thought about using the MTH rock island  BL-2 engines also as something different

Beautiful train.  I notice two dome cars in your consist - both the same car name, or did I miss one in completing my set.

@Ryan Selvius posted:

To respond to the original question about a 1668 pulling the K-line plastic cars, I seriously doubt it. I don’t own any of the K-line plastic cars but I know they have some drag. I do have a 1668 and they are not great pullers. I’m guessing it might handle 3 of the K-line cars, maybe 4.

As for the real GS train, SP or RI motive power would only be prototypical. The PRR cars were only through cars that were cut in or cut out in Chicago and transfered to PRR trains.

Thank you for the info on the Lionel 1668 pulling power. I have been considering a Postwar Lionel "Pacific-type" engine in addition to some of Williams Rock Island motive power offerings that are still kicking around online.

I did it a bit different, I have 10 of the 11 18" K Line GS cars, still looking to find the second Dome car.

I took a Williams E-7 AB and had them custom painted in the GS paint scheme to match the cars. It makes a really good looking set running on the club layout. I also upgraded the engines to ERR CC and  RS commander, which makes it a nice running command set.

@Martin Dougherty posted:

Beautiful train.  I notice two dome cars in your consist - both the same car name, or did I miss one in completing my set.

There was a dome car in the original 18” 8-car set plus a separate sale dome car, for a total of two dome cars in the nine-car set.

There was a small amount of factory error dome cars which had the name of one car and the number of the other car, so I guess you could say there were three dome cars.

FYI.  The 1:1 Golden State had no dome cars.  

@Martin Dougherty posted:

Beautiful train.  I notice two dome cars in your consist - both the same car name, or did I miss one in completing my set.

K4632-0214 Golden Moon Vista

K4632-2984I Golden Outlook Vista

Both K-Line plastic Golden State vista domes were lettered for Southern Pacific. Ron is right, those two K-Line models are "fantasy" pieces. The GOLDEN OUTLOOK vista dome is harder to find. I lucked out and acquired both vista domes for my now-complete set of twelve 13-1/2 inch GS coaches by K-Line. Impressive in their own way! The complete consist of the models is:

Rock Island                  Golden Harvest  (Diner)     
Rock Island                  Not Named  (Combine)
Rock Island                  Golden Chariot  (Coach)
Rock Island                  Golden Lyre  (Coach)
Rock Island                  Golden Divan  (Observation)
PRR                               Imperial Terrace  (Pullman)
PRR                               Imperial Range  (Pullman)
So Pac                           RPO
So Pac                           Baggage
So Pac                           Golden Moon (Dome)
So Pac                           Golden Outlook (Dome)
So Pac                           Golden Nugget (Coach)

Mike Mottler   LCCA 12394

@jjwyatt posted:

K4632-0214 Golden Moon Vista

K4632-2984I Golden Outlook Vista

I realize this 18" passenger car discussion is off topic from discussing engines to pull K-Line's GS Streamliners, so this is my last post here.

I pulled up my database to see what Golden State dome cars I had (they are in storage), and it was the K4632-29841C that had the factory error.

K4632-0214 Golden Moon had car number 214.  It was part of the second 4-car set.

K4632-29841C Golden Outlook had the car number 2984.  It was the only add on car.

K4632-29841C Golden Outlook factory error had the car number 214.

By the way, for my 18" set I pull it with Lionel's E-6 AA Rock Island diesels.  The cab numbers are 628 and 630, the actual cab numbers of the E-6s that pulled the GS in the late 40s.

I hope you find good engine(s) for your Streamliners set.

Doesn't the OP have the smaller plastic cars? Seems many replies are concerning the big aluminum cars instead, was looking forward to possible engines for the cars in question.

@BobbyD posted:

Doesn't the OP have the smaller plastic cars? Seems many replies are concerning the big aluminum cars instead, was looking forward to possible engines for the cars in question.

You are correct.  I like the look of my Lionel RI diesels pulling the GS set because the colors match.  For the Streamliners I would look at:

MTH RK E6 set 30-2713-1

MTH RK E8 set 30-2187-1

Either of those engines I think would look great pulling K-Line's GS Streamliners set.