K-Line 15" versus 18" cars...

I think the K-line both the 15" & 18" cars are the same except for the  length and are great for the money

I don't have those exact cars, but the 15" k line cars I do have are both shorter and narrower than the 18" cars.

I'm not sure which ones you are referring to but I own this set.

 

http://www.legacykline.com/app...ml?p_oem_sku=K-4870C

 

They are for the most part scale with the exception of the length (of course). I believe these were made to go with the scale hudson, makes sense.

 

Dimensions are 3&5/8" high x 2&1/2" wide. Its a really nice set that doesn't look out of place on tighter turns and isn't dwarfed by the locomotive.

 

One minor issue with these is the electrical pickup wipers are too tight against the axle which creates a ton of rolling resistance. I gently pried on the wipers with a flat blade screwdriver to relieve the pressure and now they roll fantastic.

 

These also have the uncoupling plates under the trucks as opposed to those unprototypical looking thumbtacks, so they are a bit pleasing asthetically in that respect. There is also less distance between the daiphragms as well is the cars themselves than some other brands. Cars are nicely "populated" as well.

Hey, wait a minute...

I was just reading through the K-line site and I have the 6-car Pacemaker set, but mine don't have full interiors, they have silhouettes!  How can that be?

I think it just depends on the set Mario. I know they did two different Pennsy runs with the same cars I posted above, both Pennsey sets had silhouettes.

I have 8 of the 18 inch cars in SP Daylight. Is three anywhere I can get diaphragms for them?

http://www.traindoctor.com/contact/contact.asp

Michael you can get diaphragms from Brasseur electric trains. They are on the web with parts. Brasseur bought out all the K-line parts. 

Central Pan 197, when K-line came out with the 15 and 18 inch passenger cars all of them had silhouettes like everyone else. Later models of the same cars were improved with interiors. I think K-line was the first of the big companies to do this. So, yes there are two versions of many of the road name passenger cars including the circus sets. Always make sure when your buying these cars you are getting the newer version. Don

I know there was talk on-forum about getting interiors produced, so count me in!

 

I'l be upgrading these, eventually, with full interiors and people and LED lighting...

 

Someday...

Oh, hey!

 

Got another question... the trucks are the older style, not very detailed, rounded and have the thumbtack uncoupler.  Will any of the new trucks be drop in replacements, with e-clips?

 

Thanks,

Mario.

I pull my K-Line NYC Empire State Express aluminum streamliners with MTH's RailKing E-8s.  I was blown away when I first heard the talkie talk--"Train No. 2 the Peacemaker".  I thought my hearing had gone bad, but sure enough when the next announcement came on it was also the "Peacemaker".  What a hoot!!!  

 

Lew Schneider

Central Fan, I would think you would be better off selling your set and buying a newer set with interiors and better trucks. Once you make/buy new interiors, trucks and lighting your going to be in these cars a lot of money. Also Brasseur Electric Trains has some K-line interiors and passenger car trucks as parts so you might check them out and see if there the right ones for you. Don