K-line 4-6-2 3017 questions

1993 and 1999.  It sounds like you have the 1999 version

Personally I think the '99 version is better-looking.  I had a Marx 333 growing up, and the small, widely-spaced drivers always bothered me a little.  The newer version also benefits from a metal eccentric crank linkage, and that's a good thing, because the plastic one on the '93 model is prone to breaking.

One improvement I *wish* they made, but they didn't, is adding a flywheel.  I don't recommend this loco for kids, or for use with any transformer having a "direction" button.  If power is cut it will stop abruptly, derailing the train, and maybe cutting a burr into the worm wheel.  The lack of coasting is a real shame, because it has a nice modest speed range that makes it great for small layouts.

@Ted S posted:

Personally I think the '99 version is better-looking.  I had a Marx 333 growing up, and the small, widely-spaced drivers always bothered me a little.  The newer version also benefits from a metal eccentric crank linkage, and that's a good thing, because the plastic one on the '93 model is prone to breaking.

One improvement I *wish* they made, but they didn't, is adding a flywheel.  I don't recommend this loco for kids, or for use with any transformer having a "direction" button.  If power is cut it will stop abruptly, derailing the train, and maybe cutting a burr into the worm wheel.  The lack of coasting is a real shame, because it has a nice modest speed range that makes it great for small layouts.

Worm gear drive at work with the grinding to a halt/stopping-in-its tracks action. I've seen a couple of those at shows with a low price tag - when those are at a bargain price I'll wager it was pushed by someone expecting it to coast or roll like spur gear drive models can do. I never got adventurous and bought one to figure out what got damaged by someone's ol' 0-5-0 trying to push it down the tracks - my guess would be a nylon gear getting stripped loose. They do look nice pulling Marx 3/16ths O gauge tin litho cars from the 40s and 50s (the Marx 333 or K-Line's revived version with the updated worm gear drive),

I do like the bigger drivers. however, I wish they hadn't widened the cab.. don't get me wrong, it looks great pulling regular 0-0/27, but with the scale Marx cars it looks out of place. Both of these are great runners, and I didn't know that they had a worm gear drive. I would like to install LED lights in both for the headlight, marker lights and number boards.

Nitro, I wonder if the '93 shell will bolt onto the '99 chassis?  I never even realized that they widened the cab!

I've wondered that myself. Look at the pictures I posted, one is a standard cab, the newer one is widened out to the boiler walkways. I'd say it's almost 7/16 wider.