K-Line PRR A5s Opinions?

All of my K-Line scale engines are well made with few problems including the A5. I have upgraded a few A5s that came with TMCC to cruise with a Cruise M. I haven't upgraded any of the conventional versions so can't say for sure the larger Cruise Commander would fit but assume it would. 

Lionel also thinks highly of them as they have re-released many with Railsounds and now Lionchief but the K-Line engine remains the best bang for the buck.

Pete

I enjoy my PRR #94 conventional 0-4-0 so much I'm considering buying one of the new LionChief+ ones to try that out.  Pictures of my #94 can be seen here:  https://www.flickr.com/photos/...ms/72157671484769045

I'm at least the second, more likely the third owner of this engine, bought it here on the forum at a very good price.  Minor "issues" include it getting upset with me (derailing) when I try to run it on super tight turns (< O27) , as well as once and a while the connector to the tender gets loose.

My original interest in this engine began when I kept seeing them on club layouts at train shows, and then of course seeing pictures/videos of them here on the forum.

Not sure about your upgrade question, let's hope someone chimes in and answers that for you.

Best...Rich Murnane

I have the K-Line A-5 with TMCC.  I added the Cruise Commander M to it, and I'm planning on fitting a small fan driven smoke unit and chuffing smoke next.  It's a very nice little locomotive, well detailed and runs well.

Thanks guys. The version I'd be looking at would have TMCC in it. How well does it run without speed control? 

They run nice.  It is a tight fit and requires heat sink modification and angling CCM to fit.   G

The run OK, but not well enough for me to consider trying to do switching with it without speed control.  It's just too "jerky" at low speeds and reversing directions for precise positioning.

GGG posted:

They run nice.  It is a tight fit and requires heat sink modification and angling CCM to fit.   G

My experience is the bigger B6 0-6-0 requires the heat sink mod and angling. The A5 is tight but fits OK. Just takes a little more effort to tuck in the wires.

Pete

A great little engine......no problems all these years. I still have the original TMCC configuration and have always been very pleased with it.

Peter

I really like mine. Its the only PRR locomotive I have (and I don't know how that happened...I grew up seven miles west of Englewood Union Station, and saw a lot of PRR steam and diesel back then.)

As said, it looks good and runs well, both TMCC and conventionally, and is a decent smoker. I don't use mine for switching, so cannot comment on "jerkiness". I got mine as a KCC offering at a great price. I miss K-Line.

Question for you guys for have added speed control to this engine, I know John used the cruise M Board but would the cruise lite board fit any better?

Well a Cruise Lite is a bit smaller but then you would have to make a mount. The Cruise M fits fine in this engine and bolts right in the heat sink. Shouldn't take more than 15 minutes to do the swap. Less if you have done a few.

Pete

Here is an old video of mine.  It has been upgraded with ERR cruise and 4 chuffs/rev.  Nice little engine.

Trainlover9943 posted:

Question for you guys for have added speed control to this engine, I know John used the cruise M Board but would the cruise lite board fit any better?

I think you're missing the point.  The CC-M just replaces the DCDR motor driver.  You're talking about replacing the whole electronic package.  The CC-M fits in place of the DCDR, it's a whole lot easier to do that upgrade than rip out the whole package.

You're right, I didn't think of that. 

The K-line loco is very attractive - but is missing part of its valve gear - specifically the eccentric crank and rod. This would be present on this loco's prototype.

Williams (maybe Weaver? - both sold Samhongsa brass, and I forget which it was) offered this loco in brass with proper valve gear and nice detailing. The gearing was good, as usual. That's the A5 I would like. I see them on daBay occasionally. Mounting electrocouplers would be easy, but more work then the K-line as you would need to add a different/another tether and associated wiring. 

Weaver A5  Not a lot of room in the sloped tender for upgrade electronics and sound, but it can be done.

Just did the Weaver A5, plenty of room for the Cruise Commander Lite and the RailSounds Commander.  I used the existing little speaker enclosure, there was no room in side for a speaker.  I put an MTH fan driven smoke unit in it as well.

I recall it mentioned that the K-Line A5 boiler is larger than scale to accommodate the internals .  Weaver probably did better with scale proportions.

Mine also loses its tether connection, cutting sounds and rear headlight.  I suppose a slight plier squeeze of the male plug might help this......one of the many tasks on the "to do" list. 

I'm hoping an eventual upgrade will improve its shifting abilities.  As is, its speed steps are not sensitive enough to promote realistic slow speed coupling.

Bruce

Drop the Cruise Commander M into it, does wonders for the slow speed performance.

The speakers used in the Atlas SW's work well for a small speaker. I have replaced a few.

I also used the Atlas SW speaker in the Rich Yoder 44 tonner pictured.

It's a plan!  I just need some time for savings to recuperate.  2016 has put me back on a Mac and Cheese diet.

Bruce

I was actually surprised how well the little Weaver speaker worked, I was prepared to try to cram something else in, but it worked as good as anything I might have fit into the limited space.

brwebster posted:

I recall it mentioned that the K-Line A5 boiler is larger than scale to accommodate the internals .  Weaver probably did better with scale proportions.

Mine also loses its tether connection, cutting sounds and rear headlight.  I suppose a slight plier squeeze of the male plug might help this......one of the many tasks on the "to do" list. 

I'm hoping an eventual upgrade will improve its shifting abilities.  As is, its speed steps are not sensitive enough to promote realistic slow speed coupling.

Bruce

I was going to comment on this scale issue, as well. I read about it here sometime in the past year. Was it that the boiler was wider, taller or both? Is the overall length accurate?

gunrunnerjohn posted:

Drop the Cruise Commander M into it, does wonders for the slow speed performance.

What better way to spend a chilly Sunday afternoon?  I swapped a CC-M from a previous upgrade, into the marvelous little A5.  The difference is astounding.  Exactly as John says!  Finally, a steam switcher that can crawl with the best of them. 

Thanks John!

Bruce

Jim R. posted:

brwebster posted:

I recall it mentioned that the K-Line A5 boiler is larger than scale to accommodate the internals .  Weaver probably did better with scale proportions.

Mine also loses its tether connection, cutting sounds and rear headlight.  I suppose a slight plier squeeze of the male plug might help this......one of the many tasks on the "to do" list. 

I'm hoping an eventual upgrade will improve its shifting abilities.  As is, its speed steps are not sensitive enough to promote realistic slow speed coupling.

Bruce

I was going to comment on this scale issue, as well. I read about it here sometime in the past year. Was it that the boiler was wider, taller or both? Is the overall length accurate?

Jim,

I haven't got the dimensions for the real A5.  That's why I was also going on hearsay.

Bruce