Is there any certain reason why K-Line's can motor integrated power truck looks just like Lionel's? K-Line also had the Symington Wayne trucks that were clones of Lionel.
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Probably because the same factory was making the parts. Have you noticed the similarity between Lionel and MTH internals from the Korean Period? G
Some of K-Line's rolling stock towards the end was actually Lionel tooling.
This was early K-Line...way before the days that Lionel leased to tooling and even in the days when Lionel was made in MI and K-Line in China. Same trucks, couplers, low end drive system. The structures are identical.
The "low-end" Lionel/K-Line/RMT (yup) drive system is actually pretty durable.
The gearing is unfortunate, but the motors seem to be throttle-able well enough to
run under the speed of sound. The system is also very compact, compared to vertical motors and especially the single-motor/driveshaft designs.
Maybe they won't ultimately last as long as the more up-scale designs in an absolute sense, but I cannot see rational adult use wearing one out.
I have yet to wire a 2-powered-truck unit in series, nor to put a Cruise
Commander on one, but the results might be gratifying, as some of the locos, past and present, are handsome (RMT Bang) or at least good fodder for 'bashing and improvement, and - sometimes- can be had for modest prices.
I get a chuckle out of the fact that this bottom-feeder power truck design (also useable for powering oddball steam locos by way of the tender) is not only more compact than the two "better" designs, but is also more prototypical: it employs truck-mounted, helical-geared traction motors, just like a REAL RS-3, F-7, C-liner...
Maybe I'd better fiddle with my old K-Line/Marx "S-4"; series wiring, anyone?
