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Lionel's Baby K-4 A Winner! Perfect for large and small layouts!

donhradiodonhradioOGR Forum Member

WOW! At least that is what I said after unboxing this beauty!  This is a very nice, slightly reduced in size K-4 PRR Steam engine.  It has fantastic detail, for it ALL to be molded in only.  Two guys occupy the cab. It is well detailed, and has a proper throttle handle, in addition to a flickering firebox.   It has builder's plates added to the engine and the rear of the tender.  Operates with Bluetooth, Legacy, Conventional, and TMCC.  It has an added brass colored bell, a brass whistle, and 2 simulated brass pop off valves on the top of the boiler.  Boiler shape is proper for a Pennsy.  The engine has a nice headlight, and illuminated number boards up front on the side of the headlamp, with a pair of cast in marker lights.  (one color I think)  The front scale coupler is fixed, and not interchangeable.  Paint, and "fit and finish" are top shelf all the way.

This engine also has Lionel Voice Command, and Odyssey II, and is a Lionel Lion Chief Plus 2.0.  So one could say this engine is about universally controlled by almost any Lionel Remote Control System.

Since I'm living in a less than 10" by 10" room, could not test sounds or smoke output YET.  I am hoping tomorrow to fit some fasttrack partly under the bed, and on the carpet outside the bed.  I'll see if that works, and add an edit to state how the sounds and smoke are.

You can barely see my NOS yellow Belly C&O Hudson behind the K-4.  Here are just a couple of pictures:

Sorry, my picture of the backhead didn't upload properly.

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Last edited by donhradio
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GregKGregKOGR Forum Member DIGITAL SUBSCRIBER

They do look and sound nice. For the next few years I’ll have a traditional size layout and I’m going to build a small collection that is LC+2.0 based. The detail is enough for me and the sounds are really nice, at least compared to the lower end and my 2003 TMCC engine with its somewhat staticky sounds. 😂

I have the Genesis and Hudson on order from the new catalog, and there are a few pieces from the last few catalogs that I would like to find tho they seem hard to come by, like the Lionmaster SD80/90MAC from a few catalogs ago. I’m guessing they aren’t big sellers and most here probably don’t collect them. I wonder if they ever turn up at shows…

donhradiodonhradioOGR Forum Member

I just rechecked out the tender, and it has a real coal load as well, another feature that says to me these are a good product.  Just think for the money these are a worthwhile engine.  I would say the only shortfall to the tender is no backup light, HOWEVER, I don't know if the prototype engine had a backup light either.

donhradiodonhradioOGR Forum Member

Hey gang!  I just ran my new Baby K-4 on a new layout in my less than 10 by 10 ft. bedroom.  Most of the layout is under the twin bed.

To the engine - it operates fantastic!  I only had a 3 amp transformer available, so I was close to it cutting out when I added the "Radioactive" Christmas tree flat and two aquarium cars.  Had to take one off.  I ran it using the phone app.  After watching "Papa" for a couple of minutes I handed the phone to my 4 year old granddaughter!  She ran the train like a pro!  Uncoupled cars, and backed up to pick them up again.  She needed a little help as the electrocoupler was a bit stiff.

So the app is cool, but doesn't yet have everything you might want.  I could not figure out how to get back to the page where you can adjust the individual and master volume.  Can anyone share the trick?

The horn and bell sounds are superb.  Crew talk/tower comm also quite good.  I think after operating, that these engines are real sleepers!  Even though I only like scale, I don't think I would hesitate to pick up another one of these or similar.  These would be a terrific introduction to the hobby engine, even if a bit pricy.  I think this engine is well suited for any task on a real layout.

I emailed a picture of the layout to myself.  When it shows up, I'll post it in a new topic.  Smallest layout ever!  Hugest grin too!

Last edited by donhradio
GregKGregKOGR Forum Member DIGITAL SUBSCRIBER
@BradFish1 posted:

Greg,

  Try Charles Ro for the SD80/90MAC I bought the Conrail there a couple months ago.

Thanks, I will check. I have the ~2003 or so version of that engine. Guessing this is the same Lionmaster tooling, but thought it might be good to "trade up" to the modern sounds and electronics if I can find one at a good price.

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