I received my first Lionel train in December of 1950 which is odd since I was born in October of that year. The trains were set up every year at Christmas time. Each year another Lionel package was under the tree. The year 1957 was very special to me it was the year I was finally allowed to actually run the trains. Jump ahead to the 80’s the trains now surface again this time for my 2 boys on a layout built in the basement for them to enjoy. Now to the present retired we built a house and planed ahead for a train room over the garage. I went into a local hobby shop for items needed for the layout I was building and noticed the case with the new Lionel and MTH engines. Wow how things have changed, I thought, the new steam engines have the pipes and fittings the detail was mind blowing. The person at the store says let me put one on the track for you. That was the end for me! Oh my they also have sound not just an air whistle and bicycle horn, realistic sound and talking. Then I was snapped back to reality when I saw the price tags on the steam engines. I am retired not rich the wife is very understanding but for that much money we better be able to ride that train. Then I found this forum on the internet. Kept reading of this company I had never heard about K-Line. The praise for the Berkshire and the Hudson was high. So like Don Quixote I started on my quest. The results with hobby shops were all the same a giggle and sir that company went out of business in 2006 good luck. My quest lead me to ebay it took quite a long time of waiting and trying but finally my search is completed. While the search was on thinking I would never find the Hudson I managed to score an MTH premier Hudson with Pacific tender. Now that I have the K-Line Hudson and place them side by side my only thought is MTH and Lionel must be glad this company is gone.
Below are the pictures of the K-Lines.
Next time I will tell my story of my Love/Hate relationship with TMCC/DCS.
