Can anyone tell me how they compare to Lionel PS-1? I know some are diecast and am curious about those also. A photo would be terrific. In advance, Thanks!
Ray Marion
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Ray, I could be wrong, but I don't think K-Line made scale size PS-1 boxcars. All that I owned and still have are models of the earlier and smaller steelside boxcar. Those are identical in size to the Lionel Standard O cars of the MPC era. Also, the graphics on the K-Line boxcars in some cases were copied from prototype PS-1 cars. I had a Frisco car of that type. You can tell by measuring it or reading the dimensions printed on the side.
By and large I like my K-L boxcars. Some haven't been done yet by Lionel that I know about - like my orange Rock Island plug door boxcar that came with an RI freight car set.
Concerning the K-L die cast boxcars - http://ogaugerr.infopop.cc/eve...7660482/m/2782927617
By and large I like my K-L boxcars. Some haven't been done yet by Lionel that I know about - like my orange Rock Island plug door boxcar that came with an RI freight car set.
Concerning the K-L die cast boxcars - http://ogaugerr.infopop.cc/eve...7660482/m/2782927617
Thanks for the quick reply. I love the hoppers and gondolas, they are pretty much scale. The boxcars I see are a mixed group. Here is one that has my attention.
http://www.legacykline.com/app...&p_oem_sku=K751-1751
The Lionel PS-1 and Atlas are the standard I am using.
Ray Marion
http://www.legacykline.com/app...&p_oem_sku=K751-1751
The Lionel PS-1 and Atlas are the standard I am using.
Ray Marion
Hi again, and I also like those K-L hoppers and gondolas. They are die cast and imo beautiful pieces of rolling stock. As good looking as it gets and rock solid runners. In fact I have nearly every d/c coal hopper they did and two of the gons, both in RI. I agree also that they are scale dimensions.
Yes, the boxcars are more complicated.
Lionel of course does make the PS-1. Atlas does too, but I believe it's in the 50' or double door type and not the standard 40' that Lionel does. Somebody feel free to correct that, but I don't recall seeing "PS-1" on an Atlas 40 footer (they had the AAR types and maybe other makes).
Weaver does PS-1s in 40' and does them well and although I'm not an MTH guy, I know they do too.
If fidelity to scale is what you want, to be safe you might should go with Lionel on this. Personally I wouldn't pay 50 bucks for it anyway, if that's really what they want. It's OK but not that OK.
Btw, I just saw Norton's post and I am NOT doubting what he said, but I've handled Intermountain cars and they are in fact real delicate, but - they are not the same product as my K-Line boxcars. What I have is more substantially built than that. The cars are plastic but the roof walks are metal, if that helps ID them.
Yes, the boxcars are more complicated.
Lionel of course does make the PS-1. Atlas does too, but I believe it's in the 50' or double door type and not the standard 40' that Lionel does. Somebody feel free to correct that, but I don't recall seeing "PS-1" on an Atlas 40 footer (they had the AAR types and maybe other makes).
Weaver does PS-1s in 40' and does them well and although I'm not an MTH guy, I know they do too.
If fidelity to scale is what you want, to be safe you might should go with Lionel on this. Personally I wouldn't pay 50 bucks for it anyway, if that's really what they want. It's OK but not that OK.
Btw, I just saw Norton's post and I am NOT doubting what he said, but I've handled Intermountain cars and they are in fact real delicate, but - they are not the same product as my K-Line boxcars. What I have is more substantially built than that. The cars are plastic but the roof walks are metal, if that helps ID them.
The K-Line Scale cars in the '90s were made by Intermountain. The superstructure had most of the detail offered in their two rail kits. The underbody was simplified to allow full motion of the diecast three rail trucks. The detail was the equal to anyones but they are made of plastic and very delicate.
I have a few of the reefers. Not sure if they made both PS-1 and '37 AAR types in O scale like they did in HO. There are some Intermountain O scale cars on the Bay if you want to see what they look like.
Pete
I have a few of the reefers. Not sure if they made both PS-1 and '37 AAR types in O scale like they did in HO. There are some Intermountain O scale cars on the Bay if you want to see what they look like.
Pete
Thank you both again for the quick info. Perhaps someone else will have an opinion or photo of the link I listed. I am using the detail of Lionel PS-1 and Atlas for my guide. I am wondering if these diecast cars by K-Line have the same level of detailing as the hoppers/gondolas. Working and raising a family has been a bit of a distraction so thankfully this forum is the best place for answers.
Ray Marion
Ray Marion
Most of the K-Line scale boxcars you will encounter are numbered in the K761-xxxx series. These are molded plastic boxcars of the correct scale size for a PS-1 car, but not up to the standard of the much newer Lionel PS-1 car. Here's a picture:
The biggest problems with these cars, from a scale point of view, is that they have old-fashioned stamped metal door guides and the stirrups are part of the stamped-metal chassis. They look OK in operation but they were made 6-12 years ago and are nowhere near up to newer cars in appearance.
I don't know if the die-cast cars are scale or not. I don't have a high opinion of the detailing on them.
K-Line did market some freight cars made by Intermountain, or assembled out of Intermountain parts. This was an early K-Line venture into scale and they only made a few. All the ones I've seen are reefers and, as mentioned by others, they are extremely fragile. These reefers were numbered K-76xx. I haven't personally seen a K-Line/Intermountain boxcar, but they may exist. Here's a picture of one of the steel reefers.
The biggest problems with these cars, from a scale point of view, is that they have old-fashioned stamped metal door guides and the stirrups are part of the stamped-metal chassis. They look OK in operation but they were made 6-12 years ago and are nowhere near up to newer cars in appearance.
I don't know if the die-cast cars are scale or not. I don't have a high opinion of the detailing on them.
K-Line did market some freight cars made by Intermountain, or assembled out of Intermountain parts. This was an early K-Line venture into scale and they only made a few. All the ones I've seen are reefers and, as mentioned by others, they are extremely fragile. These reefers were numbered K-76xx. I haven't personally seen a K-Line/Intermountain boxcar, but they may exist. Here's a picture of one of the steel reefers.
According to the K-Line Collectors Guide, the O Scale Classic Reefers were assembled by K-Line from InterMountain kits. These cars were first produced in 1992, and are pictured on pages 150 and 151. 760 and 761 are the numbering sequence.
In 1998 K-Line created (5) new scale car bodies.
K761 Old Style Riveted Boxcar
K762 Wood Side Reefer
K763 Stock Car
K764 Modern Riveted Boxcar
K765 Modern Welded Boxcar
(8) examples are shown on page 137.
Ken
In 1998 K-Line created (5) new scale car bodies.
K761 Old Style Riveted Boxcar
K762 Wood Side Reefer
K763 Stock Car
K764 Modern Riveted Boxcar
K765 Modern Welded Boxcar
(8) examples are shown on page 137.
Ken
Ray, about the scale size of K-L vs. Lionel, I just checked my cars and here's what I found (I can't do pics, so I'll just have to ask everyone to take my word for it; sorry about that).
I have these two cars, one Lionel and one K-Line. They are both boxcars. Both Rock Island. Both with the same color, graphics and markings. Both even with the SAME ROADNUMBER - 21110. So, they're supposed to be models of the same thing.
But, they ain't the same thing. The Lionel car is bigger than the K-L.
The Lionel is a PS-1. It says it on the box. I won't repeat the dimensions graphics here, but PS-1 is supposed to be a certain size. If you take a 1:48 ruler to it you'd see Lionel got the dimensions right.
Now, the K-L carton says "O Scale", and it actually is "scale" of a sort. But it's not PS-1 scale. It's scale sized for a different and older and smaller boxcar - the model we usually refer to as "steelside boxcar" (just like the old Standard O).
Their whole line of those particular plastic boxcars are that SAME size, including the SP shown in Southwest's nice photo with the stamped metal floor. That car btw is just like one I have, a Southern marked Crescent green/gold. The K-L carton says "express mail reefer" on it. That's wrong too. The door doesn't appear right for that vintage car, but looks more like a PS-1 sized plugdoor boxcar (I'm not sure I'd mix mail and refrigeration anyway).
Bottom line, these particular K-L boxcars are NOT scale for a PS-1, but for something else.
On a number of levels if fidelity to prototype is paramount, then the Lionel version is what you want.
And btw, if anyone wanted to really open a can of scale dimension worms, there're the K-L aluminum unibody tank cars...
I have these two cars, one Lionel and one K-Line. They are both boxcars. Both Rock Island. Both with the same color, graphics and markings. Both even with the SAME ROADNUMBER - 21110. So, they're supposed to be models of the same thing.
But, they ain't the same thing. The Lionel car is bigger than the K-L.
The Lionel is a PS-1. It says it on the box. I won't repeat the dimensions graphics here, but PS-1 is supposed to be a certain size. If you take a 1:48 ruler to it you'd see Lionel got the dimensions right.
Now, the K-L carton says "O Scale", and it actually is "scale" of a sort. But it's not PS-1 scale. It's scale sized for a different and older and smaller boxcar - the model we usually refer to as "steelside boxcar" (just like the old Standard O).
Their whole line of those particular plastic boxcars are that SAME size, including the SP shown in Southwest's nice photo with the stamped metal floor. That car btw is just like one I have, a Southern marked Crescent green/gold. The K-L carton says "express mail reefer" on it. That's wrong too. The door doesn't appear right for that vintage car, but looks more like a PS-1 sized plugdoor boxcar (I'm not sure I'd mix mail and refrigeration anyway).
Bottom line, these particular K-L boxcars are NOT scale for a PS-1, but for something else.
On a number of levels if fidelity to prototype is paramount, then the Lionel version is what you want.
And btw, if anyone wanted to really open a can of scale dimension worms, there're the K-L aluminum unibody tank cars...
Thank you all for the excellent information. Now off to the retailers!
Ray Marion
Ray Marion
Ray
If you are looking for highly detailed O scale 40 foot box cars built in the late 1930s through the 1950s you have three choices: the Lionel PS-1, the MTH 1937 AAR and the Atlas 1937 AAR.
You can find more details about those cars on this thread.
Everything you ever wanted to know about the Lionel PS-1 can be found here.
If you are looking for highly detailed O scale 40 foot box cars built in the late 1930s through the 1950s you have three choices: the Lionel PS-1, the MTH 1937 AAR and the Atlas 1937 AAR.
You can find more details about those cars on this thread.
Everything you ever wanted to know about the Lionel PS-1 can be found here.
What Ted says is correct for "highly detailed". If "detailed just enough" and correct scale dimensions are sufficient, there's also Weaver, Atlas Trainman, older Austrian Atlas (by Crown Model Products), K-Line (for other than PS-1) and MPC Lionel Standard O. MTH Railking probably fits in there someplace, but I don't know as I'm not an MTH guy.
Plus Intermountain on the secondary market. If assembled make sure its three rail. Unassembled kits should come with both 2 and 3 rail trucks. There are a few on Sale or Trade now.
Pete
Pete
The K-line Scale cars are my favorites to run.I recall that I paid probably $30.00 a piece when new.The K766-1054 and the K766-1055 4-pacs are the Santa Fe Map reefers and I wish the series had continued.Am I correct in assuming that the recently issued Lionel Santa Fe 5 pac steel sided reefers might possibly be an extention of the old K-line series?
Thank you all for the wealth of information. Last question; where do these K Line Diecast compare?
http://www.legacykline.com/app...&p_oem_sku=K751-1751
They look to be very close to Lionel PS-1 in pictures. I have not seen one for myself yet.
Ray Marion
http://www.legacykline.com/app...&p_oem_sku=K751-1751
They look to be very close to Lionel PS-1 in pictures. I have not seen one for myself yet.
Ray Marion
Ginsaw
That info does answer my question about die cast. Hoppers and gondolas are ok but I will be passing on the box cars. Thank you to all again.
Ray Marion
That info does answer my question about die cast. Hoppers and gondolas are ok but I will be passing on the box cars. Thank you to all again.
Ray Marion
