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6 replies

Semi-scale K4 - which one?

raising4daughtersraising4daughtersOGR Forum Member SUPPORTING MEMBER

So, I've been thinking about upgrading my semi-scale Pennsy K4.  It's old TMCC with one chuff, and I really like the engines that I've had upgraded with ERR Cruise Commander.

So, my wife threw me a curve ball and said "why don't you give the old one to the kids (newly married daughter and son-in-law) and buy a new one?"  Who gets that kind of endorsement?

Looks like a new Rail King (I have DCS for the first time) would be $400 + shipping and tax. I have concerns about investing more in MTH.  Looks like my current locomotive is being re-released with LC+2.0 which seems more attractive to me. A bit worried about adopting new tech, but my record with TMCC and LC+ 1.0 has been good. The LC+2.0 option looks even more expensive, likely $500 + tax and shipping. And, then there's the waiting on the latter option. Who knows when they'll come in China?

Any recommendations? No bad option here, just first-world problem

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MikeHMikeHOGR Forum Member SUPPORTING MEMBERDIGITAL SUBSCRIBER

I have a 30-1743-1 from the 2017 Vol. 2 catalog.  Full disclosure, I know nothing about steam engines.  I have some nice PRR heavyweights and thought it would be cool to have something to pull them around.  The MTH seems okay to me.  I run both DCS & Legacy so like you, I don't care which brand as long as it works.  Like you mentioned, who knows when you'll see one?  If I were in your shoes, I'd get whatever was available.

P PRR1950OGR Forum Member DIGITAL SUBSCRIBER

Personally, with Lionels' recent paint snafus, I would jump on any reasonably priced,  available (and running well) MTH engine in the category you seek.  Once the Lionel engines arrive, if they look and run well, then you can decide to buy that one and sell the MTH engine.  Total cost might be a little more, but better than waiting on a lemon with a bad peel and then finding the good MTH engines are up in price and/or unavailable.

Chuck

raising4daughtersraising4daughtersOGR Forum Member SUPPORTING MEMBER

Thanks for the feedback everyone. Talked with my local repairman, and I learned the upgrade to cruise on this engine is not a full gutting, but just installation of ERR's Cruise-M. That board just went up to $130 and labor isn't too bad. I'm heading that route. I really like the engine, it's been very reliable, so I'm just going with the cheaper option this time. Plus I have local support for it 5 miles from my house.

I really do like the Rail King K4s that Brad has up for sale. I was very tempted, but already own two (B&O and PRR in Tuscan) from Stockyard Express.

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