What is the ultimate K-Line item?

I like K-Lines scale sized Operating boxcar, log car, coal car, and milk car, smooth, slow, quiet operation, and with the remote, can be used anywhere on the layout with no special track.

Peter, I can see the tale end of your 1225 engine.  Did that come out as a 2 pack set with a matching caboose? Thanks Dave

I purchased these K-Line Pacific Electric interurban cars about 20 years ago and have run them only once, in 2018. When I powered-up the track, they started immediately and ran smoothly. The #1007 car is powered by motors in each truck. The #1008 car is not powered. Not prototypical but still a nice set.

MELGAR

Ultimate part 2

Ah!  How could I forget? The American Freedom Train.  Especially the window cars.  I have all the display cars and the Lionel passenger cars are on order.  Eventually I'll try to find and/or kitbash the miscellaneous support cars.

Bob

Another ultimate K-line moment: For me, it is also the tank cars. I often thought about the many long tank car trains all black I have seen where I live. I can't seem to locate my long ago post on what I did but will explain again here

So I researched articles on steam era tankers. Then searched for inexpensive tankers that were close to steam era accurate. I liked the K-lines and especially the trucks. So over time I bought a car here and there until I had nine. I disassembled them, sanded off the bright colors and spray painted the trucks, frames and tanks flat black. I made white lettered on black background paper decals. It's fun to watch the train.

Edit: I found a former post with a closeup pic of a tanker.

A friend of mine bought K Line 40 all diecast coal cars, different roads. Made a great train...a bit long for the layout though.

@RRDOC posted:

Ultimate part 2

Ah!  How could I forget? The American Freedom Train.  Especially the window cars.  I have all the display cars and the Lionel passenger cars are on order.  Eventually I'll try to find and/or kitbash the miscellaneous support cars.

Bob

I've got 13 AFT cars from Lionel and there are two more 2-packs supposed to be released by year's end. I don't have any of the display cars. Not so sure I want to collect all the AFT cars - that's a lot of money and not sure if my future layout will be able to handle all those cars - 27 in all plus 4 locos.

@Former Member posted:

I would say I like the K-line American Freedom train cars. I just wish they had finished the set. I was going to sell mine and buy the Lionel ones but after I saw the lionel ones I decided to keep my k-line set. They just seem to look better to me plus they're aluminum.

Which K-Line AFT cars do you have?

@paulp575 posted:

I've got 13 AFT cars from Lionel and there are two more 2-packs supposed to be released by year's end. I don't have any of the display cars. Not so sure I want to collect all the AFT cars - that's a lot of money and not sure if my future layout will be able to handle all those cars - 27 in all plus 4 locos.

I fell into such a ridiculous deal on the display cars so it is taking away some of the financial pain.   Market prices for the K-line cars are around $120 ea and the Lionel cars are $150 ea.  The Lionel Station sounds car is $299.  The K-line semi-scale GS-4 is around $600, or you can move up the Legacy scale GS-4 or T1 that are $1700 each.  Then you need the three 80' flat cars and you have to scratch build the trailers.   There may be another car or 2 to kit bash . . . Yup, a lot of money.

K-Line George Bush chasing Saddam Hussein car.

http://www.legacykline.com/app...?p_oem_sku=K707-8011

I have all 18 of the K-line American Freedom train cars cars

I’m surprised that no one has yet mentioned K-Line’s superb die-cast model of a Class B 60-ton two-truck Shay logging steam locomotive fueled by coal. Mine is the Lackawanna Coal & Lumber Company Shay #2 (K3438-0002CC) that appeared on the market around 2006. The Shay was a low-speed geared machine propelled by three vertical steam cylinders whose connecting rods drove a crankshaft connected to the drive wheels by two external driveshafts, sliding joints, universal joints, and bevel gears. These components, on the engineer’s side of the engine, are seen in motion as the model runs. The fireman’s side has no external drive-train components.

I hadn’t run my Shay in almost fifteen years. At first it ran with hesitation with cruise control on, so I turned the cruise off and the engine ran perfectly after that. The sounds came on at about 10 volts and the locomotive was running at about 11 volts (23 miles-per-hour) in the videos. In my opinion, this is the most interesting locomotive that I own to watch in operation.

MELGAR

Anyone have the K-line ice rink? My wife bought us one for under the Christmas Tree. It worked fine for two years then stopped. Don

On that Shay, beautiful engine. I had similar results with the K Line cruise. Better without it. I would seriously consider installing the RR Cruise Commander M in it.

Melgar, Wow, that’s a cool 2 Ton Shay logging and coal locomotive, Beautiful. Your question is good, I think many train enthusiasts were into Lionel and MTH, not looking seriously at K-Line. I admire the folks at K-Line for their diversity of products, some really cool accessories, diesels, steamers, rolling stock, nostalgic things. I had never looked into buying K-Line engines do to TMCC/Legacy until a good friend Won a TMCC K-Line Hudson. I could not believe the looks, the detailing, the realism of this model steamer. So, when I saw one for sale on the OGR Forum, purchased one, #5343 version. Being a bells and whistles guy, I saw a comment by Harmonyards and decided to get his professional help in making this a true performer. He has it now in the Harmonyards Shops. Theirs another thread showing the make over process, Another K-Line Hudson gets a makeover, etc. This opened my eyes to buying more pre-owned K-Kine products. Great Question. I also really like your model railroad. Happy Railroading Everyone

@MELGAR posted:

The Shay was a low-speed geared machine propelled by three vertical steam cylinders whose connecting rods drove a crankshaft connected to the drive wheels by two external driveshafts, sliding joints, universal joints, and bevel gears. These components, on the fireman’s side of the engine, are seen in motion as the model runs. The engineer’s side has no external drive-train components.

MELGAR

Melgar,

The thingies that spin are on the engineer's side. 😉

@Big Jim posted:

Melgar,

The thingies that spin are on the engineer's side. 😉

Thanks. Right you are. Corrected in my post...

MELGAR

I wanted the shay so bad and when I got it, I didn't have a use for it on my Milwaukee Road. So I sold it. I know there was some very large shays but it looked a little large for O scale. Don

About 1/4 of my equipment is K-line, always ran great for the most part, with very few exceptions.    Great price too and good service if you had a problem.  Based in N.C., didn't hurt either.

  I MISS K-LINE!!!

@scale rail posted:

I wanted the shay so bad and when I got it, I didn't have a use for it on my Milwaukee Road. So I sold it. I know there was some very large shays but it looked a little large for O scale. Don

I studied drawings and photographs of Shays and did not find any as large as what the K-Line model would be at full scale. K-Line may have up-sized its model to make the drive components more robust.

MELGAR

@Dave Nichols posted:

Peter, I can see the tale end of your 1225 engine.  Did that come out as a 2 pack set with a matching caboose? Thanks Dave

Dave.....it was the 1st or 2nd year that MTH did that engine.....no caboose......I have a few I have used with it, including a custom one I picked up at a show in Richmond about 3-4 years ago....

Peter

Melgar, I really enjoyed the videos. The engine ran well. And your layout has a lot of charm. The buildings and scenic detail are well done.

@Former Member posted:

I would say I like the K-line American Freedom train cars. I just wish they had finished the set. I was going to sell mine and buy the Lionel ones but after I saw the lionel ones I decided to keep my k-line set. They just seem to look better to me plus they're aluminum.

I forgot about the AFT set too, and it is on my train room wall

I did buy the Lionel cars based on Lionel's promise to make all 26 cars, with the idea of selling the K-Line set.  I've decided to keep all the K-Line cars and have been trying to sell the 10 Lionel display cars.  The K-Line cars are closer coupled which looks better.

I like the K-line 2 bay hoppers because they look to be made from the same moulds as the Kusan 2 bay hoppers.

For me the ultimate K-line item is the Chicago South Shore & South Bend Powered and dummy Interurban.  Growing up in Gary Indiana I remember riding my bike to the end of my street to see these orange passenger cars going to or from Chicago or South Bend. Brings back memories of my youth when I run these on my layout. Here is a little video from a while back.

Dean

I wish I could run mine, My layout became a storage bench when I was ill a few years ago! No one here has the time to help a disabled old man clean it up.

Thanks for posting the video Dean. Like the cars and your layout. I use a KW as well.

Prototyper, where are you located?  I'm sure some people in your area on the forum will come help you out.  Is not that what the forum is all about, helping others.

@CAPPilot posted:

I forgot about the AFT set too, and it is on my train room wall

I did buy the Lionel cars based on Lionel's promise to make all 26 cars, with the idea of selling the K-Line set.  I've decided to keep all the K-Line cars and have been trying to sell the 10 Lionel display cars.  The K-Line cars are closer coupled which looks better.

Lionel promised to make all 26 cars?

Hmm.....

Guess that means I'm half way there with 13 and will be past the half way mark when they release the two 2-packs later this year.

I don't have the display cars, the ones with the large windows.

Somewhere on here is a post and I posted therein a listing of all the AFT cars I could find by research and which ones were made by which manufacturer (K-Line, Lionel, abd MTH).

@superwarp1 posted:

Boston and Albany Berkshires,  The green one and the black version.

I agree. Just as I got started (restarted?) in the hobby K-line was leading the league in 'blowout' sales. I got my B&A green Berk at that time, as well as the NYC tank engine.

@PW53inVa posted:

I like the K-line 2 bay hoppers because they look to be made from the same moulds as the Kusan 2 bay hoppers.

For me the ultimate K-line item is the Chicago South Shore & South Bend Powered and dummy Interurban.  Growing up in Gary Indiana I remember riding my bike to the end of my street to see these orange passenger cars going to or from Chicago or South Bend. Brings back memories of my youth when I run these on my layout. Here is a little video from a while back.

Dean

That one gets a vote from me too, for the same reasons. The South Shore Interurban was probably the first K-Line set I got many years back. Actually the box says "K-Line by Lionel" although K-Line first produced these with silhouettes for passengers. The later ones have full interiors, great route sounds but are conventional only. I once looked into converting mine to TMCC but that would involve sacrificing the sounds, or so I was told. Anyway they are beautiful models - plastic bodies but finely detailed:

@Jim 1939 posted:

Like a dead artist. No support till their gone. I always feel sad when reading about how great their stuff WAS. It's quite possible had they received this much support when in business they might have survived, although he was not the worlds smartest business man.

No doubt the worlds smartest businessman is not in the toy train business.    Business smarts alone will not get you far in any business you must have a passion for what you produce and sell.  Thank God for Maury Klein and Mike Wolf and Richard Kughn and Bob Weaver and all those I don't know or remember.          j

@paulp575 posted:

I don't have the display cars, the ones with the large windows.

I think you mean the two showcase cars.

Mel the Shay looks and sounds great on your smaller layout.  It needs more run time so you'll have to get some of those skeleton frame log cars and come up with some room for a saw mill.  That should kep you busy for a while.

@coach joe posted:

Mel the Shay looks and sounds great on your smaller layout.  It needs more run time so you'll have to get some of those skeleton frame log cars and come up with some room for a saw mill.  That should kep you busy for a while.

I have a K-Line shay and while its a cool piece it requires a large radius to run. I think 042 minimum, maybe more. The swivel on the trucks is restricted as is coupler swing. For someone wanting to model a lumber camp in the corner of the layout best stick with On3 or On30.

Pete

For me the best K line items, at least on my layout, are the four truck Shay, B&O Plymouth switcher, scale A5 steam switcher, Pennsy MU cars ... owls with a great sounding horn, the KCC semi scale GG1 which has full size cab doors ( K line was the only manufacturer of semi scale GG1s to include full size cab doors if my memory serves me correct ), and some various scale passenger cars.   Here are some pics of what I mentioned above.  Sorry I don't have a pic of my KCC Brunswick green GG1.

A5 new out of the box.

4 truck shay new.

MU car ( double car set ) close up.

Plymouth industrial switcher which smokes up a storm.

@CAPPilot posted:

I think you mean the two showcase cars.

You are correct! I stand corrected

There were two showcase cars (that's the ones I do not have) and 10 display cars (of which I have all of these).

@paulp575 posted:

Lionel promised to make all 26 cars?

Hmm.....

Guess that means I'm half way there with 13 and will be past the half way mark when they release the two 2-packs later this year.

I don't have the display cars, the ones with the large windows.

Somewhere on here is a post and I posted therein a listing of all the AFT cars I could find by research and which ones were made by which manufacturer (K-Line, Lionel, abd MTH).

@CAPPilot posted:

I forgot about the AFT set too, and it is on my train room wall

I did buy the Lionel cars based on Lionel's promise to make all 26 cars, with the idea of selling the K-Line set.  I've decided to keep all the K-Line cars and have been trying to sell the 10 Lionel display cars.  The K-Line cars are closer coupled which looks better.

How well do the couplers on the AFT K-Line cars match up with those from Lionel?

About twenty years ago, K-Line offered their 0-6-0 with the sloped back tender in four road names, one of which was the Santa Fe.  I thought about it for three weeks and by that time Davis Trains had sold out with no more coming.  Other than  a few couplers getting tired after ten years of weekly service, very few things were wrong with K-Line items.  The wheelsets were in gauge, the engines pulled(especially the six motor ABA), the details on the passenger cars were nice and their die cast hoppers set the standard.  John

@paulp575 posted:

Lionel promised to make all 26 cars?

Somewhere on here is a post and I posted therein a listing of all the AFT cars I could find by research and which ones were made by which manufacturer (K-Line, Lionel, abd MTH).

I found your post listing all the K-line, Lionel, and MTH American Freedom Train cars.  Here it is.

Bob

Eventually, the B6 switcher was available in twelve different roadnames.  I am attaching some old advertisements and catalog pages in Adobe .pdf - not sure if that will work!

David