@modeltrainsparts, thanks for the compliment. Though probably if you did a search for the K-Line S-2, you'd find things I've posted in the past. These locos have their liabilities for certain, but aren't nearly as bad as they are sometimes made out to be. For smaller 027 types of layouts with 027 or traditional rolling stock, these K-Line engines look right at home size-wise.
The worst thing about all the early low cost starter set types of K-Line locos (Alco FA2, MP-15, RDC Budd Car and the S-2) is the "jack-rabbit" starts if using a typical Lionel postwar transformer with a minimal starting voltage of 6 volts. Fine for postwar locos with open frame AC motors. The K-Line locos I mentioned run great using a Lionel multivolt transformer with the choice of a lower starting voltage, like the 1033 utilizing the B-U setting of 0-11 volts to the track. There's a couple others, though I forget which ones they are. And @Mannyrock, if you're still reading, depending on what type of transformer you're using, the other fix for these K-Line engines is to wire the motors in series. Some of the later K-Line engines came with a convenient switch underneath the frame for either parallel or series motor wiring. This feature was continued on some of the K-Line by Lionel products. Might be worth asking the seller before you buy.
The other issue now is parts. Some parts, like the coupler arms for the S-2, have long been sold out. I would guess, due to the jack-rabbit starts, some folks were smashing and breaking the couplers. Fortunately, you can cob and alter other makes of coupler arms to work in the S-2.
And for clarification, Artie's Lackawanna loco pictured above is an RMT version. Among the improvements and changes made by RMT was a different spec motor that needed more voltage to run, thus eliminating the "jack-rabbit" start ups when running with many postwar types of transformers. The RMT s-4 BANG is one of the hardest engines to find and it's been like that for a few years, so when one comes up for sale, they sell for more money than they retailed for when they were first introduced. So obviously, there are people who like the improved RMT version of the S-4 and are keeping them to run.
