Any K Line Enthusiasts Out There?

I have a couple inexpensive K-Line engines, but at one time had the PRR A5 with TMCC.  That was one powerful little engine that looked and sounded great!

What I have now I really like are the billboard reefers.  Well not all of these are K-Line, but a lot are.

In my opinion, K-Line made some very nice engines, especially just before being taken over by Lionel. Some scale models that come to mind: 1) Boston & Albany Berkshire; 2) New York Central Hudson; 3) PRR/LIRR B6sb switcher; 4) New Haven EP-5 electric motor; 5) New York Central/Boston & Albany 4-6-6T tank engines; 6) Shay logging engine (maybe larger than scale).

MELGAR

Yes and????

The Strasburg#1 Porter locomotive

Wow!  Melgar and PRRhorshoecurve, you both really do like K-Line!!

My NH EP-5 converted to 2-rail:

I have a second one that is 3-rail that I bought for the pans (note the broken pan on the left). Unfortunately, the original "converter" did not use the K-Line pans so my second Jet purchase turned out to be unnecessary.

My layout is K-Line Shadow Rail Track.  Back in the day, K-Line had several super stores, through out the country. I use to have to drive to Indianapolis, Indiana to get the track. I believe the store was called Trains X-Press, they went out of business. I purchased a lot of shadow rail track and other K-line items at their going out of business sale.

This video is about a K-Line F40PH Amtrak with Lionel Cab #1. Will operate with Lionel Cab #1 & MTH, DCS Remote Control. This is part of my Lionel Layout in my "Man Cave".

Gary

PRRMP54 posted:

My NH EP-5 converted to 2-rail:

I have a second one that is 3-rail that I bough for the pans (note the broken pan on the left). Unfortunately, the original "converter" did not use the K-Line pans so my second Jet purchase turned out to be unnecessary.

Technical question....those trucks are true 6 wheel drive's...so bothe trucks work or only one..they look like williams pantos style..not EARLY lionel pantos which are beefy...SIDE note i paint make collect toy soldiers...manoil and Barkley had skiers...the tin skies have ears that bend over the feet...im going to see if i can join the 2 pantos together on my early Williams amtrak ge60.#960 it will make sturdier if it works😜📐🔩🔧📏🔨😀🚎🚋🚈

I have the K-Line scale Hudson with MTH's PS2 and smoke. It's a really nicely detailed locomotive and performs great. Also the NH Ep5 pictured above. Their F3's/F7s are very nice scale models with great detail as pictured here in the PRR. It is an ABBA. Have the Northern Pacific ABA too with 21" Weaver Aluminum cars. Recently I've acquired several of the 18" & 21" K-Line aluminum passenger sets that are terrific even after all these years as well as misc freight cars- especially die cast hoppers.

You bet.  Love K-Line. They manufactured great locomotives and rolling stock at a reasonable price. I'm a conventional operator and my K-Line runs great with few or no problems. I even joined the K-Line Collector's Club and acquired a lot through the club. Talk about value!!  I miss them. 

RLR

Wulfe67 posted:

Technical question....those trucks are true 6 wheel drive's...so bothe trucks work or only one.

All six axles are powered with one central -mounted motor.

Neat stuff from the K-Line Collector Club

    Bill T.

AT&SF SD75

Pennsy A-5 changed to the Pacific Coast 0-4-0

C&O F-7

Kennecott Mines RS Switcher

Ore cars for the Kennecott RS switcher

D&RG diecast hoppers

The quality, durability, reliability and reasonable prices of K Line engines helped keep the prices of other companies' locomotives down. 

Is there anything comparable to K Line on the market today? Only thing I can think of is LionChief Plus, but from my experience, it is much more fragile than K Line.

I have collected the O Scale K Line Anheuser Busch cars and like every one of them...

K-line transitioned from the old Kusan/Marx molds to very nice scale and semi-scale equipment at reasonable prices.  I have several S2s, MP15s, GP38s, an F unit an EP5, the NYC ESE Hudson, several of their 2-6-4 steamers and one of those A5 switchers and countless rolling stock.  Yes I do miss K-line.  

There was a time when the detail of Kline engines was out doing Lionel and MTH.   Take a look at an old video of my kline berks

Upgraded TAS cruise, one engine has John's superchuffer and since this video I've upgraded the sounds to NYC Mohawk sounds.

With a fixed front pilot.

No pics of the steam!

Ha, the two steam engines packed away.  The NYC Hudson and the Southern 4501.

Ron

I was KCC member when it was a big thing.  As a struggling kid at the time I liked the lower price point for the quality.  I still run many of the boxcars and they were built tough enough that I have always let my kids play with them.  I have the Kennecott Copper mp-15 though none of the cars.  I just unboxed the Pennsy streamliner 8 car set for the first time in years - still very impressive.  I might even put the window silhouette strips in this time. 

If only they had paid their bills

I have managed to acquire about a dozen K-Line coil cars and converted them to 2-Rail.

Yes, I like them. Roo.

I don’t have any locomotives but I do have about 100 cars of rolling stock. Very nicely detailed and rugged. I would like to find a nice UP passenger set to pull behind my grey Challenger. 

PRRMP54 posted:

Wulfe67 posted:

Technical question....those trucks are true 6 wheel drive's...so bothe trucks work or only one.

All six axles are powered with one central -mounted motor.

Do you have any pictures of the inside?  How did you modify the center wheel set?

A BIG YES!!!!

I started buying their diesels a couple of years ago when I got back into the hobby. The first one I bought was a PRR MP-15 switcher. Since then I've added 3 more MP-15's, including the LIRR Greenport Scoot set, and 4 Plymouths, and 3 S2's. I don't have any steam yet but not because I haven't been looking. They made really nice stuff. For a conventional 027 runner, they are really nice. Only change I've made is to wire the MP-15 motors in series to slow them down. Still don't understand how their management could not keep the company running when the product sold itself.

This F-unit is a dummy but could easily be converted with a motor and board. It has the lights and pick ups.

The Plymouths have fan powered smoke units and can pull more than their share of cars.

My first Train Set was the Procter and Gamble diesel switcher promotional set with the product branded cars.

Paid $30 at a garage sale for the never opened employee version.

All the pieces run excellent and it's fun to look at.

Tom D. posted:

Do you have any pictures of the inside?  How did you modify the center wheel set?

No, I got it from a ebay auction and have never opened it up. The drive appears to be either Weaver or Central Loco Works. As far as I can tell, the only parts of the original truck block that remain are the sideframes.

I have 18 of the 21" observation cars and 3 New Haven 21" cars that have been 2-railed:

BRIAN WHITE posted:

If only they had paid their bills

RSJB18 posted:

A BIG YES!!!!

I started buying their diesels a couple of years ago when I got back into the hobby. The first one I bought was a PRR MP-15 switcher. Since then I've added 3 more MP-15's, including the LIRR Greenport Scoot set, and 4 Plymouths, and 3 S2's. I don't have any steam yet but not because I haven't been looking. They made really nice stuff. For a conventional 027 runner, they are really nice. Only change I've made is to wire the MP-15 motors in series to slow them down. Still don't understand how their management could not keep the company running when the product sold itself.

It wasn't so much about paying bills.  It was the actions that K-line took to steal trade secrets from Lionel and the following lawsuit/settlement that really did them in.

JD2035RR posted:

 

BRIAN WHITE posted:

If only they had paid their bills

RSJB18 posted:

Still don't understand how their management could not keep the company running when the product sold itself.

 

It wasn't so much about paying bills.  It was the actions that K-line took to steal trade secrets from Lionel and the following lawsuit/settlement that really did them in.

Actually it was that the designer of that Lionel power pack left Lionel and went to K-Line I guess thinking he could reuse his design there!

PLUS the reality that K-Line did not charge enough for their product to keep them a float.

Ron

The loss of K-Line and Weaver were real wounds to the 3RO (and 2RO) hobby. About equal in effect, I'd say, but in different ways, mostly.

Both were sources of nice, scale steam locomotives - K-Line in die-cast, Weaver (mostly) in brass.

My best K line locomotive is the K line club GG1 for $99.  It was much cheaper than a used Lionel and probably runs better on my 027 track.  It is a great runner and looker!  Only issue was one of truck side castings got warped but I found a Lionel part would fit and solved the problem.

Charlie

I have the Illinois Central E6 ABA units with the aluminum passenger car set.  The diesels are better looking than my MTH IC Premier units, but the plastic MTH cars seem to look a bit more realistic that the K Line aluminums.

Also have the Chicago and Alton Heavyweight Passenger car set and recently purchased one of the newer Lionel 18" C&A coach.  You can barely tell the difference between the the Lionel and K Line C&A passenger cars which, according to a modeler friend, is due to the fact that Lionel used the K Line molds for its recent production of heavyweights.

I just recently picked up almost all the Chesapeake and Ohio K Line heavyweights and am in the process of trying to remove the silhouettes from two of the cars and replace with K line interiors.  Picked up a K Line heavyweight ACL diner car (Valdosta) with the intention of cannibalizing the plastic interior for the C&A Swan Tavern car, but found that the ACL Diner was just too striking to disturb its appearance.  The Valdosta will now serve as a "loaned" diner on my MTH Illinois Central Premier City of Miami.

Guess i will have to look for interiors for the silhouetted K Line C&O Swan Tavern and the C&O Ft. Eustes pullman car at York.

I have been searching (without any luck) for a few Gulf Mobile and Ohio MTH Premier passenger cars to integrate into the K Line Chicago and Alton consist - the goal being to reflect the 1946 takeover of the C&A by the GM&O by running a passenger train with both cars present.

Choo Choo Charlie posted:

My best K line locomotive is the K line club GG1 for $99.  It was much cheaper than a used Lionel and probably runs better on my 027 track.  It is a great runner and looker!  Only issue was one of truck side castings got warped but I found a Lionel part would fit and solved the problem.

Charlie

I have a K Line GG1 that I bought used from a local model train store in 2017 that looks identical to yours, Charlie. The short video below shows it pulling Postwar aluminum passenger cars around Yankee Stadium.

It looks great, runs great, was reasonably priced, and I love it.

Arnold

I am big fan. Here are just a few:

Fairlane observation car repainted.  Lighted with interior

Early Pullman repainted

1821 repainted for New Haven service

Night Route from the factory

Diner from the factory

New Orleans from the factory

John in Lansing, ILL

A few of the K Line I have, and have always found to run very well, look great.  The entire Golden State 18" cars (11) with the Rock Island E8s make a very good looking consist.  Also have 11 of the 21" California Zephyr aluminum cars, 8 Rio Grande 18" hvywts, 9 Milwk Rd 18" hvywts, many die cast Rio Grande and U.P. hoppers, many of the silver coin state series frt. cars.  Over all have more than 180 pcs. K Line and like to run all.  All scale size engines have TMCC/RS either original or I have updated with ERR. 

Jesse   TCA  12-68275

Love K-Line....have to wonder why Lionel killed them....their steam and diesels were outstanding...also the BEST EP5 in the business...joe

I have 3 kline locomotives they are a up gp40-2 and a gs4 daylight in freedom train colors.And a mike 2-8-2  that was wp I changed it to SAL.Which goes through my home town of monroe n.c.The pulling power of these locomotives has suprised me.I had the mike pull a 36 car freight with no problem.And had the gs4 pull a 40 car freight.I have even double headed with a railking erie berkshire.

Next time I go to a train show, I will be looking for used K Line based on all the positive things about K Line on this thread, and this thread may be a valuable resource to consider before buying anything.

I have 3 K Line locomotives that have stood the test of time, and have never needed any repairs. I have never had a bad experience with anything K Kine, and that also seems to be the consensus on this thread.

Arnold

I am probably the only person who does not know the answer but, who made the higher end products for K Line?

I only have one K-Line locomotive. The PRR GG1 in Tuscan single stripe. It actually is a great engine and is my go to GG1. Smooth operating and a nice honker horn. It has TMCC from the factory. I had to get the truck sides replaced though because one of them was starting to crumble. I do have a few cars. My favorite is the Heinz pickle reefer

I had some K-Line traditional sized (O-31) engines and cars that I sold.  They all had great detail and performed well.

I currently have 4 scale steamers and a scale GG1, all upgraded with various kits from ERR.  I have about 2 dozen scale freight cars and several 18" and 21" passenger cars too.  They all run great and look great.  Like others, I miss the company.

I think I am. Here is my list, all of course Milwaukee Road.

3 sets A-A or A-B-A F-3s....4 Trainmasters,...7 scale steam engines including 3 Berkshires. K-line was the best deal around with those scale engines and cars. They forced many changes in the O scale field including passenger car interiors, more detail on F units and Trainmasters to name a few. I miss them.

My other engines are a MTH electrics, 3 scale Little Joe's, 2 sets of box cabs 1 Bipolar and 1 Hiawatha Brass Weaver and set A-A Atlas FM.  Don

I am a fan of their passenger cars, coil cars, intermodal, to name a few.k-line & Williams baggage cars

scale rail posted:

I think I am. Here is my list, all of course Milwaukee Road.

3 sets A-A or A-B-A F-3s....4 Trainmasters,...7 scale steam engines including 3 Berkshires. K-line was the best deal around with those scale engines and cars. They forced many changes in the O scale field including passenger car interiors, more detail on F units and Trainmasters to name a few. I miss them.

My other engines are a MTH electrics, 3 scale Little Joe's, 2 sets of box cabs 1 Bipolar and 1 Hiawatha Brass Weaver and set A-A Atlas FM.  Don

 

 

You converted me, Don.  I have a few.  Love them!  Matt

I too am a K Line fan-including their 6464 type boxcars ( lots of them, reasonably inexpensive, some interesting road names, etc. ), die cast frame tank cars, 16 wheel die cast flat cars with great loads, die cast hopper sets,  Kennecott mining cars/engines, reefers, some really nice ( especially PRR) diesels and steam engines, Plymouth switchers, cabeese, club cars/engines ( I like even the "lowly" TCA Anniversary GG1 and passenger cars), passenger cars ( especially PRR) , circus cars, etc., etc..  I have been collecting them for years-wonder if they will ever become truly collectible-but I don't much care-I enjoy them as readily available they seem to continue to be.   turtle7

Qat a hundred bucks each, the Train Masters were difficult to pass up.  I 2-railed five of them and shortened two.  And I don't do plastic!

I have small fleets of 21" streamliners in B&O, GN, UP, PRR, and onesies of CNW and Zephyr, all 2-rail.  They are great - just what I wanted in $75 passenger cars.

And I have a Berk, 2-railed and bellied, with motor in firebox where God intended it to be.  I still think it is undersize.

Wish I had jumped on the $100 Ep-5.  Nice looking.  I won't repeat your photos.

I have a set of K-Line full scale Metrolink Bombardier cars and a few die cast freight cars. Wish I had been able to afford the CNW gallery cars and streamlined passenger cars as well as the Amtrak California Surfliner set. They're going for a fortune when they show up on eBay. They did a phenomenal job on the Surfliner cars. 

  Great stuff. They were doing what had been said couldn't be done; compete at a lower cost.  Folks said it about Menards too. 

I think besides the deathblow by Lionel in court, they had grown a bit too fast and extended themselves too far in the name of growth. I never looked into the power supply design to have an opinion. But on a similar note I  thought Bill Gates's Windows was gonna loose to to IBM "Doors" in court, seeing how he was in charge of IBM's Doors, but it didn't work, while his oh so similar "windows" was fine. You folks don't know how close we came to IBM continued dominance of computers and Microsoft failing as MS went public nearly for legal defense funds alone. Having seen both in action, I have to agree it seems to be a copy.... a working one .... I'd love to know what was wrong with the Doors, but thousands of zeros and ones for binary logic aint my thing either

You lost me.  Here is a K-Line H16-66 and a 21" gallery car.  The locomotive is in the wind; the car and a mate remain here.

When I was maybe 14 or 15 I ended up winning a Mikado during a K-Line visit to Charles Ro.  The guy also gave me his K-Line hat.  Unfortunately a couple years ago the tether to the tender shorted out and I have had trouble finding the right replacement, got one online but unfortunately it was the wrong one.

Prior to that and afterwards my dad and I really liked K-Line because of the price point, the variety, and the quality (for the price point).  We joined the KCC and had a couple cars from the 15" Golden State set which we got rid of when we got the 15" Broadway Limited Madison set (still looking for the 2 car add on!) as well as the KCC GG1 and A5 switcher.  Had a couple of MP-15s, the US Army set, and some misc. cars.  Also had the Coca Cola polar bear handcar and one of my dad's all time favorite cars, Santa and his reindeer with the blinking Rudolph's nose.  Also think many of the buildings I have were "detailed" remakes they put out of old plasticville.

Just last year got a set of the PRR Interurbans online thinking they were the 15" set, but turned out they were 18" which was a bit big for my layout, so those may go.  Always wanted their Empire State Express.

Been a K Line fan and KCC member from the beginning. Have all the Golden State cars in 027, all the circus cars, all the WP feather boxcars, multi sets of CNJ hoppers, CNJ Plymouths, PRR A5, (2) K4s, multiple other freight cars. Always looking for a CNJ 4-6-6T junker or low priced that I can convert to an appropriate 4-6-4T.

Old K-Line steamer that comes out at Christmas time. Fantastic runner and pretty good smoker

K-line product was very good for it's time compared to the price.  Certain pieces stick out for me as being superior such as the H-24-66, the Superliner cars most out of the 21" production line, and the EP-5.  Their EP-5 is the most "scale" out of nearly everyone ever done in O and is more accurate than Overland's brass version from some years ago. 

I like their F40's as they replicate the "Phase II" production variant from EMD with the recessed fans.  While not always accurate for the paint schemes they put on them, that is what distinguishes theirs from the MTH production. 

Overall a great product line that was balanced at a good price.  However, regardless of the lawsuit, I don't know if it would have been sustainable in today's market.  The market has just changed so much.

My "graffiti" version of the SP express boxcar is a one of a kind I believe.  I purchased this out of Gordon Wilson's collection at a TCA Desert Division Auction a number of years ago when he was thinning out his massive collection.

Having posted before,I forgot to comment on their catalogs which I think were just pure fun to review !!  What's interesting to me is that although I'm certain that they had lots of "mistakes" for us rivet counters and "demanders of realism" to identify (including myself-at least sometimes) , they clearly escape the wrath of those collector/runner types evident in some discussion themes on the Forum even now. On the other hand, wasn't K Line among the first to put lift rings on their PRR diesels and make the RRR hammerhead?  Enjoy your trains-a great hobby with some even greater participants !!

I have always enjoyed the K line Classic boxcars and scale diecast hoppers. Colorful and great all metal trucks, sound particularly cool on 90 degree cross track and 022's.

Happy I spotted this topic.  I recently ran an all K line train behind PW Lionel 2339.

I own about a dozen k line classics, only seven would make the 031 return loops and figure eight on table #3. Here are a couple of photos.  

One more photo.

i recall going to a K line super store on a regular once a couple week visit. 

It was somewhere in Long Island long ago. I was always excited to have these forty footers as they were  somewhat like the 6464's I could not really afford at the time. The classic series tank cars were awesome as well. I will start looking for them again when a good deal happens.

Yeah, I agree, K line was one of the best bangs for the buck out there, especially the classics series.

I just picked up my first K-Line Locomotives... 3 GG1s circa 2001... Wish I could take a decent photograph... 

They are fully TMCC from the factory, DC can motors (they crawl beautifully) and pull a ton!  They have Full Doors with very nice separately applied hand rails and ladders as well as Lighted number boards with gold accent.  The horn and bell sound better than the Lionel offerings of that era as well (although, still not great).  While the Lionel's are reproductions of their post war GG1's... K-Line went for a more prototypical detailing/styling.  I have a full scale VisionLine GG1 Lionel 6-82749 and the little old K-Line's look pretty good next to it.  I'm going to see if I can take the driver truck side frames and front/rear trucks off my Lionel's and put them on the K-Lines... only place they seem to have fallen short.

*new* K-Line enthusiast!

dennis

I don't have that many pieces from K-Line but I'd sure love to pick up some more.  What I do have, I really like and I have a 2-8-2 that I recently found out was a K-Line engine.  It is scale and it one of my favorite steam engines.  I can't wait to see it run.  I'm always on the look-out for scale K-line equipment.

Thanks for bringing this subject up.

I forgot about this one.  A Pennsy steam without a Belpaire fire box, WWI USRA design.  Number 9628 and couple other Mikes were acquired in a early 20's merger.  The 9628 ran the Pennsy line into the late 40's.

The  K-Line Mike in foreground.

Ron

I have amassed almost one of every 742 refrigerator car.......except Loonie Tunes.  Always on the lookout for 742s I don't have.  I buy scale steamers when I can afford them and have 8 scale Hiawatha cars and matching AA units. Love the detail.  

Have a lot of K-Line. Sad that they are gone. My favorite  item is the American Freedom Train I have a complete set 30+feet. That's the engine and 18 cars. When I take it to shows and run it in the modular layout there are always many questions about it. 

I purchased these K-Line Pacific Electric interurban cars about 20 years ago and had never run them until today. I placed them on the track, set the transformer to 13 volts (at about 1.3 amps) and they started immediately and ran smoothly. The #1007 car is powered by motors in each truck. The #1008 car is unpowered.

MELGAR

MELGAR posted:

I purchased these K-Line Pacific Electric interurban cars about 20 years ago and had never run them until today. I placed them on the track, set the transformer to 13 volts (at about 1.3 amps) and they started immediately and ran smoothly. The #1007 car is powered by motors in each truck. The #1008 car is unpowered.

MELGAR

That, Melgar, is a true test of a great engine: put it in storage for 20 years, then put it on the track, turn up the power, and it runs like a Swiss watch!

I have quite a few KLine including the Penn K4 Pacific, rolling stock and 2 KCC 2000 Aluminum Passenger Cars with display that still boxed, never used but I did open them. One has a slight scratch the other is magnificent. Plus they came with people inside. 

I have a lot of K-Line but here are two of my favorites.

I love the K Line 15 inch aluminum streamliners.  I have the S Fe Super Chief, GN Empire Builder, NP North Coast Limited, NYC Empire State Express, B&O Columbian, PRR FOM, D&RGW Prospector, New Haven, Southern Pacific Daylight, and Canadian Pacific.  I also like their diecast hopper cars and have 6 C&Os with different numbers.

I have an old diesel switcher marked TRRA for my home town St. Louis, and an early Reading F7 AB multi-motor lash up that I was warned not to purchase.  It still runs fine several years later.

I even have the K Line history book.  It was a fascinating company and it's too bad that it couldn't stay in business.

Lew Schneider

K Line?????        G R E A T stuff!       I'm trying to obtain many SMOKING Cabeese for a display, and sometimes run. ................., but York is coming

The K Line Mikados are very nice............strong pullers; reliable;  good to great smokers;  just a blast to watch. Those F7's from about 2005/ or 2007?  were great except for the renowned SH#### plugs that are TOO fragile. 

redjimmy1955 posted:

K Line?????        G R E A T stuff!       I'm trying to obtain many SMOKING Cabeese for a display, and sometimes run. ................., but York is coming

The K Line Mikados are very nice............strong pullers; reliable;  good to great smokers;  just a blast to watch. Those F7's from about 2005/ or 2007?  were great except for the renowned SH#### plugs that are TOO fragile. 

 

 

I'm in the market for a K Line smoking caboose too. Mine stopped smoking years ago for some strange reason; can't figure out how to get the shell off to investigate it, without breaking it.

Hopefully the last of my forgotten K-Line.

This jewel is a K-Line by Lionel.

While not totally prototypical the closest Southern Bay-Windows in mass production, my opinion.

The cabs in foreground.

Ron

One I didn't include in earlier post, because it is Lionel/K Line....

But has TMCC and RS, is a great runner and pulls like crazy!  So many trains... so little time!

Jesse   TCA   12-68275

K-line offered me a variety that was not available anywhere else, at a price I could afford. I could only afford a couple Lionel engines (steam).

Most of my favorite K Line trains have already been mentioned.  The Freedom Train, the EP-5, the GG-1 (mine has the TMCC kit added to it).  The 6464 boxcar set is superb, and although it is only 8 cars it is one of my favorites.  The 18" madison cars look great behind any of the scale hudsons, including the K Line one (I have 5344).  I recently bought the spine car set, and it is a fine addition to my intermodal fleet.  I really wanted some of the 21" passenger cars but just don't have the room.  I recently discovered that the streamliner plastic passenger cars were being made again and to my surprise, the cars I bought not only matched my 6 car K Line set but had different names and numbers to boot.  Now I have 11 cars in NYC lightning stripe colors to haul behind my 2344 F3s.  Makes a great looking train.

Rolland

It was the K-Line Collector's Club offer of a GG-1 for $100 that got me into O gauge and I haven't looked back since. For my money, the KCC was the best deal out there. I wound up with two GG-1s, a Lackawanna FM Trainmaster, the NH EP-5, the A5 steamer, and an ATSF SD70 (that wound up being K-Line by Lionel, but details). Also fell in love with those little Plymouths and their box cabs. And the reefers that wound up going for cheap after K-Line's demise were also incredible deals for the money…

redrockbill

Most of my locomotives and rolling stock are MTH but I did buy a good amount of the Coca Cola and Anheuser Busch stuff they did which I thought were well done by K-Line and bought a few other pieces of K-Line rolling stock and have a few of their club cars and operating accessories. It is a shame that K-Line is no longer in business for they put some wonderful products for the time that they were in the toy train market.

Here's a video of some of my K-line 21" Daylight cars.  All told I have 33 K-line passenger cars that are 18" and longer.  That is only beaten by my 54 GGD passenger car collection.  When the price is right I still pick up the K-Line 21" cars where appropriate.  I also look for the 18" baggage cars.

Total I have 18 daylight cars of which 14 are uniquely numbered.  I need to add some weight to the loco to pull more of them and change out the lighting to LEDs.  Not prototypicaly accurate, but they are fun to run!

GG1 4877 posted:

Here's a video of some of my K-line 21" Daylight cars.  All told I have 33 K-line passenger cars that are 18" and longer.  That is only beaten by my 54 GGD passenger car collection.  When the price is right I still pick up the K-Line 21" cars where appropriate.  I also look for the 18" baggage cars.

Total I have 18 daylight cars of which 14 are uniquely numbered.  I need to add some weight to the loco to pull more of them and change out the lighting to LEDs.  Not prototypicaly accurate, but they are fun to run!

Whoa! And that is some beautiful layout you got there, Jonathan, with long straight aways and wide, gentle curves!

texastrain posted:

One I didn't include in earlier post, because it is Lionel/K Line....

But has TMCC and RS, is a great runner and pulls like crazy!  So many trains... so little time!

Jesse   TCA   12-68275

The two in the background.....

Are they K-line or Fe-line

Jonathan, I agree with Arnold.  Both the K-Line cars and the layout are mighty fine!  Mighty fine!

I put all of the Plymouth diesels and sets together for SWSat yesterday. Thought I'd add them here too.

Plus the 4 I already posted in my OP.

I can't take credit for the layout.  It is my club layout, the Paradise and Pacific Railroad in Scottsdale, AZ.  A great club of some really dedicated members.  With my work schedule I don't get to spend nearly enough time there.  I am grateful for those that can as they keep this running 363 days a year for the public.  It's a lot of fun to operate on though!

Recent K-Line devotee here, and that's just purchasing old pre-Lionel O27 turnouts new and second hand the last several years. Must have several LARGE boxes accumulated by now   Rock solid and high quality. Looking forward to adding to the layout; always seemed a great value.

When K-Line was big, toy trains weren't a priority for me as I was finishing school and starting my career, so I didn't really pay any attention to them. Things have changed. 

While I'm a prewar tinplate guy at heart, I have recently come to appreciate the K-Line 18" passenger cars, both heavyweight and streamliners. In the last 2 years, I've added 3 sets of 18" heavyweights (PRR Broadway Ltd, NYC 28th Anniversary, and NYC Pacemaker) and one set of 18" streamliners, the NYC 20th Century Ltd. 

In addition to the trains, I also really like the Super Snap track, especially the O72 switches. For those of us who operate both modern and prewar trains, these switches are tough to beat. It sure would be great to see these products on the market again. 

John

Huge fan here!

This LIRR B6sb #2015 is one of the beautiful K-Line engines in my collection.

MELGAR

Yes I'm out here, I have over 300 K-Line items and now I'm trying in get a "fulll" size City of Los Angles ABS set with at least 9 cars. So far I have only have identified only 5 cars in two sets, and the one set I purchased had a duplicate coach car from the expansion pack instead of an observation car. Now we are making a purchase on a new house on 1.5 acres so I can build a decent size shop building to build my dream layout.

I like their “K-line Classics “ boxcars and passenger cars.  Sad they’re gone. JohnA

I have some old Super-K track, it is awesome.
In the 2010 Lionel catalog on pages 158 and 159, Lionel introduced as "new" a milk delivery system from K-Line by Lionel that looked great, but it never appeared in any other Lionel catalog... http://catalogs.lionel.com/201...les/html5/index.html

I’ve got a nice semi-scale NYC Hudson that runs like a fine watch. The details on these when they came out is just phenomenal. I also have a Lackawanna Trainmaster that I like, but it starts off fast! I have beautifully detailed NH EP5 that shorted out, and by that time, K-Line was done, so I sent it to TrainAmerica, and they replaced the drive with a Williams drive. It’s powerful, but also starts too fast. They did make some neat stuff.

yes indeed.

my layouts have been and currently are laid with super K track.
most of my boxcars and tankers are classic K line

i have been a fan ever since the K line club and associated stores were up and running.

I use super K track with Lionel 022 turnouts.

The super K 031 turnouts I have found to be as reliable as the 022.
like them too.

I discovered K-Line in the early 90s, and became an immediate fan. When the KCC was established, I joined immediately. I think Maury Klein will be seen as one of the O Gauge greats when the comprehensive history of the last 30 years is written.   

I have a number of K-Line pieces in my collection. With proper care and maintenance, the engines are still running smoothly.

In addition I have collected 29 K-Line Superstore Cars representing 21 Superstores. Some of the superstores had more than one variation. The first version was usually a white box car with a black roof and gold doors. So far I have found 3 versions of Superstore 7, the  "Train Loft". Two Christmas versions, one with Blue roof and Blue door, and one with a Red roof and Red door, and the newer bright yellow scale size box car. Thus I have found the basic variations (1) the original black and white classic size. (2) A bright yellow classic size box car used in the late 90s. (3) The just before K-Line went out of business they produced at least 4 yellow Scale size box cars. One for Superstore 7 as described above, and one each for Supestores 19, 20 & 21. However, towards the end K-Line was identifying the stores by a Superstore "number".

I also found separate advertising cars for Superstore 1 in Dallas and Davis electronics Superstore two in Milford Ohio.

Most of these stores are now closed and I'm trying to by at least one K-Line item from the remaining open stores. The most I purchased from is probably Superstore 1 In Dallas, which is now closed. I purchased items from all four store locations he operated at throughout Dallas. The second is probably Western Depot in Yuba City California, which is still open, and I just purchased the last two Willams reversing units in the country. Well the last two that I could find. The least items I purchased from was PDK trains in Florida, which is also NOW closed

Several years back we travelled through Florida and I made a stop and purchased at Least 1 K-Line car. YES, when we are on the road I look for local train stores to see what is available.  I live in San Antonia, when we moved here there were 3 O gauge train stores and Hobby Lobby. Now we are down to one, and Hobby Lobby stopped selling O gauge trains. When Hobby Lobby had the closeout sale my son and I drove to every Hobby Lobby location in San Antonio and made several bargin buys, I didn't include the gas in this cost.

YES great train stores are getting harder to find!

I really miss K-line. I also miss Kirk (former owner of Justrains). I bought all my K-line from him. He had true blowouts. No one could compete with Justrains and K-line. I have alot of 21" passenger cars still sealed. I was constantly taking advantage of Justrains blowouts. Never will forget them good ole days. Kirk was always appreciative and would take the time to write on the receipt "many thanks, Kirk". Dont see that much nowadays.Seems like alot of train stores act like they are doing you a favor to take your money. Still have a grudge for that company who helped K-line down the tubes. Hmmmmm..........who was that????........

I have quite a few of their products. Never had any major issues with any of them. I was sorry to see them go.

K-Line was a great product line that not only made great model trains, but they were also were leaders in the accessory innovation.  Their catalogs always had some new innovative accessory unlike the tired out Lionel rehashed accessories.  Thus I miss this product line a lot.

Don't get me wrong, Lionel did for a brief period of time offer some interesting new accessories.

But as you've all seen over the last ten years Lionel hasn't really offered anything of real interest in terms of exciting accessories.

However it seems that the void K-Line left is partially being filled with Menards innovative accessories and nicely done cars.

I have lots of stuff from Kline.   I really miss their $99 engines!  My favorite Kline train I have is the Freedom Train.  It looks good on the shelf and on the layout.  Has introduced me to a number of new train friends as well who are also enthusiastic about the AFT.

Rolland

I have a decent amount of K-Line product, mostly operating cars and accessories that I converted to TMCC.  Also, sadly only one, complete Passenger train, a beautiful set.  I think their Hudson was stunning, wish I would have picked one up.  They definitely made their mark in O Gauge history.  Wonder where all the tooling went?  Wonder what Maury is doing?

I have several k-line cars and i like them very much!!!

Love the K-line 4-bay hoppers and die-cast reefers.  Too bad they're no more.   I'm sure they would have turned out more great products.

K-line had a fabulous line of items.  I have two diesel engines...best sound systems on my table, and the heaviest too.  Two of my favorite buildings on the layout are K-line...the 20th Century Diner and the Ford dealership.  Next to a Super Chief passenger car set from GGD on the layout, the K-line Pennsy set of heavyweight passenger cars is a close second...great company!

@jini5 posted:

I really miss K-line. I also miss Kirk (former owner of Justrains). I bought all my K-line from him. He had true blowouts. No one could compete with Justrains and K-line. I have alot of 21" passenger cars still sealed. I was constantly taking advantage of Justrains blowouts. Never will forget them good ole days. Kirk was always appreciative and would take the time to write on the receipt "many thanks, Kirk". Dont see that much nowadays.Seems like alot of train stores act like they are doing you a favor to take your money. Still have a grudge for that company who helped K-line down the tubes. Hmmmmm..........who was that????........

jini5...I have great memories of dealing with Kirk.  Whether at York or on the phone with him at the store, Kirk always had a deal...and I too recall his handwritten message of "many thanks, Kirk" on the receipt

Loved K-line, wish they were still around.  All my K-lines are still running strong, unlike others!

Oh, you betcha…

Three scale Hudsons, a Mikado, a B&A Berkshire and recently, an F40PH… that doesn’t include the cars. Here’s a few.

thanks.
-Mario

I've added more to the fleet since my OP. Always on the hunt for more.

PRR A-5 0-4-0

Alco A-A

A couple more Plymouth's

NYC Passenger set.

PRR Boxcab

Bob

Only have a couple so far.  Picked up a Southern 4501 Mikado from a forum member and just received a B&O AA set Thursday.  On my workbench for some cleaning and preventative maintenance.

Great product.....their engines are reliable and great pullers.....

My A5, EP-5 and GG-1 are boxed up right now since I'm in transition.....but my RS-3 is available for work assignments.....

I do love their scale die-cast gondolas, too.

Here is my EP-5 pulling a mixed Weaver/MTH passenger train.....

Have a great and safe weekend, folks.....

Peter

I only have 2 k-line engines,  and MP 15 in Pennsylvania that I bought for $50 at a swap meet and a NYC  Plymouth.  I also have 2 smoking cabooses, 20 cnw ore cars and 20 operating  hoppers cars in n&w, Erie,  Frisco and b&o. I like the ore cars because they're scale sized, the hoppers are scale length but not in the width, but they do look great.

I still have three K-Line scale steam engines.

NYC Mikado

PRR Mikado

PRR K4 Pacific Pre-War Version

I need to get these engines out of their boxes and take better pictures of them.

I love K-line and was sad when they went out of business.  I have numerous freight and passenger cars by K line.  

My K line loco/motorized fleet consists of:  Pennsy A5 0-4-0 switcher, just purchased brand new in 2019 at a train show.

Pennsy MU motorized MU cars purchased brand new from a train shop.

B&O Plymouth switcher purchased used at at train show.

Kennecott Copper switcher purchased used on E bay.  I had to get this one because my Uncle Leon was a traffic manager for Kennecott Copper Corp.  :-)  Sorry I could only find a rear shot.

The A5 after its first phase of weathering

West Side Lumber Shay purchased from OGR's own Allan Miller.

B&O F3  A-B units purchased used at a train shop.

The A5 after I applied the second phase of weathering.  The A5 was my first attempt at weathering a locomotive.  I totally enjoyed the process!

Oops, I forgot I had a box cab, and a Plymouth switcher in Pennsy colors. The box cab is sidelined with a bad bulb in one headlight (can’t change it out), and the Plymouth is a great little engine, but I’ve loaned it out to a museum out here that’s dedicated to ice harvesting techniques and early ice harvesting and so built a display for them with an Atlas ice house and loading dock, and a few Atlas reefers.

One of a series of reefers - removable roof, 'ice' for bunkers and either swinging meat or boxes between the bunkers.

One of two Foreman Cars offered.  Smokes, lighted interior with men.

Foreman car in our work train.

B&O heavyweight baggage car.  Lights on the floor and doors open.

Crawler tractors on K-Line flat with sprung trucks.

700 and 701 were commissioned by Western Depot in 1999.

K-Mart trailer atop K-Line DT&I flat car.

Repainted heavyweight baggage car with messenger window.

Dining car with lace curtains and shades.  Rough kitchen counters.

John

I have quite a few things.  I have only seen 1 of the Golden State passenger cars posted so far.  I have them along with a couple of spare observation cars.  Those spares are for future projects including the Nc&StL "City of Memphis."

I have several nice K-Line pieces that have survived my roster downsizing awhile back - the lone pair of locomotives include these beautiful PRR F3s and No 5344 Hudson. I can't locate photos of the F3s but here is the catalog image showing the beauty. I have two B units that both smoke. She is spectacular with all 4 units pouring smoke!

@c.sam posted:

I have several nice K-Line pieces that have survived my roster downsizing awhile back - the lone pair of locomotives include these beautiful PRR F3s and No 5344 Hudson. I can't locate photos of the F3s but here is the catalog image showing the beauty. I have two B units that both smoke. She is spectacular with all 4 units pouring smoke!

c.sam...I have the same F-3 ABA unit in Pennsy Green...also have same config in Santa Fe warbonnet.  When those units wind up, the roar is the best on the layout...

Really like the level of detail on these later F units they produced - wipers and cab mirrors even.  Do your Santa Fe's have the mirrors Paul?

Yes, we miss K-Line, a really great company making realistic O gauge trains. I like there TMCC Hudson.

@jini5 posted:

I really miss K-line. I also miss Kirk (former owner of Justrains). I bought all my K-line from him. He had true blowouts. No one could compete with Justrains and K-line. I have alot of 21" passenger cars still sealed. I was constantly taking advantage of Justrains blowouts. Never will forget them good ole days. Kirk was always appreciative and would take the time to write on the receipt "many thanks, Kirk". Dont see that much nowadays.Seems like alot of train stores act like they are doing you a favor to take your money. Still have a grudge for that company who helped K-line down the tubes. Hmmmmm..........who was that????........

IDK why you are holding a grudge. K-Line was on shakey ground to begin with on thin profit margins, flooding markets with lots of product, and questionable technology - funny how they got EOB about 9-10  months AFTER the other guy developed and market it.

As another forumite eluded, I too believe K-Line would not have survived the 2008 Samhongsa fallout esp with their precarious finances.

@prrhorseshoecurve posted:

IDK why you are holding a grudge. K-Line was on shakey ground to begin with on thin profit margins, flooding markets with lots of product, and questionable technology - funny how they got EOB about 9-10  months AFTER the other guy developed and market it.

As another forumite eluded, I too believe K-Line would not have survived the 2008 Samhongsa fallout esp with their precarious finances.

Lets be honest.  Every one of the O gauge producers have been in very precarious financial situations at least twice.  The exception may have been Louis Marx who retired with his company secrets after boning out various components of his toy empire that included many famous toys in addition to trains.

After a NYC ToyFair I was attending closed for the evening, I wound up walking out with MDK, and his associates. They began looking to hail a cab, and I asked him where they were going.  JFK, he replied. I offered him a ride, as I live not too far away. We had a pleasant conversation, and he asked me if I was a member of the KCC. I was, and so informed him. He said “Great, I love to meet our best customers in person.” When we got to the terminal, he offered $$ for gas. I declined. 2 weeks later, an entire K-Line Train Set showed up at my house!

That certainly increased my enthusiasm for K-Line!

@prrhorseshoecurve posted:

IDK why you are holding a grudge. K-Line was on shakey ground to begin with on thin profit margins, flooding markets with lots of product, and questionable technology - funny how they got EOB about 9-10  months AFTER the other guy developed and market it.

As another forumite eluded, I too believe K-Line would not have survived the 2008 Samhongsa fallout esp with their precarious finances.

IIRC, a settlement was reached between K-Line and Lionel that would have allowed K-line to continue operations. However, after the settlement was announced, K-line issued a press release that completely misrepresented the facts of the lawsuit and the settlement. Lionel and the court both took issue with that and the penalties and revised settlement imposed by the court are what precipitated K-Line's bankruptcy. Whether K-Line would have had the financial wherewithal to continue operations after the initial settlement is unknown, but it is clear that by issuing the press release that led to changes to that first settlement with Lionel, their fatal wound was self-inflicted.

@redrockbill posted:

IIRC, a settlement was reached between K-Line and Lionel that would have allowed K-line to continue operations. However, after the settlement was announced, K-line issued a press release that completely misrepresented the facts of the lawsuit and the settlement. Lionel and the court both took issue with that and the penalties and revised settlement imposed by the court are what precipitated K-Line's bankruptcy. Whether K-Line would have had the financial wherewithal to continue operations after the initial settlement is unknown, but it is clear that by issuing the press release that led to changes to that first settlement with Lionel, their fatal wound was self-inflicted.

That is EXACTLY how I remember the events that lead to K-Line’s demise.

I am a huge K-line fan!

My collection has several scale locomotives and a few scale freight cars.
The obsession with them stems from a plethora of passenger cars:   ~50x 18" heavyweights and a some 15" sets.

Yes I know I have a problem

Bryce

@Oscale_Trains_Lover_ posted:

I am a huge K-line fan!

My collection has several scale locomotives and a few scale freight cars.
The obsession with them stems from a plethora of passenger cars:   ~50x 18" heavyweights and a some 15" sets.

Yes I know I have a problem

Bryce

I know I have a problem also.  There are a couple of pieces missing from my stash.

Like many of the responders, count me in as a K Line fan. Off the top of my head, who could not like their diesels ( Fs, Es, GPs, RSs ( nobody else did a PRR Hammerhead)), 15 and 18" passenger cars and interurbans, some really neat motorized units like the box cabs, Plymouths, etc. Some of their cabooses were stupendous IMHO-and if you are a 6464 box car enthusiast, the K Line 641 series fit your bill perfectly-and much less costly than other companies similar offerings. Add to those their milk and reefer cars, die cast hoppers, circus cars and die cast 16 wheel flats with some neat loads. Belonging to their "club" allowed for some really neat additions of mining sets and passenger car sets including cars and engines-all at very reasonable prices.  Being an old timer, I have been at this hobby for quite some time and believe that K Line was what Lionel use to be like-that toy train company whose catalog(s) you eagerly anticipated and looked at again and again for some truly affordable additions to your existing collection. Like many of you, I am sorry that they are gone.

@Mark V. Spadaro posted:

After a NYC ToyFair I was attending closed for the evening, I wound up walking out with MDK, and his associates. They began looking to hail a cab, and I asked him where they were going.  JFK, he replied. I offered him a ride, as I live not too far away. We had a pleasant conversation, and he asked me if I was a member of the KCC. I was, and so informed him. He said “Great, I love to meet our best customers in person.” When we got to the terminal, he offered $$ for gas. I declined. 2 weeks later, an entire K-Line Train Set showed up at my house!

That certainly increased my enthusiasm for K-Line!

Wonderful story!  Thanks for sharing

@c.sam posted:

Really like the level of detail on these later F units they produced - wipers and cab mirrors even.  Do your Santa Fe's have the mirrors Paul?

c.sam...no mirrors on the SantaFe, but mirrors on the Pennsy...nice units indeed...

I love K Line!! I actually have the American Freedom Train with the loco 2 showcase cars, two display cars, and the observation 205. I would love to collect the rest of the display cars and the 4 car passenger set, but its a nice setup as is!! I love the boxes for everything and I even have the shipping carton.

I know some don't like the gs-4, but this is one of the better semi scale locos in my opinion. Smokes great too!!

I have a picture if it on the shelf, but excuse the mess I've been doing work in the basement

Gino.

Big fan of the k-line passenger cars. We have the 21" daylight set and working on completing the PRR and Santa Fe sets. Recently was lucky enough to complete the AFT set minus the locomotive. I use the MTH PS3 locomotive to pull that set.

No one has mentioned their Service Department.  When I lived and worked in Cincinnati I took a package to the UPS station at 8AM on a Monday.  When I arrived home Friday evening, the same package was at my front door.  Before I even got out of my car I was livid thinking UPS fouled up the delivery.  WRONG!  The package arrived in Chapel Hill Wednesday morning, the item was repaired and shipped out that evening in time to be delivered in Cincinnati on Friday.  I cannot remember the names of the people in the Service Department but they were good.  John

I collect and run K-line scale freight and have for years. Being from Pittsburgh, K-line had the best series of scale Heinz cars. I have collected most of them.  I recently finished purchasing the historical railroad art reefers.  Towards the end, K-line made several scale box cars and reefers that grace my railroad. I love my K-line scale PRR steam engines. They made several PRR heavyweight passenger cars that are fun to upgrade.  I have been fortunate to not have any issues with the trucks.  They made some unique items like the Porters and Plymouth Switchers.  You can still get these used for a reasonable price.

Joe, you are so right.  I switched from HO to O gauge in 2012, so I missed when K-Line was in business.  I do have a few of the wonderful billboard reefers, including a few Heinz!  I know about the PRR engines.  I have looked at some Porters at shows but never bought one.

Thought I would share some video's I have taken over the years of my k-line rolling stock. Hope you guys enjoy them And thanks for sharing your products by K-line.