K-line o scale locomotives

I believe that the prototype of both these locomotives were USRA designs and did use the same boiler. The K-line Mikado and this Pacific do appear to share the same casting, but this is not something that happened throughout the scale line. Take a look at their K-4s, etc and you'll see this. Both these engines are scale and I would reccomend checking out www.legacykline.com for more info.

The Berkshire engines came in two versions. I think the entire scale line is great.never had a problem with any of them. Don

We've had a couple of the scale offerings from K-Line and been very pleased with the level of detail and overall appearance. Am not familiar with the boiler similarities you mention but the mikados were beautiful.

The scale Hudson is arguably still be most accurate die-cast 3 rail model of the locomotive as well.

 

Hope someone knowledgeable jumps in here with an answer to your original question.

Pete - R U there?

+1 What Alex said:

 

 

 

Pete

BTW K-Line made a full scale version as well as a smaller semi scale version of both these engines. You'll want to check the part numbers of the ones you have against the link that Alex posted.

 

Pete

To further comment on Alex and Pete's explanations of the use of common boilers on USRA Mikes and Pacifics, I'd like to mention that the United States Railway Administration, a quasi-government agency formed during WWI, was one of the more effective and successful federal agencies ever.  Before this time, there was very little standardization of equipment on railroads.  Each railroad had it's own engineering department and would negotiate with the various engine manufacturers for each type of engine to be built according to rhe RR's own specification. Each railroad had it's own idea of just how an engine should be built. 

 

When the war started, it became apparent that the country would have to mobilize and do it quickly.  So this group of engineers from a number of different railroads got together and developed a series of standard designs that were the only locomotives that the government would allow to be built during the war.  As it turned out, the USRA engine designs were actually very good and many of the engines built during this period lasted with their respective railroads right up until the end of steam.  In fact, even after the war was over, many railroads continued to purchase new locomotives of the exact design that the USRA had developed. Other classes of engines that were designed at that time shared some commonality of parts and designs. 

 

Not until the further development of "Superpower" and larger and heavier engines were the USRA designs actually obsolete. 

 

Paul Fischer

In most cases their prices were less than the other two big players which may have helped in their demise. But I have always wondered if they would have made it with a little more  support from the 3 rail world that likes their offerings so much today. Yes they did make some nice scale engines but few people bought them.

Thanks so much for all your replies. It was really helpful: that some USRA designs shared boilers was a real revelation to me and the two comparative pictures were great. The K-line O scale engines are great engines. 

Philip

Oldwiseman

 

The USRA locomotives are not the only ones that shared similar boilers.  Locomotive weight is limited by axle loading restrictions based on track structure and bridge capacities.  Since a 4-6-2 and a 2-8-2 have the same number of axles they can support the same boiler with similar axle loadings.  Look at a Pennsylvania K-4 Pacific and L-1 Mikado and you will see the PRR used a common boiler design for both classes.

 

It was a relatively common practice for railroads or commercial locomotive builders to use a similar boiler design on locomotives of different wheel arrangements but with the same number of axles.  Some common locomotive types that could share boiler designs are 4-6-0 Ten Wheelers and 2-8-0 Consolidations or 4-8-2 Mountains and 2-10-2 Santa Fe Types. 

 

Sometimes railroads reused a boiler when rebuilding a locomotive to a new wheel arrangement.  The IC rebuilt 2-10-2s into fast 4-8-2s.  The GN did just the opposite and rebuilt 4-8-2s into slow but strong pulling 2-10-2s.

 

Sometimes model train companies use a one boiler on multiple locomotives as an economy measure.  Sometimes model train companies use the same boiler on multiple locomotives because the original locomotive builder did so as an economy measure.

Beginning in 1924, the B&O Mt. Clare Shops rebuilt 28 2-8-2's as P-1c 4-6-2's. Some older 4-6-2's were rebuilt as P-1d 4-6-2's as well. These were big, husky locomotives well suited for pulling heavy passenger trains in the mountains. They shared helper service with 2-8-2's.

Off topic here but has anyone noticed other then boiler fronts all seven new Lionel ex Kline Berks share the same boiler?

Could be wrong but it seems I recall the original Kline Berks had different castings..

Joe  

 

The Pennsy did this as an economic measure, eventually building 1000 boilers for both classes of locomotives (including the exploded and rebuilt L1s in the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania).

 

George