Hey guys,
Over on "the other forum" i was asking opinions on a nice PRR F7 aba set i could pick up. Everyone gave their opinions but one guy pointed me in the direction of K-line, and the fact that he tipped me in on a place that was selling the set for $450 got me intrested too.
I was wondering if any of you guys over here have had personal experience with the K line set, and if you could give your opinions and share your experiences with me that would be great!
Thanks as always!
Joe
I'd be glad to, Joe. I had a K-Line PRR A-B-B-A set for awhile, which I sold when Lionel came out with their latest release having Railsounds 5.0. And really, honestly, that's the only reason I sold it - I really wanted the 8 throttle notches in the sound. The K-Line set has Railsounds 4.0, which has 4 diesel rev settings. On all accounts, I really liked my K-Line set. I believe they did these more than once, so I am speaking of the last release of these that came out, the ones that were greatly delayed in delivery due to legal issues with Lionel. They were listed in the catalog as F-7's but they were actually delivered as F-3's; at least the PRR ones were. I seem to recall that K-Line sold the set as A-B-A with powered B-units available. With motors in all units, the set pulled like the dickens. All 4 had smoke units too, if you like your diesels to smoke. I felt that the detail on the K-Line set was equal to the best I've seen anywhere. The blue-white directional headlights are very bright, and the class lights change from red to green depending on the loco's direction. That's a really neat detail that I hadn't seen elsewhere up to that point, although others may have it now.
If I had to nitpick, there were two small things that may or may not bother you. One is the proprietary power cables between the units. They are completely hidden by the diaphragms and have spring retractors on them, which is great for appearance's sake. However, I found them somewhat difficult to connect and disconnect. Any time you take the set off the track you will have to disconnect at least one unit unless you have more than 2 hands.
The other thing is that the nose and windshield profile is, to my eyes, not dead-on accurate to the prototype. It looks rather like the postwar F3's nose, which curves up a little too high to meet a slightly undersized windshield. But these 2 things are minor points at worst.
When I re-sold my set on eBay I seem to recall I got about $450 for it, and that was for all 4 powered units but that also was for gently used. If the set you're looking at is brand new, $450 for the A-B-A set may be a fair price. As my wallet will painfully confirm, you can't get the recent Lionel A-B-A set for anywhere near that.
And if it's any reassurance to you, after selling the K-Line F-units I immediately bought a K-Line PRR E-8 A-B-A set with TMCC and RS. I'm not brand loyal; whoever has what I want, when I want it, gets my business, even though by that time K-Line was shut down. I have had nothing but good experiences with all of the K-Line products I own and have owned.
Hope this helps.
Joel
Joel,
Thanks for the great review! I really apreciate it. I really do not know if the model for sale is the first run, or the second run. My gut says its most likely the secodn run, but how would i know. The model number listed is K25804S if that helps at all. I hope it is the second run.
From your review the k-line sounds like everything i am looking for. The 4 steps instead of 8 does not bother me, and im not a rivet counter, so slight prototypical imperfections do not phase me. My original plan was to go with the lionel as well, but after looking them both over a bit i like how the body of the kline sits a little closer to the trucks than the lionel.
It is a GREAT loco I currently own two sets, and am would like to get another. The down side is the tether as mentioned before, but arter a while you get use to it and it becomes easy.
Alex
well so much for that... the place that advertised it doesnt have it any longer, or so i was told...
if anyone runs across someone else selling this set new, please drop me a line.
I have the Lackawanna set...agree with Joe on all points. As for availability, I saw some sets in a advertisement in CTT for about $450. I paid $365 for mine as a special offer. I am not sure of the road name on the ones I saw recently, but $450 would still be a good price.
Dennis
TCA#09-63805
more expensive
http://www.easterndepot.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=ED&Product_Code=K-25804&Category_Code=KDE
www.nstrains.com has one but it is not on the site nor do I remember price.
alex
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