K-line boxcab: 2-4-0 to 2-4-2?

[arkady]

I have been toying with the idea of getting one of the K-line boxcab locomotives, specifically the PRR electric version:

http://kline.lionel.com/KbL_Products/ProductFinder/ProductDetail.cfm?ProductNumber=6-21267&expandBranch=&Keywords=boxcab&CategoryID=&RailLineID=&CatalogId=

Unfortunately (for me, at least), although K-line has considerably upgraded the external appearance of its boxcab, they chose to duplicate the oddball 2-4-0 wheel arrangement of the original Lionel 520.

That was something that always bugged me about the 520. Maybe it's just me, but I've never cared for having only one pilot truck on that locomotive. And yes, I know the prototype had two swiveling 4-wheel trucks, and that these are toy trains. But like I say, it's just me, and it still bugs me.

Could anyone who owns one of the K-line boxcabs tell me if there's room to mount a second wheelset on the "empty" end? And does K-line sell the wheelsets separately?

Thanks.

[brianel027]

I don't own one of these, but I too have thought of this idea. The K-Line by Lionel boxcab has been discussed on this and other forums before and the tendency for the loco to derail under load was a topic of discussion.

Classic Toy Trains magazine did a nice review of this loco with an underside photo. It would certainly be possible to mount another set of wheels, but not without some modification as the mountings on each side of the loco differ as one is for an operating coupler. Lionel has the parts listed, but the guide truck assembly and dummy coupler will cost $14.00 and parts to mount this would be extra.

What bothers me about the boxcab is the very small motor used. It appears similar in size to that used in the RMT Beeps and the K-Line Plymouth Switcher. You can search for some videos of this loco on YouTube to see this boxcab in action.

It's not a big puller, as also noted in the CTT review. I do suppose adding some weight inside the loco might assist with pulling power, but the motor is still smaller than that used in the older Lionel Industrial Switcher locos. That motor is the standard in most lesser-expensive starter types of locos.

I modified a K-Line Budd Car, removing one of the two motor trucks, swapping it out with a dummy from one of the other units to make two powered Budd Cars. With some added weight, either one of those single truck motored Budd Cars will pull 4-6 light weight modern train cars with plastic trucks, or 2-3 modern 027 Lionel passenger cars. And remember, this motor is bigger than the one in the boxcab.

Still, it's a nice looking little loco and something new for us 027 operators. Even as the prototype, it wasn't intended to pull trains more than a few cars.

Here's a link to the Lionel site for the boxcab parts:

http://www.lionel.com/CustomerService/ReplacementParts/index.cfm?doAction=partFilter&setID=&productID=&q=boxcab&submit=Search

[sir james I]

The K-Line engines look better but if you want performance get a 520. The new ones are very lite and have no flywheel action. I have the Pennsy and it looks like you would need to add a truck guide to the open end before adding a second truck to the frame. Something you would have to make and mount.

[arkady]

Brian and Sir James, thank you.

I wasn't aware of the small motor in the K-line locomotive. Still, I doubt that I'd ever want to pull any major loads with it, so that might not be too much of an obstacle. Probably a Lionel chassis with the K-line detailed cab mounted on it would fit the bill perfectly, but that could get a tad expensive.

I don't mind fabricating the bits needed for mounting the second truck on either chassis, so no problem there.

Thanks to both of you for the information and the parts link. I'll have to give this some more thought.

[brianel027]

"I don't mind fabricating the bits needed for mounting the second truck on either chassis, so no problem there. "

If you are creative, I'm sure you could do this. There was a time in this hobby when the emphasis was on doing more things yourself. Nowadays, the emphasis seems to be on ready-made and ready-to-run.

As some encouragment, ages ago I got an RMT BEEP. Of all people, I should be raving over this loco, but I had nothing but trouble with it, especially on 027 switches of all vintages. My job keeps me busy (rotating swing shifts), but over the past few months I've been working on putting a BEEP shell on to a Lionel Industrial Switcher chassis.

Needless to say, modifications have had to be made to that chassis: I've had to lengthen the chassis and change the coupler mountings. I had to cut the bottom off the BEEP shell also. But so far, everything is going along well. My other Industrial Switchers run far better than the BEEP ever did, even though they also have a short wheelbase and not much distance between the pickups. I've added weight to them and removed the traction tires to them, yet they can still put 8-10 cars with ease.

I make modifications as a normal thing. There isn't much emphasis on the 027 side of the market these days, so if I want different things (or improved looks/performance), I can either wait for the manufactuers (not a good idea) or I can do it myself... a much better idea.

I always get a laugh when I talk to my parts guys with questions about certain parts. They'll ask what am I using the parts for and my answer is almost always for some product the parts were not initially made for. For example, the end railings of the Lionel Bobber Caboose (very hard to get now) work very well as replacement ends for the short 027 K-Line MARX-origin bay window caboose. And they look much better than the ones included with that caboose.

I used the platform for the Lionel maintenance/seachlight car to make my own motorized turbo blade launching car... kind of like the helicopter car, only it launches these affordable turbo blades I got from a dollar store. Kids love that car.

So I'm sure Arkady you can do the job if you set your mind on it.