An Ode To The Late K Line

[Boyd]

 I'm happy I got my K-line Porter a few winters ago. I sold cylindrical "CANADA" hopper so I could buy it. I'd love to buy 2 more Porters and wire them from one reverse unit to pull heavy trains.

[Joe Hohmann]

What many of us loved about the origional K-Line was the price. Yet that was what did them in...not enough profit to stay solvent. It's hard to have it both ways.

[wallyworld]

 What appealed to me was that K Line seemed to fill a niche ( for me) above Williams and below MTH and Lionel in terms of sophistication and of course the price was right. K line lured me into O Scale when my wife noticed my interest and bought me a set. I already had G, N S and HO layouts in the pas but there was something about that Rock Island set that triggered the kid in me that had been sleeping..Since that time I have never enjoyed a scale as much as O scale. Personally after the dust cleared I wonder if their into more sophistication led to their downfall..yes, the lawsuit pulled the plug but I don't think they were positioned to compete on the same playing field aka train control, although their products at the end, were very good in terms of looks..When A new K Line engine came in the the local shop a bunch of us would be wow, didn't expect that! The height of their choosing overlooked prototypes had to be the PE RS3 outfitted with a trolley pole. I am still looking for those North Shore cars...

[Train-O]

K-Line's "Ringling Bros. & Barnum & Bailey's Circus Collection" was great, if one liked and had the money for them, even though the price was reasonable, it would still be expensive, due to the many cars and equipment. I say, If these were 'BIG Name' products the price would be astronomical. Some of the equipment's colors were lively, just as the prototype. Some of the equipment are still around, but to have a complete set would be a goal to shoot for. I would love to be able to afford the whole lot. Ralph

[David Barker]

dougdagrump

Unfortunately what everybody loved about the K-Line product line, myself included, was what ultimately contributed in a big way to their demise.

As a big fan of their scale offerrings I picked up the vast majority of mine from the "blowout" sales that some of the "K-Line Superstores" seemed to have on an almost regular basis. 

I must agree on that one.  I did the same.  To me it was a better product for less cost than Circle L and much better the MTH offerings.

K-Line by Lionel just did not seem to be marketed seriously and in the first year the logo was awful.  Still I dislike seeing the brand disappear.

 

[phillyreading]

K-Line used to make some great stuff, like Super Streets. Try to find some of Super Streets now! They made better 027 switches than Lionel, at least more engines could go through a K-Line switch in 027 than a Lionel switch. K-Line's S gauge cars were sometimes a bit oversize for S gauge.

I have been to the Bachmann site and there is no mention of them attempting to do anything with K-Line. There is NO information to confirm or deny anything at Bachmann.

I liked the possibility of buying an all powered A-B-A set of diesels, unfortunately I didn't have the money back then. Mentioned this at the Bachmann site and they said to buy two or more powered engines or buy motor up-grade kits. What I was trying to get at is this; sell the powered engine at regular price for one and give a discount when buying more than one powered unit and/or caboose together.

Based on Lionel's past record of engulf & devour, K-Line seems to be put to rest(RIP), same thing they did to Ive's Trains in the late 1930's. In my opion, it was Lionel that tried to take down MTH with a lawsuit or two.

Lee F.

[dwiemer]

I miss them.  Only MFG club I joined, as it was a real good deal.  Competition does help the hobby overall.  I hope that a new company with similar innovation minded leadership will come to the scene and make well made, reasonably priced, realistic offerings.

Dennis

[Major]

 Being a S guager I loved K-lines offerings in S-scale.  The cost was under $20.00 per car and I could by two, three or four times as many cars as other companies offered.  I really have to question the price point that Lionel sells their products at.  American Flyer cars are basically 1940's technology being repainted. If K-Line could do it for under $20.00 and have superior trucks why can't Lionel.  This is one reason I purchase American Models or S-Helper.

[Train-O]

I have to say that I didn't realize K-Line produced: prototypical, color schemed, detailed, lettered, marked, numbered and well made items, which under sold the bigger competitors. I'm happy, I bought a couple of their items, which were made of die-cast metal and are compatible with the big boy's products. It is sad that K-Line is no longer around with their quality and for the most part, full prototypical products, which were reasonably priced. Ralph

[dougdagrump]

Unfortunately what everybody loved about the K-Line product line, myself included, was what ultimately contributed in a big way to their demise.

As a big fan of their scale offerrings I picked up the vast majority of mine from the "blowout" sales that some of the "K-Line Superstores" seemed to have on an almost regular basis. 

[pete m penn]

standard operating  procedure

[Ole Timer]

 I love lionel ... but you guys are correct ! Their gain ... our loss once again . Thank the lord for MTH ... could you imagine the prices if they were'nt still producing trains ?   Some are too so called loyal to realize it .... of course some without too much grey matter and too much money to waste would pay any price anyway ...

[pete m penn]

I think big L will do what big L has always done take the best stuff  put an L on it up the price and in a few years close it out .Been their  S. O. P.  for years.  just my thoughs on it.

[wallyworld]

 As time goes on since the absorption of K Line into Lionel and it's diminished, even rumored demise as a product line. I miss the innovative, cost value of this "lost" manufacturer. Am I alone in this? Will Bachman's absorption of Williams turn out to be a blessing as it's heir apparent or simply the elimination of another competitor from the marketplace? Both then and now seem to have found a niche that provided more variety at a lower cost versus the oft canceled and\or limited menu from MTH and Lionel as targeting the higher end of the market by the insertion of control systems. Someone on another forum pointed out K Line innovations such as "passengers in their passenger cars, affordable scale steam engines including a shay, reefers that were about as good as Atlas without the cost, scale FM Trainmasters with great detail, A-B-A F-7 sets with all units powered, and smaller scale steam engines."

I am aware of our economic times and the the lack of disposable income for toys, but I can't help but wish Lionel would sell this product line or actually do something with it. Try to get K Line replacement parts. Of course Lionel isn't exactly ready or ever will be ready ( perhaps) to unleash it's old nemesis but I can't help but feel regardless, that we as consumers,  lost out to Lionel's gain in the corporate wars.

Postscript: I heard that Lionel has canceled the production of switches for Superstreets just when I was looking to add this feature to my layout. And so it goes and the beat goes on..