New Line of K-Line

[RRaddict]

I just want to make sure i am not seeing things but is Lionel making a new line of K-Line train and accessories? I saw over on MTS.com new K-Line sets and add ons.

Kev

[ADCX Rob]

The licensing agreement for "K-Line by Lionel" is over and done with.  Several other companies, like Ready Made Toys and Williams by Bachmann, have been making trains, accessories, track and switches formerly by K-Line.

[phillyreading]

K-Line was sold out to RMT and WBB(Williams by Bahmann). The track that K-Line made like Super Streets is now E Z Streets in WBB, however there are no Y sections or switches with E Z Streets. RMT is now selling the old Super Snap track by K-Line, they have 031 & 072 switches & curves, no 042 switches or curves.

[brianel027]

When the original K-Line went bankrupt, the tooling and dies became the property of Sanda Kan, because of the substantial amount of money owed by K-Line. Sanda Kan in turn has had financial troubles and has changed owners at least a couple times.

Sanda Kan is now owned by Kader Industries, the parent company of Bachmann, who also owns Williams by Bachmann. To my knowlege, RMT nor any other company owns any of the former K-Line dies. Kader Industries is allowing other companies like RMT to produce products from the K-Line dies. This was the same situation some years ago with the K-Line by Lionel line. Williams by Bachmann also has other products from the K-Line dies including the operating box car and dump cars, the new single dome tank car and the new 2-bay hopper, as well as the re-named E-Z Street line.

It will be interesting to see how RMT proceeds in the future. When the big shake up happened at Sanda Kan and nearly 60 train companies were dropped, Aristo Craft was one of a few companies Sanda Kan kept. All those other companies, including Atlas, were left scrambling to find another production contractor. It was right about the same time period when RMT teamed up with Aristo Craft. Now with Aristo closing shop, hopefully Sanda Kan will keep producing for RMT.

[phillyreading]

I am not sure what all is going on, but RMT is having a really big sale on their remaining inventory. Walter M. has said that RMT will continue to produce new stuff. With so much happening only time will tell what happens in the model train world, the economy of China and other factors.

[phillyreading]

This might be sort of off topic but how does WBB offer Industrial Rail track with their starter sets that come with track? Also how do you purchase more track to expand your starter set? This would keep me from buying the starter sets by WBB right now as you need to be able to buy more track when you want to, and not have to change out the track system.

[ADCX Rob]

phillyreading

I am not sure what all is going on, but RMT is having a really big sale on their remaining inventory...

The RMT agreement w/ Aristo ends 12/31/13, so any & all product packaged/produced with reference to Aristo must be sold by 12/31.  It is possible that anything left would have to be scrapped.

[Firelock76]

phillyreading

This might be sort of off topic but how does WBB offer Industrial Rail track with their starter sets that come with track? Also how do you purchase more track to expand your starter set? This would keep me from buying the starter sets by WBB right now as you need to be able to buy more track when you want to, and not have to change out the track system.

A few weeks ago I was in a hobby shop called "Awesome Trains and Hobbies"  in Fort Myers, Fl.  They had quite a bit of Atlas "Industrial Rail"  track for sale.  I didn't enquire as to where they got it, but it must be available from some source.  Check the Atlas website.  If you can't get it direct your local hobby shop can probably get it for you.  Why does Williams use "Industrial Rail" track in their starter sets?  It's good track, but I suspect Atlas probably gave them the best deal.

PS: "Awesome Trains" were selling Williams starter sets as well, so it looks like they were planning ahead for possible layout expansions by their customers.