Engine in K-Line 1307 PRR Set

[Anonymous]

I find myself in need of a small circle of track, and a decent small transformer...and another steam engine wouldn't hurt. the K-line 1307 set seems like it would fit the bill, but I can't seem to find any additional info about the engine other than the meager info on the K-line site. It seems every retailer has just cut-n-pasted the K-Line page... anyone have any insights, or suggestions on where to go for some insight... :)

[Jumijo]

My K-Line catalog is at home, but if not mistaken, that set has Railsounds and a few operating cars (log and coal dumpers?). The loco is a Pacific, cast from an old Marx mold, but updated. I'd purchase the set. Sounds like a good deal.

Jim

[brianel027]

Jaabat is right. This is the basic steam engine that K-Line has been using for a long time. The casting has it origins with MARX, but K-Line invested a lot into recasting and improvements.

The current unit is powered by a DC can motor with a worm gear drive. You will find this attractive steamer to run very smoothly with nearly any transformer. Even more so that the basic K-Line starter diesels which really need the B-U post settings of the Lionel 1033 transformer for good performance (or any transformer that starts with a zero voltage to the track).

This K-Line steamer will very comfortably pull a good size train of 10-12 cars. The only real flaw to the steamer is the smoke unit. K-Line uses the Suethe-made smoke units and I have never had much luck with them myself. They do not last very long. On that one point, the basic Lionel 4-4-2 Columbia steamers are a better deal. But this K-Line steamer is a much nicer and more detailed looking engine than the basic Lionel steamer.... it just has a meatier appearance than the Lionel Columbia type. The casting is good and detail is good, but yet simple enough to not have fragile details that might be busted easily by kids.

I don't know if K-Line has made changes to the recent production runs of this steamer, but the whisltes on the older units would not work with the whistle button on a Lionel transformer... you'll need to use the controler you get from K-Line for the whistle.

Despite the couple drawbacks I mentioned, this is still a very nice steam engine for the money. Of course, whether you are buying it separate or in a set will make some difference as to what kind of deal it is. But considering prices I've seen listed for basic steam engines from anyone, this K-Line unit stands up to everyone elses product that is in this price range.

One more small point. The worm gear drive mechanism of this steam engine makes it a very smooth runner, but you cannot pu***he steam engine on the track without the power on the way you can with a Lionel steamer. The basic Lionel steamers can be pushed on the track much easier and for young kids, this puts another point in favor of the Lionel units. So as they say, six of one, half-dozen of the other.

If you get a good price on this K-Line steamer, you certainly won't be sorry though. K-Line could probably use the business too!

[Jumijo]

I didn't know that K-Line used the Suethe-made smoke units. Hmmmmm. They don't last very long?! Yikes! So you would have to use a special smoke fluid especially made for those smoke units as well - not Lionel's.

Williams steamers also use the Suethe-made smoke units. I've never heard of them being a problem or not lasting.

Jim

[pbjwilson]

I just bought this one on e-bay. Runs nice and looks good. Smoke unit is just O.K. It's a good basic steamer. This one has Railsounds in the tender. Great whistle, and some crew talk. Runs very well at a medium to fast speed. Low speed really does'nt exist, although on a straightaway section of track it will run very slow. But when it hits a curve you need to power it up.
The transformer that comes with the set is nice too. Good amount of power, and a whistle button.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the help... pulled the trigger this afternoon via mailorder from JustTrains in Newark, DE (Go Blue Hens!). As I needed the track and transformer anyway, I could hardly go wrong...