k-line bankruptcy

[cnw1995]

Welcome to the forum.thatboy! Don't let this collapse get you down - it is too bad. You can read more about K-line if you search the forum. I'm presuming you haven't been billed for these - besides your membership.

[brianel027]

Here's the link and as of this posting it still is active:

http://www.k-linetrains.com/products/browse.cfm?secID=B17A068D-6D44-11D4-ADA90060B0576B82

The web service provider for the K-Line web site explained in a letter posted elsewhere that he had not received payment for services from MDK and had repeatedly tried to contact the company as to payment status with no results. The web server mentions contact with Jeff Cohen but was not made aware of the seriousness of K-Line's impending finanacial situation. The web server also mentions contacting Lionel as to what should be done with the K-Line web site but has not heard any thing, which I suppose is of no surprise.

As for collectible status of K-Line trains already out there, well folks, time will tell. No doubt some items that were produced in small quantities and that have some consumer demand will undoubtedly increase in price. K-Line never cooperated with the price guide publishers, so the knowledge of what is and isn't limited isn't clear.

For example there were 2 short 2-bay hoppers made for a Boscov's train set in the Reading road name in 2 prototypical numbers... 41414 and 41439. There were some extra cars that made it into some other normal K-Line train sets like the Chessie Diesel Set.

But most folks don't realize these cars had smaller production runs than many others like the common brown 2-bay PRR hopper that came with so many K-Line train sets. Likewise the very common 5000 series MARX origin blue and orange B&O box car was also made with a yellow body with a blue door I think... maybe an orange door. Either way, the car is very hard to find, but once in a while you do see one. BUT for this car to be worth any real money, people have to start wanting it first, and then willing to shell out more bucks that the next guy for it.

And as we have seen of late, there is still no shortage of trains for sale out there - both new and used from nearly everyone. Given the scenario some are making with K-Line products, then previously made MARX products should all be collectible too with prices to relect this. Same goes for Cobler, Kusan, AMT and others. Truth is, something can have been made in only a limited quantity, but if NO ONE wants it, it ain't gonna be collectible (at least from a financial standpoint - which is the wrong way to see the hobby in the first place!!).

What there does seem to be a shortage of is either new modelers/collectors to the hobby OR existing modelers/collectors who have economic security to buy more trains, or the extra shelf space in their already rather full train rooms.

[Anonymous]

There seem to be several dealers(former K-Line Super Stores that are having blowout sales.

[Anonymous]

Yeah they did, But brianel027 posted a link to get to there website. I dont have but im sure he does. But there is the possibility it wont work now.

[Anonymous]

Yes, they have gone belly-up.

No, there's no way to contact them at this point since they are no longer in business.

Items not yet produced and available probably won't be produced or available for some time, if at all. It all depends on who buys what's left of the firm (Lionel is supposedly negotiating to do this) and what any new owner plans to do with the spoils.

Some dealers have told me that K-Line items they have in stock have been moving very well recently, which, I suppose, is to be expected. The demise of the firm will also be a plus for the relatively few K-Line collectors who are out there--all they need do is sit tight on their collections for a few more years and watch as interest builds.

[dave_hartmann]

I've been following the K-Line bankruptcy closely and have a collection of posts on my blog that may interest you:

http://www.ogaugewatch.com/ogaugewatchcom/kline_bankruptcy/index.html

[spankybird]

Yep - K-line is gone [:(]

read more here

http://www.trains.com/Content/Dynamic/Articles/000/000/006/488pmphs.asp

[thatboy37]

[8D] i'm a new member to this site and just recently found out that k-line has gone out of business or bankrupt. is this true or not. also i ordered some items the csx spine car three pack a & b. they said they were due january of 06 and i have not recieved them. my question is has anyone in this membership program odered any of these items and recieved them yet. also how do we go bout contacting k-line to check up on my order. also can i expect to recieve them in the near future. would greatly apprecite it if someone in this club could help me out and give me a little heads up on what to do about my order.