What scale is RailKing?

[FJ and G]

I know that RK isn't scale size like Premier. What scale is it?

My theory is that they are multiple scales (I'd have to get out a scale ruler and look at the original blueprints to determine the actual scales, but I haven't done that yet).

I purchased a 2-8-0 RK 2 years ago.

Last month I got a Santa Fe 4-8-4 RK, which is supposed to be among the biggest and most powerful Northerns ever built. Yesterday evening, I pulled it beside my Consolidation and the Consolidation's drivers were about the same size as the Northern's and the Consolidation was actually taller!

Perhaps the Consolidation was actually taller than the Northern? I don't know because I was born in 1957 and don't remember mainline steam. Would be nice to see what scale they are, however.

Incidentally, you may be thinking that the size discrepancy bothers me. Not really. Just a bit curious. I realize that the selective compression trick was done so more people could run these trains on their sharp curves.

[Bob Keller]

The general focus of the RailKing line has been tighter radius curves, not scale fidelity. There are some products that are scale or close to scale simply because the prototype was smaller and others that aren't close (I had the earlier RailKing Santa Fe 4-8-4 and while it was a great engine, it was dwarfed by my old Lionel NYC Mohawk.

Some of the more recent additions to the line are locomotives based on toolong of old Premier line diesels - they are scale, but may lack some of the ultra-detailed aspects of newer products (i.e. see-through grills or full cabs).

So you'll need to be aware of what you're buying, before you buy it.

Bob Keller
Classic Toy Trains

[clinchfieldfan]

I have noticed that my Railking steamers are the correct height and width but the length has been shortened. I suppose the length is shortened to allow the engines to go through tighter radius curves. My layout is medium sized so they look right at home.

[FJ and G]

clinchfieldfan,

you are probably in the majority here; most of us have small or medium sized layouts and appreciate smaller trains that go around the curves. Let me add to what you said. EVEN if you have min 072 curves, the smaller trains (like RK) look better going around them than the larger sized engines of the same ilk.

But wouldn't it be great if we all had the space to run full-prototype O scale trains! LOL

[lionelsoni]

One interesting problem that arises when shortening a locomotive without reducing its height and length is that the wheels cannot be treated that way. So they have to be made smaller in diameter, or packed together as tightly as possible, or both, which may explain some of David's observations.

My thing is running the longest stuff that I can on O27. I modified an O31 Rail-King Big Boy, among others, and am very happy with how it turned out.

[Anonymous]

MTH Railking is the equivalent to Lionel O-27. In some cases it is slightly larger. Depending on its size, most RK will negotiate O-27 track. But, to play it safe, use O-31.