k-line burlington northern diesel freight train set

[Anonymous]

Yesterday, at a Hobby Lobby store I saw a K-Line Burlington Northern Diesel freight train set for $210. I want a Burlington Northern Starter set and this caught my eye. Who makes K-line, are they any good, what's there website? Is this too much for this type of set?? Any input would be appreciated. Thanks!

[lionelsoni]

I am currently down on K-Line. Here are some excerpts from a previous topic that I started ("Rotten K-Line trucks") that will explain why:

I just finished rebuilding a K-Line truck whose transom and drawbar casting crumbled, using the leftover casting from another truck whose sideframes disintegrated some time back. I am pretty sure this is the same problem that plagues the zinc castings of many prewar trains and, I have read, was caused by impurities in the zinc.

Does anyone else out there have similar experience with K-Line castings?
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...the trucks comprise three casting types: sideframes (2), transom and drawbar, and bolster (no spring plank). In the first instance, only the sideframe castings disintegrated; in the second case, only the transom-drawbar casting. Yet all the pieces of each truck had the same thermal history.
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yes I purchased one a few months ago that was manufactured in the mid 90's. When i got it home i tested the couplers and one of knuckles flew off, the dealer replaced the coupler.I don't know what year your car was from but it seems that the ones made in the 90's have casting problems. I live in pa and the sun always shines here.
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Well, it happened again. I got out a couple of K-Line MKT piggyback trailers that I hadn't seen in a couple of years (model 6640). The roof castings are swollen and flaking apart. The rest of the models look just fine, however.

I just found an internet reference that says that lead, tin, or cadmium are the culprit impurities:
http://www.eazall.com/brochures/Zinc%20Alloy%20Composition%20&%20Control.pdf
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...I'm pretty sure that the problem is impurities in the zinc and surprised that a modern manufacturer would still have trouble with that. See
http://www.corrosion-doctors.org/MatSelect/corrzinc.htm

[clinchfieldfan]

K-line trains are based out of North Carolina, for the most part they have excellent products. I own a F-7 AA set and they have been real work-horses! Never have had any problems with any of my K-line trains. Their website is www.K-linetrains.com, as far as pricing goes I'm not familiar with the particular set your post is about but it sounds to be in the ballpark.

[brianel027]

Simply put, I wouldn't be back in the hobby if it weren't for K-Line. As Bob Nelson stated, yes there are some problems with K-Line stuff. As there are with almost everyone else to one degree or another.
K-Line has long had uneven performance with couplers, but in recent years even the plastic trucks have gotten better.
But on a dollar for dollar level, K-Line sets have always been a good value. I own a fleet of K-Line S2 switches - my favorite diesel, followed by a bunch of MP-15's.
Chinatrain, the set you saw seems a tad high in price* to me (read further), BUT I do believe that set is an uncataloged one. Several years ago, K-Line cataloged several sets that were very similar in contents except for roadname: There was a Pennsy set (Keystone King), a Santa Fe (Overland Flyer), a Union Pacific (Fast Frieght), a Western Maryland (Fast Freight), and an Illinois Central (Fast Frieght) set. They came with the small basic K-Line transformer, 4 freight cars, an illuminated caboose, the MP-15 diesel, some telephone poles and street signs and an oval of 027 track.
I should also note the cars with these sets are of the smaller variety dervied from the old Marx tooling. I really like these cars alot, but I know some don't. I think they look good on a smaller layout. And when you add some other cars of the traditional Lionel type like the 6464 box car size, you get some comfortable size variety on your train.
The Illinois Central set from 2000 was upgraded to an MP-15 with a diesel horn and an oval of the nicer looking "Super Snap" O track.
I recently saw a BN K-Line set on ebay that was upgraded further with the brand new 120 watt transformer.
*If the BN set you saw Chinatrain was with that transformer and the "Super Snap" track, $210 seems entirely reasonable. The "Super Snap" track is the same height as regular 0 tinplate track. K-Line makes adaptor tracks so you can use regular 0 with the "Snap Track"
I've seen the Pennsy and UP sets for as little as $135, but they average around $150. But remember those sets have 027 track and the small transformer. I'm pretty sure that K-Line also issued a BN Fast Freight Set with the smaller K-Line 40 watt transformer also. It may have also had 027 track too, but I don't remember. I do recall seeing the set though and thinking "why doesn't K-Line catalog these sets and promote them more??"
Early K-Line diesels have had a reputation for being fast. Part of that is due to the simple gearing. But K-Line has recently put a switch under the engine so you can slow down the speed by having the motors wired in series. Also, for all the non-frill status of the basic K-Line 40watt transformer, it does start off at very low voltage and can run the trains very slow should you choose. I'm sure the new improved 120watt transformer will do the same.
Now I've long had a problem with some K-Line engines jumping the track at switches, but found it was easily fixed with a spring between the chassis and the metal guide that comes up from the power truck... I now put a spring in every one as standard fare. I also mess around with mine alot, changing this and that, adding more lights etc. But that's all trivial to buying an engine with all the electronic frills and having to send it back because it was dead on arrival - which happens all to much these days. Thank you, but I'll stick to the simplicity of add a pressure spring.
Anyways Chinatrain, if the set is one with the newer track and transformer, I'd say it is a good buy. And if the dealer is nice to you and will help you with any problems, that's all the more reason to buy a set from him. I'll add I used to buy from a dealer that others thought was high priced. But I watched for deals and supported him. Eventually he started giving me better prices. He'd take off a few extra dollars on a train car. My friends would ask "how do you rate so well?" I'd say, it's simple - I support the guy. And he's been nice enough to recognize that!

Good luck! If you have K-Line questions, don't hesitate to write.
brianel, Agent 027

I'll add the reason so many at one time complained about the high speed of early K-Line diesels was also because they were using older Lionel transformers that start off with a min. 6 volts to the track. This was intended for the open-frame AC motors that Lionel used and needed the higher voltage. If you want to use a Lionel transformer, I would recommend the Lionel 1033 for running these K-Line engines using the B-U setting for 0-11 volts. Personally I now alternate between DC and AC power to the track. I've removed circuit board reverse units from many K-Line diesels and run them on DC power and find they run even smoother and more quietly. I prefer off-board sounds and designed my own diesel horn years ago that sounds better than most included in starter sets. Not as good as Railsounds, but good enough for me.

[Anonymous]

K-Line has advanced quite a bit in the last 10 years when they were basically selling toy trains. Their quality has improved and they are moving in the semi and scale models. I used to belong to the K-Line Club, but stopped when their deliveries were slow and they offered nothing I wanted. Having said that, however they do offer a wide spectrum of products.

[Anonymous]

HEY,CHINATRAIN. I BOUGHT THE VERY SAME SET YOUR TALKING ABOUT AT HOBBY LOBBY. I MADE THE PURCHASE A WEEK BEFORE CHRISTMAS WHEN THEY RAN A 40% OFF SALE FOR THE WEEK. THE SET COST ME 140.00. IT COMES WITH A PARALELL & SERIES SETTING UNDER THE LOCOMOTIVE WHICH REALLY ALLOWS YOU TO RUN THE ENGINE AT VERY LOW SPEEDS. IT'S ALSO A FINE PULLER. THE TRANSFORMER IS 110 WATTS & BEGINS AT 0 VOLTS,SO THERE'S NO JACKRABBIT STARTS. IT'S A FINE LITTLE MACHINE FOR THE PRICE. MY ONLY COMPLAINT IS THE ROLLING STOCK. THE CARS UNCOUPLE FINE,BUT IF YOU PLAN ON HAVING REALISTIC OPERATIONS WITH THESES CARS BY TRYING TO RECOUPLE AGAIN AT A SIDING,FORGET IT! THERE'S NO GIVE IN THE COUPLE & THE CARS ARE SO LIGHT THAT WHEN YOU TRY TO BRING THEM TOGETHER THEY GO FILING DOWN THE TRACK AT 100MPH WHEN THEY BUMP. ALL IN ALL IT'S A GREAT LITTLE SET.

[jimhaleyscomet]

If you are willing to wait (and possibly loose the set) Hobby Lobby puts on 40% off sales on train sets or train accessories about once every few months. You can easily check every week the online newspaper flyer at Hobbylobby.com

I purchased two Kline sets from Hobby Lobby (Snaptrack, 40Watt transformer) for $100 each on sale ((It was 50% off Christmas 2003). I like the engines conventional operation. I purchased two similar sets so I would have two of each cars. Currently I use the engines on an 027 door layout. I love them! If they do not last forever that is o.k. by me at this low price.

Jim H

[the train man 10]

I own  the BN set you are speaking of. bought it in the late 1990s. I also have the sant fe fast freight  train just like it,& a hersheys train set form 1992, and twin Alcos pulling the NYC passenger train. All work just fine with no derailments. the fast freight lines come in the double thick boxes like Lionel, (I heard K-line bought Lionel) the hershey train is a long box with all parts on 1 level. The old one has the old 3 rail track; the Fast freight sets use the Super Snap track with a black center rail and more realistic looking ties. The new one use the fast track like Lionel. I have run the BN set at a couple of shows to create interest, and it worked so good it help me sell a lot of trains those days. I have heard some people complain about K-Line, but I have never had a problem other than the Super Snap track is difficult to put together and takle apart. but all of my K-line locos run very well. I hope this helps, also saw they sell on eBay for between $62 and $210 depending of whether it is NIB or used and the mood of the bidders. good Luck and happy modeling!       THe Train Man 10

 

[Firelock76]

I've got the K-Line Hershey commemorative set myself and have no complaints.

I bought it at a flea market several years ago.  It was in an exhibitors booth with no price tag so I asked "how much?"  "Is $85 OK?" was the response.  Needless to say it went home with me.

It comes out once a year to power my "Sugar High Express" under the Christmas tree.  The "Express" is made up of assorted candy reefer cars, Hersheys, "Baby Ruth", "Mary Janes", and so on.

[rtraincollector]

 

the train man 10

I own  the BN set you are speaking of. bought it in the late 1990s. I also have the sant fe fast freight  train just like it,& a hersheys train set form 1992, and twin Alcos pulling the NYC passenger train. All work just fine with no derailments. the fast freight lines come in the double thick boxes like Lionel, (I heard K-line bought Lionel) the hershey train is a long box with all parts on 1 level. The old one has the old 3 rail track; the Fast freight sets use the Super Snap track with a black center rail and more realistic looking ties. The new one use the fast track like Lionel. I have run the BN set at a couple of shows to create interest, and it worked so good it help me sell a lot of trains those days. I have heard some people complain about K-Line, but I have never had a problem other than the Super Snap track is difficult to put together and takle apart. but all of my K-line locos run very well. I hope this helps, also saw they sell on eBay for between $62 and $210 depending of whether it is NIB or used and the mood of the bidders. good Luck and happy modeling!       THe Train Man 10

you know you really had to dig to bring this up this was 10 years ago the guy was asking about this set since then K-line has went into Lionel have license to use there name to be completely dismantled and there molds rented/sold/license to use and no real part of that company even exsist anymore.