Traditional Size Stremlined Cars

[krapug1]

The posting about Menard's sets reminded me that I never posted this before.

From time to time the question comes up about the differences between the smaller streamlined cars made through the years by Lionel, K-Line, Marx, etc.

So here are examples of a  K-Line Streamliner, Lionel 2400 series and  Marx  

The Lionel car in this case is from the Menard's WC set that somehow managed to find it's way east.

 

Ken

 

 

 

 

[Penny Trains]

This is a great idea for a thread!    In fact, I'd like to see a lot more of this kind of thing!    For example, I've always wondered what the true size difference is (besides the trucks) between Lionel prewar 500 and 200 series freight cars.

But back to the subject at hand, I routinely run my MPC Santa Fe Alcos with a mix of Lionel and K-Line streamliners but I was never really sure how the Marx cars would look in the consist.  Your photos show me that the Marx cars are a bit shorter in height than the either the K-line or Lionel 2400 style cars.  So I probably won't go after the Marx cars unless I can build a complete set on their own rather than mixing like I do with the other two.

Thanks! 

Becky

[webenda]

Ditto what Becky said, "This is a great idea for a thread!" Very interesting post Ken.

[billbarman]

Very cool thread, I love comparing things like this.

The K-line streamliners are pretty close to scale to LIRR P72 coaches. This thread actually kind of saved me from a bad buy...

I have the K-line LIRR set which came with an MP15, 3 coaches and an Alco FA. I saw these nice looking lionel 2400 series cars painted to look just like add ons for this set. Now that I see they're different in size, I think I'll wait for K-line ones to show up

Great photos too BTW.