Lionel N&W K2 canceled

[Big Jim]

I just found the following in my email:

Dear Valued Customer,

We regret to inform you that Lionel's K-2 Brass Hybrid project was unable to generate enough interest from customers to produce and therefore we are postponing production to a future date TBD.

Your open order(s) will be canceled as a result.

We assure you that no charges will be made to your account and we offer you our sincerest apologies for this inconvenience.

Thank you,

The Lionel Customer Care Team

[MartyE]

That stinks for those who ordered it. I always though it wasn't the best choice. I just didn't think it had enough detail to take advantage of brass. I'm probably wrong but I would think something with more added details would be a better choice.

[Big Jim]

The N&W K that should have been made:
The K1

114.jpg (119.15 KiB) Viewed 8741 times

[MartyE]

Agreed. That would have made a nice model.

[E7]

Overland did a version of the J de-skinned called the War Baby which is pretty much the same except for the trailing truck (there may be other differences, I am by no means an N&W expert) which I really like. I'd be delighted with either one in 2 rail.

[Big Jim]

Overland did a version of the J de-skinned called the War Baby which is pretty much the same except for the trailing truck (there may be other differences, I am by no means an N&W expert) which I really like. I'd be delighted with either one in 2 rail.

And MTH did one too. I don't want any more J's.
The K1 has never been done before. My first choice.
Nor has the unstreamlined K2. My second choice.

[gnnpnut]

[quote="Big Jim"]The N&W K that should have been made:
The K1

[attachment=0]114.jpg[/attachment][/quote]

I think they sold these off to D&RGW and became their class M-69., and I think Wheeling and Lake Erie got some too. If so, 3rd Rail did these very early in their production in D&RGW. I think they got QSI sound.

You may be able to find one of them on the used market, they didn't sell all that well if I recall correctly. Some paint, and an ERR board, and you would have a unique model.

If I'm incorrect on this, then I am the victim of an age-addled brain.

Regards,
Jerry

[Big Jim]

Jerry,
You are very incorrect. The N&W sold off the K3, NOT the K1 that I have pictured above.
The K1 was a very good locomotive and was well liked by the N&W, living out their lives close to the end of steam.

On the other hand, the K3, sometimes referred to as the Water Buffalo, was not the loco the N&W intended it to be. There were balancing problems that restricted their speed to about 35 mph due to kinking the rails. Note that the main rod on the K3 (unlike the one on the K1) was connected to the third driver.
During WWII, many railroads were in need of any power that they could find. The N&W sold off surplus locomotives that they didn't need like the K3 and Y3 to help in the war effort.

3rd Rail made the N&W K3 years ago and according to what Scott Mann personally told me, they were a very good seller.

[E7]

Big Jim, If I recall correctly, you stated a while back that your Dad fabricated the skyline casings for the N&W J's and that NONE of the Importers/builders that modeled them did it correctly. Presuming my memory is accurate, could you tell us what the error/errors were on the models please?

Thanks ahead of time.

Rich

[Big Jim]

Big Jim, If I recall correctly, you stated a while back that your Dad fabricated the skyline casings for the N&W J's and that NONE of the Importers/builders that modeled them did it correctly. Presuming my memory is accurate, could you tell us what the error/errors were on the models please?

Thanks ahead of time.

Rich

Rich,
The shape for one. No one can get all of the compound curves right.
Then there is the distance between the front edge that you see here and the bullet nose. They all seem to have too much space between the two, as in, the cowling sets back too far (second photo).
That is my father with the hammer in his hand.

Dad600.jpg (962.72 KiB) Viewed 8623 times

611-6-1953.jpg (365.69 KiB) Viewed 8623 times

[E7]

Big Jim,

Thanks again! Fabulous pictures. I understand what you were saying now. Maybe if they are done in the future someone will have seen this and make the correction!

Regards,
Rich