Model Trains Recall by MDK
Kids’ product recall 97-053. Announced by CPSC on Dec 24, 1996.
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The short answer
Announced by CPSC on Dec 24, 1996. Copied from CPSC on Oct 19, 2026.
Every line below is in CPSC’s own words, with its source beside it.
What’s wrong with it?
Fire & Fire-Related Burn
CPSC, Recalls API. Checked Oct 19, 2026. Updated daily.
What should you do?
The notice gives no remedy in a field of its own.
CPSC, Recalls API. Checked Oct 19, 2026. Updated daily.
Which ones are recalled?
Model Trains Recall by MDK NEWS from CPSC U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission Office of Information and Public Affairs Washington, DC 20207 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT:Ken Giles December 24, 1996 (301) 504-7052 Release # 97-053 CPSC and MDK Inc. Recall Model Trains WASHINGTON, D.C. - In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), MDK Inc. of Chapel Hill, N.C., is recalling about 20,000 model trains. If the train derails, the coupler coil spring could overheat creating a potential fire hazard. CPSC and MDK Inc. are not aware of any injuries involving these model trains. This recall is being conducted to prevent the possibility of injury. The trains involved in this recall are The Heavyweight line of O scale passenger cars, sold under the brand name K-LINE Electric Trains, which were produced from 1991 through 1995. These cars are 1:48 scale models of railroad passenger cars from the early 1900s and are designed to operate on a three-rail, O gauge track. The following types of cars are part of this train product line: coach, pullman, baggage, railway post office, diner, and observation car. All cars are individually boxed and include an end label listing the model name and number. The following cars were sold through hobby wholesalers and distributed to hobby and specialty retail stores nationwide: Railroad Name Car Numbers Baltimore & Ohio Railroad K10-0004, K10-0045 Erie-Lackawanna Railroad 6-Car Set (K-44251) K25-0001, K25-0002, K25-0098, K25-0316, K25-0469, K25-1813 Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey K83-0072, K83-0073, K83-0080, K83-0093, K83-0094, K83-0095, K83-0096 Southern Railroad K86-0004, K86-0042 Southern Pacific Railroad K88-0112, K88-1918, K88-5124 Union Pacific Railroad 6-Car Set (K-44911) K91-0100, K91-0101, K91-0102, K91-0103, K91-0104, K91-0107 These additional cars were sold through the following listed outlets: Railroad Name Car Numbers Outlet Chesapeake & Ohio Railroad 6-Car Set (K-44151) K15-0110, K15-0385, K15-0727, K15-0827, K15-0972, K15-2500 K-LINE Collectors Club (Chapel Hill, N.C.) Lackawanna Railroad 6-Car Set (K-44381) K38-0001, K38-0002, K38-0003, K38-0004, K38-0465, K38-1812 The Train Station (Mountain Lakes, N.J.) Toy Train Museum Cars K85-1884, K85-1896, K85-1870, K85-1899, K85-1877 Toy Train Museum (Strasburg, Pa.) Train Collectors Association Cars K85-1992, K85-1993 Train Collectors Association (Strasburg, Pa.) Texas & Pacific Railroad 6-Car Set (K-44891) K89-0718, K89-1018, K89-1109, K89-1402, K89-1658, K89-1818 Collectible Trains & Toys (Dallas, Texas) Pasadena Mutual Funds Car K99-1986 Pasadena Group of Mutual Fund (Greenwich, Conn.) The model trains were sold from late 1991 to the present for about $75 to 125 per car. Consumers should immediately stop operating the recalled cars, and call MDK Inc. at 800) 866-9986 for information on receiving a free repair. Consumers can write to K-LINE lectric Trains (MDK, Inc), P.O. Box 2831, Chapel Hill, N.C. 27515
MDK K-Line Electric Trains.
CPSC, Recalls API. Checked Oct 19, 2026. Updated daily.
Who made and sold it?
- Made by K-Line.
- Made by Pasadena Group, Mutual Fund.
- Made by Train Collectors Association.
- Made by Toy Train Museum.
- Made by Train Station.
- Made by Collectible Trains & Toys.
- Made by MDK.
CPSC, Recalls API. Checked Oct 19, 2026. Updated daily.
Was anyone hurt?
The notice doesn’t say whether anyone was hurt.
CPSC, Recalls API. Checked Oct 19, 2026. Updated daily.
What the record doesn’t say
- The notice lists no UPCs, so check the model, the description and the photos.
- The notice lists no model numbers in a field of their own; its description may give them.
- How many have been returned or fixed isn’t in the notice.
Hearth Record wrote these lines.
Sources
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U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Recalls API.
Checked Oct 19, 2026. Updated daily. Public domain (U.S. Government work). CPSC asks to be credited, and that no endorsement be implied.
Recalls of kids’ and home products are from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). CPSC does not endorse Hearth Record. Copied on Oct 19, 2026.