Kato GG1 Question

[Bob Bufkin]

Anyone know what decoder the GG1 will take.  Been looking around and can't find any info on this. 

Was also wondering if any of you use the Kato passenger car lighting kits and how well they work.

[wcfn100]

http://www.katousa.com/N/GG1/index.html

"DCC Friendly, can take any DCC decoder designed to work with our N scale SD40-2 Mid production"


Jason

[Bob Bufkin]

Damn, I went to their site and missed it.  Thanks.

[ryourstone]

Doesn't MRC make a sound decoder for the Kato SD40? Without needing the bass of a diesel engine the biggest complaint is a non-issue. Is it possible to run a MRC decoder with the engine sounds completely off, and do the horn options include a single-chime?

[Walkercolt]

I've been asked if they can be overhead powered. Nothing I've seen leads me to think so. Anybody know?(Of course, someone could re-engineer one, but I mean from the factory)

[inkaneer]

I've been asked if they can be overhead powered. Nothing I've seen leads me to think so. Anybody know?(Of course, someone could re-engineer one, but I mean from the factory)

I doubt it will be powered by overhead straight from the factory.  Kato has not incorporated that feature on other electrics it has produced and  there is very little commercially available for overhead, mostly in Europe.  Kato does make a catenary support system based on Japanese prototype but it is plastic and nonfunctional.  I for one would think the maintenace of an overhead plant would be enormous.  I saw one O scale layout with operating catenary and the overhead represented the majority of the maintenance issues.  I haven't seen any Ntrak layouts with the Ncat included although there are probably some out there.   I for one will forego the overhead.

[FrankCampagna]

Hmmmm..... how much would it cost to wire a four tracked layout with authentic catenary and live wires? And how would you deal with a derailment on the middle tracks? Very, very carefully, I think. I admit, one of the appeals of electrics is the unique electrical system each used. However, practicality rules against it.

Frank

[POVC]

Doesn't MRC make a sound decoder for the Kato SD40? Without needing the bass of a diesel engine the biggest complaint is a non-issue. Is it possible to run a MRC decoder with the engine sounds completely off, and do the horn options include a single-chime?

MRC makes a sound decoder for the Kato SD40-2 (MRC-1806); I'm not sure if it will fit the latest "mid-production" versions or not.

Depends on which MRC decoder; I know you can turn off the engine sounds on the newer ones (specifically the MRC-1660) but I'm not sure on the 1806.

Again, I'm not sure since I don't have an 1806; according the the spec sheet it has 16 different horns though.

Tim

[Walkercolt]

I've seen N-Cat on layouts....more than I'd want to get involved with. UNLESS (it'd have to be brass) somebody ever made those big ole' Milwaukee Road EF-5 motors. Then I'd string overhead wire, although I probably wouldn't power it. Some people Big Boys grab, some people get grabbed by GG-1's, or Super Alleganies, or Jawn Henry's. The Milwaukee Roads EF's and the Otto Kuhn Atlantic for the '34 Hiawatha have grabbed me...and me a Frisco and Santa Fe guy. White steam engines and those dang big EF's just hit my buttons. Little Joes don't rev me up, even through the scenery of the Bitterroots, but the EF's do. It'd take ten lifetimes to build enough trees for a module of that area too. ??? I've got some serious screws loose.

[Bob Bufkin]

Kato is already making a second run of these plus the Broadway Cars.  Same names and numbers.  This bodes well for new numbers for the G's and car names in the future.  I'm hoping that the passenger cars names can be easily removed so I can rename an extra set.  Also believe they could easily sell the mail car as a single item and make a bundle but you know Kato probably won't.

[nscalesteve]

I've got some serious screws loose.

well, really... ? 
(please don't shoot me !)

[wcfn100]

Kato did something to their site today.  There's some information about the GG1 model on the main page.  I don't know if it's new info or not.  I am starting to wonder though if Kato bought a factory that makes nothing but yellow LEDs.


Jason