Kato announces VRE MP36PH and Commuter Cars

[James Costello]

Emailed today:


N Virginia Railway Express (VRE) "Starter Series" MP36PH and Gallery Bi-Level Cars


Pre-orders due October 24th

Coming February 2012, the next stage in Kato’s Regional commuter train set program is scheduled for a stop in your local hobby shop! Mirroring the release of the Chicago METRA commuter sets (shipping to your local hobby store at the end of this month!), this release in Virginia Railway Express (VRE) colors will include retooled shells for both the MP36PH locomotive and both Coach and Cab-Coach cars to represent the detail differences present on these cars, and come in an attractive box containing one locomotive and three cars.

Both Coach and Cab-Coach cars can be easily lit by Kato LED Interior Lighting kits, with both the MP36PH Locomotive and Cab-Coach possessing directional lighting on their front faces to accurately depict the lighting patterns of push-pull trains.
 

Item # Description Est. MSRP
106-8705   N MP36PH Virginia Railway Express gallery Bi-Level Commuter Train
“Starter Series” 4-Car Set, includes 1x MP36PH Locomotive #V53, 2 x Gallery Bi-Level coaches, and 1 x Gallery Bi-Level Cab-Coach. $180-$190*
176-6125   N MP36PH Virginia Railway Express #V51 $120-$130*
156-0945   N Gallery Bi-Level Coach Virginia Railway Express #V812 $30-$35*
VRE Licensed Products. * Prices are estimated are subject to change.

[wm3798]

Did Warfish license the paint scheme?

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Oh *****! I hope MARC isn't far behind.

[Ian MacMillan]

Or MBTA! LOL

[mcjaco]

This is screaming for more releases of the F40. 

[daniel_leavitt2000]

I am guessing the commuter series is selling well if they are willing to do this scheme.  Just imagine Kato quality Comet II cars! I really hope to see some MBTA equipment in teh future.

The MBTA MP36 looks pretty good. I'm not so sure about the next order which is supposed to have a supersized "T" on the side, which some have nicknamed the Superman scheme.

[Robbman]

As an aside... these have been seen DIT in transit to VRE on NS recently.  On the Pokey no less

[jmlaboda - RIP]

Could CalTrain be far behind.

[Bob Bufkin]

Although I don't usually do modern stuff I would be tempted by one of these.


Notice there are 2 locos on that train.

[davefoxx]

If you're talking MARC, Bob, I like these even better than the new locos:



DFF

[Bob Bufkin]

Yeah, I liked the older units better also.

[Virginia Atlantic]

Did Warfish license the paint scheme?

 

[Nato]

      I really hope that Kato decides to release the MP36 in other paint schemes for commutter agencies that did not use the commuter cars Kato has modeled. Then I could have correct "Utah Transit Authority""Frontrunner" locomotives to replace my foob Athearn F59PH locomotives to pull my Bomb Logenze cars. Nate Goodman (Nato).

[Dupesy]

If you're talking MARC, Bob, I like these even better than the new locos:



DFF

Hey-o, we have 5 of them in Boston now.

[Guilford Guy]

I think we have that exact unit too.