Kato: SD40-2 ReRuns Coming!

[bc6]

I did this meme a while ago and thought now would be a great time to post it.

[flight2000]

Kato did start as an N scale company, and later expanded to HO, if I recall, so maybe they are our "Walthers."

But at least Kato threw the HO guys a bone with the P42 and PHIVb Superliners....   

What's the last bone Walthers threw N Scale?

Brian

[mecgp7]

If you ask me it seems like Kato is pouring on the coals for N scale engine production.  New models, old ones re-released!  Many different passenger sets.  I think it is all good!!!

+1

[Rossford Yard]

But at least Kato threw the HO guys a bone with the P42 and PHIVb Superliners....   

What's the last bone Walthers threw N Scale?

Brian

I guess I'm not as much of a "what have you done for me lately" guy as some others here.  Or maybe, they just have hit my mark better than others, because I have bought and enjoyed nearly every structure they make, from roundhouse and coal tower to the steel mills (I model Chicago....) .  I couldn't model what I model without Walthers.

[davefoxx]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't Walthers start the rennaisance in N scale passenger cars a few years ago with the release of the 10-6 sleeper?  I still like mine.  In fact, I'm relettering a PRR sleeper into an SCL car.

[Dave V]

That's KAH-TOE!

 

[CBQ Fan]

Walthers did throw us the GP-20 and the SW-900/1200................Are the DL-109s still coming out????

[Jeff AKA St0rm]

If anybody wants to "build" an undec, I'll buy a BN shell from you for the price of an undec shell plus shipping.   So you'd have a mech with black trucks and fuel tank and (eventually) an undec shell.

I have ask Kato for years to make SD40-2 in Undec and "they will not make undec loco because they don't sell well". I asked for 100 SD40-2 from them in undec and they told me it wasnt worth their wile. They don't do undecs because they will sell there useless paint jobs to people who Strip and paint. So I will have to order more SF unites to strip and paint. I have 25 done in CP only need about 50 more.

[Rossford Yard]

Doug,

If you want to swap a BN for an undec shell, I have a need for that to recreate one IHB lease unit!

[Kev1340]

Well I'm pleased with the release even if it seems few others are! I've been emailing Kato repeatedly for more SD40-2s, and two of the five roads I requested are in this release, C&NW and Wisconsin Southern.

Unfortunately this means I've got to come up with cash for six locos as I'd also like to grab the IC too. Hopefully they won't all sell out before I can get them.

Perhaps Wisconsin Central, Milwaukee Road and Algoma Central will be in their next release .......

Who needs the '-2' project

Cheers,

Kev

[Mark5]

Who needs the '-2' project

Cheers,

Kev

Possibly peeps that model some of these roads that bought new SD40-2s:

 B&O
 BN
 CP
 Central of Georgia
 C&EI
 C&NW
 CMSt
 CRI&P
 C&S
 IC
 KCS
 L&N
 MKT
 MP
 N&W
 BCR
 ONR
 CR
 SLSF
 SCL
 Soo
 SOUTHERN
 T&P
 UP
 Oneida & Western
 CC&O
 Kennecott Copper
 QNS&L
 Ferrocarriles Unidos del Surreste
 ACR
 NdeM

And then I think there may be a few second hand owners out there somewhere. 

Mark

[Wlal13again]

Yes NS 3329 was Conrail 6358, so if they are willing to do former Conrail locomotives with incorect trucks, why not just do Conrail.

I asked the same question this morning at Cresson..

[kalbert]

The most important part of all this is that they are reruning SD40-2's. Yea they're not RTR in every road and every variation and such... but the shape is right and they'll be plentiful so go forth, buy some. Do some modeling to make them your own! There's nothing else available that resembles an SD40-2 as much as these do so get after it.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

I've made my own. Done.

I don't want to do it nine more times.

[Denver Road Doug]

I think this would be a good time for another "strategic counter-announcement".

I have most of the locomotives I "need" for even my dream layout.   There are a few remaining "core" locomotives, like the upcoming GP60B, (which is about as "not core" as I get) and hopefully an eventual BN GP50.  (That's not to say there aren't some mods needed to get more prototypical on most of my fleet but probably nothing to the extent of the Conrail issue.)  The other area where I need a couple of locos is for my UP fleet.  I want to come up with the smallest amount of locos I can and still represent a typical UP roster for the era/locale I am modelling.   However, being a huge fan of SD40-2's I would like to have a UP SD40-2 as one of those locos even though it would mostly be an atypical part of my minimal roster.   Since Kato hasn't released a UP SD40-2 in some time, my thought was I would put a placeholder for this loco in the "Dash 2 Project" queue.   Similarly, I have also pared down my BN SD40-2 fleet (very minimal to start with) to make room for a "D2P" BN SD40-2.  I will buy one of the new Kato-issue BN shells to use as a secondary "swap" shell on my existing BN Kato Dash 2, and that's a no-brainer for now.    Anyway, point is, I'm looking at the new Kato UP unit thinking....we've heard vaporware like this Dash 2 Project business before.   Should I pull the trigger?   It would be nice if they would have made the post-90's scheme UP loco equipped with ditchlights, but I "get it"....old tooling, etc. 

At the end of the day, I probably will seriously consider purchasing one since worst case I take a $20 hit (maybe) selling the Kato later on and "upgrading" (I assume) to a D2P.   And, we are assuming these will be somewhat "proto specific" when in reality they will probably follow the money like Kato did and we may not be much better off with some "less popular" roads and "phases". (and what about ditchlights?)  At least they'll probably be closer to scale width hoods.   Guess that's progress.

Nevertheless, my original statement stands.   Throw us a bone, D2P...