New Kato Passenger Sets

[lock4244]

So this is the new freight car tooling!

New box.

[keeper]

Ohhhhhhh, this is very tempting. At leats the six car CNW set and both E units. One can not have enough Es... 

Thomas

[mplsjct]

Was hoping for a prototypical 400 some day too, looks like that won't be happening.

I sure hope that Kato gets the colors right, I was really bummed when the Centralia coaches showed up and they were more Zito yellow than Stagecoach yellow.

I do see Kato is using the E8 shell without Dynamic Brakes for the CNW units, that's a plus.

[Sokramiketes]

I figured they would have picked the later scheme without the black pinstripes for CNW... did the diner, RPO, and coaches ever get painted in the early scheme?  The late scheme would have been mucho better.

[spookshow]

I'm away from my library, but I believe the Dakota 400 was the only 400 to typically carry a sleeper. Not sure if they used sleepers elsewhere, or even if they did, if they were in the green-and-yellow scheme.

According to "The 400 Story" (Jim Scribbins), the Dakota 400 was indeed the only 400 to carry a sleeper. Starting in 1950, an 8-section 2-compartment drawing room heavyweight. Then in 1958, a 6-roomette 6-section 4-double bedroom streamliner. And finally in 1960, a 16-duplex-roomette 1-compartment 3 double-bedroom car.

Cheers,
-Mark

[Sokramiketes]

Yeah, the sleeper makes sense in the early scheme.  But the RPO/Diner/Coaches in the late scheme seem like they'd have a bit broader appeal.  I'm not sure the 6-6-4's lasted long enough to get the late scheme.  Anyone know?

[Mark5]

What I learned today: C&NW had a passenger train called the "400"

Now I have a better understanding of those box cars! (Route of the 400).  (will have to check out the 400 info online soon).

Mark

[MVW]

What I learned today: C&NW had a passenger train called the "400"

Now I have a better understanding of those box cars! (Route of the 400).  (will have to check out the 400 info online soon).

Mark

C&NW actually had a series of trains known as 400s. The original was the Chicago-Twin Cities run, which covered 400 miles in 400 minutes. I believe the marketing slogan from the '30s was, "The train that set the pace for the world." Eventually, several of the C&NW's upper-class passenger trains received the 400 label, as in the aforementioned Dakota 400.

Jim

[Ike the BN Freak]

Wonder if the E8B for Alaska will be dummy, being P-30 is a power car.  Doubt it, so can get away with just an AB set if I wanted to save a few pennies.

[mplsjct]

Anyone else notice the passenger cars will be un-numbered?

I just gave away my CNW passenger car decal set!

[WBRRVP]

Wonder if the E8B for Alaska will be dummy, being P-30 is a power car.  Doubt it, so can get away with just an AB set if I wanted to save a few pennies.

Keep in mind Ike 2401 and 2402 were long gone before the cars and P30 got painted into the new scheme. You're better off with a GP38/40-2 & P30 lashup for the south end P-trains.  For the cars the RPO, Sleeper, and Observation are complete foobies.

Jerry

[skytop35]

Yeah, the sleeper makes sense in the early scheme.  But the RPO/Diner/Coaches in the late scheme seem like they'd have a bit broader appeal.  I'm not sure the 6-6-4's lasted long enough to get the late scheme.  Anyone know?

Mike,

Yeah, they did get the late scheme or at least some did. There's a photo of American Sunset sporting the late scheme in Feb 1963 in Dorin's C&NW Passenger Train Equipment

[Sokramiketes]

Mike,

Yeah, they did get the late scheme or at least some did. There's a photo of American Sunset sporting the late scheme in Feb 1963 in Dorin's C&NW Passenger Train Equipment

So the late scheme made it on all four prototype cars in the set, but the early scheme just the sleeper?  Man, wish they chose the late scheme. 

[wcfn100]

Hopefully Kato will a take a chance at one of the Chicago/St.Paul trains.  I think mid-west modeler are more open to buying 'competing' trains than say PRR/NYC modelers.

I'd probably buy every train that went to St. Paul or Minneapolis (depending on the motive power - no more E8s for me), but that's easy to say knowing they won't ever do it. 

Jason

[asarge]

Originally posted by Skipgear,
I think this was what they wanted to announce at the National Train show but wasn't ready.

Nope, that wasn't it.

Protoypical or not. That CNW Set looks sharp.