New Kato Passenger Sets

[mplsjct]

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

The Morning Zephyr leaving Mpls was usually a short train, (here it is entering the depot from the CB&Q coach yard) Kato has produced enough equipment to at least model this...

[wcfn100]

The Morning Zephyr leaving Mpls was usually a short train, (here it is entering the depot from the CB&Q coach yard) Kato has produced enough equipment to at least model this...

Nice shot, not an angle you see much (looking back towards the station vs. something on the GN line).


Jason

[screeh]

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

The photos I've found of P30 show it riding on GP/Blomberg trucks, as opposed to the original E8 trucks - not sure if it was always like that, just another thing to bear in mind.

EDIT: just found two shots of p30 with its original trucks, however it's in an earlier paint scheme than what Kato is offering:
http://rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=3264641
http://rr-fallenflags.org/arr/arr-p30agd.jpg

As for using trucks off the F40PH, they are Blomberg Type M (with rubber pads) while P30 appears to be riding on Blomberg Type B (with leaf springs) and I don't have a new release E8 to experiment with swapping over the trucks.

...and P30 doesn't have dynamic brakes, a steam generator or winterization hatches...

[Leggy]

Would the F40PH bogies fit? Might not end up with a powered unit but atleast it'd be correct (unless they're the wrong type of Blombergs...).

[Nato]

              I have had for quite awhile 2 custom painted Alaska E-8's  done by the old Hobby's Emporium in Reno, Nevada and a train of mostly the right cars custom painted by Ernie Geese of Model Railroad Customizing. No sleepers or obs car, but Alaska did  or still does have several former UP Baggage cars. I bought a Bachmann Mc Kinley Explorer set so I could run the private cruse train cars at the end of my Aurora Train. I would have liked to see the cars done in the current , blue & yellow scheme. I wish Bachmann would re do their Explorer set to match their HO one with the new Ultra Dome type of cars.                                                                                      I will probably have to get the Northwestern sets and locos, even though I have been running a Foob 400 at times using Con Cor and now other brand cars (Centrailia) with an Atlas C.& N. W . flat ended P.R.R. observation to sort of match the almost flat end on the real train' s car. Con Cor did this car in their HO shortie line and I always hoped for an N model. One of the ACF UP clone diners was rebuilt for service on the new "Bi - Level 400 " train which used long distance gallery style cars. The diner received a raised roof to match the height of the other cars, but no upper level seating. Nate Goodman (Nato).

[Ike the BN Freak]

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

True, was talking to Pete about these too...And P-30 will be coming with the 3 axle trucks and not the Bloombergs.

[jmlaboda - RIP]

It is curious that they have chosen an earlier CNW scheme for the set since the pool cars did not receive true CNW pant until after they were withdrawn from the {i]City of[/i] pool but it is none the less a nice looking scheme for modelers to at least consider.  If I were modeling a more modern period and the Midwest I would seriously look at this set.

The problem with the ARR set, with the cars as is, is that some the cars were modified before or when they received the modern scheme... for an example the coaches have been rebuilt to a higher capacity with additional windows for the altered interior.  But like the CNW consist if I were modeling an appropriate era and location for the train I would jump on it... though I likely would go in search of parts so that the cars that have received modifications would be able to be kitbashed to make them look more appropriate.

Both are likely to be some very nice sets and I hope that other trains will also be considered.

[w neal]

The really bad thing about all this is here comes that Kato dreaded "orange/yellow".

[CBQ Fan]

If I am not mistaken I see where the photo shows dynamic brake but the description says non-dynamic brake?

Anyone have photos of the late scheme vs. the older scheme??

I am very torn, like the scheme, don't like the unnumbered idea.............

[jmlaboda - RIP]

"If I am not mistaken I see where the photo shows dynamic brake but the description says non-dynamic brake?"

What photo?  So far all I have seen is a drawing and the drawing likely was as is instead of making it more accurate.

[Nato]

            I do not even see any drawings. I can not connect to KATO U.S.A. off the E Mail News letter sent to me, the link in this thread does not even take me to a PDF and my bookmarked www.katousa.com link is in operative. Kato Japan site is great no problem. Nate Goodman (Nato).

[nickelplate759]

This page has pictures of P-30 wit the paint scheme Kato is doing and 6-wheel trucks:

http://alaskarails.org/pix/former-loco/P-30/BF-P-30.html 

[CBQ Fan]

"If I am not mistaken I see where the photo shows dynamic brake but the description says non-dynamic brake?"

What photo?  So far all I have seen is a drawing and the drawing likely was as is instead of making it more accurate.

What is it, a JPG of a drawing?  You are correct not an actual digital or film photo, but a rendering of the engine. 

[Nato]

             My links to KATO U..S.A.  now are working again  I can finally see the drawings , it is impossible to tell what the true colors will be from these. I guess I will have to get the Northwestern Sets and locomotives. Nate Goodman (Nato).

[CBQ Fan]

For better or worse we know that Kato will not be doing a full and accurate 400 anytime soon, so if you are waiting for it you can buy this or go to plan B.