Kato web poll for RI Texas Rocket.

[squirrelhunter]

I had a conversation with the Kato reps at the San Antonio World's Greatest Hobby Show in February and they said the Silver Streak Zephyr is one the best selling passenger sets they have done ever.

Think about that- a prototype that only ran in a secondary market (KC-Omaha) in its original form for 5 years, and then in another secondary market (Houston-D/FW) with an extra coach added and the Baggage/RPO removed for another 20 years- sold better than name trains serving major cities decorated for big name roads.

The reason they told me was that pretty much every modeler can accommodate a loco and 5 passenger cars on their layout. Hence the push for the early RI rockets. Those can be used on several routes from the late 30's to the late 40's, and the cars and TA's were used for at least 10 years past that. I'd love the Burlington-Rock Island Texas Rocket Scheme, but I'm not holding out hope since there are way more Rock modelers up north who will swamp out the votes of us down in Texas.

Two trains I think they could do easily with cars they already have with a few new additions would be the Wabash Blue Bird and the SP/T&NO Sunbeam.

[JMaurer1]

I like that Kato continues to focus on specific passenger trains, I just wish it would do something more mainstream.  Like a late Hiawatha, Empire Builder, and North Coast Limited.

I would at least consider buying one of these. Hiawatha had great engines and that observation. Empire Builder and North Coast LTD had great paint schemes. Texas Rocket...nope, not even a thought about buying one.

If Kato wants smaller passenger trains, the NorthWestern Pacific had the Redwood: boiler equipped SD-7, a 70 foot "Harriman" baggage car, with two ex-Sunbeam chair cars.

Wait, I'll vote for the T&NO Sunbeam as well. They can do two different trains from two different sections of the country with the same cars.

[Ngineer]

North Coast Limited.

Must. Have. One. A North Coast Limited would be great news.

I too am a bit skeptical regarding the announced model. A bit more mainstream would be better.

Alas, I am still waiting for CB&Q E8As with red or black stripes to pull the CZ.

   Javier

[Nato]

              :|As a closet Rock Island Fanzee I had to vote for the Original Paint Scheme on the TA diesel. That way other RI prewar trains can be modeled, while the four car consist would be nice only the three car consist was used on the TR (Texas Rocket). The TA locomotive is indeed unique I never thought I would ever see one in N in either Brass or Plastic. The popularity of route specific passenger trains is well known to KATO if you look at all their Japanese offerings sold mostly at home. Yes a T&NO "Sunbeam" Train would be nice you would either need a Stream Styled Pacific for the original train or Alco PA's , I would take mine in gray and scarlet and the cars in silver with scarlet letter boards. When KATO released their Budd car sets many moons ago they did their E-8/9 diesel in Burlington with black nose markings. They are somewhat hard to find, it was Kato's first use of a paint to make the side panels look like Stainless Steel which really impressed me. Yes they could rerun them again.                                                   Nate Goodman (Nato). "A Multi road closet fanzee."    

[ncbqguy]

Frankly I don't see why it is an issue.  We're talking about three Tampo hits difference between being able to offer both schemes.....One on each side for the Burlington Rock Island or just Rock Island and one for the herald interior on the nose.   Maybe one more for the different the tail signs. 
Do both and make RI fans buy two sets!!!!
Charlie Vlk

[up1950s]

They are going to use this poll to see if there are enough wants and where . If not enough hits on either , maybe a total drop of both versions . After all , they are first and foremost chasing the buck , or are they ? Many eastern roads would guarantee bigger sales .

[CBQ Fan]

Frankly I don't see why it is an issue.  We're talking about three Tampo hits difference between being able to offer both schemes.....One on each side for the Burlington Rock Island or just Rock Island and one for the herald interior on the nose.   Maybe one more for the different the tail signs. 
Do both and make RI fans buy two sets!!!!
Charlie Vlk

What rock island fan would not buy both???

[Denver Road Doug]

I hope they eventually do a FW&D/C&S Texas Zephyr.   I would take either iteration...the earlier would require  HW sleepers and I doubt they would go there.   The latter could also yield a Denver Zephyr so that might make sense.

[garethashenden]

If we're proposing trains for Kato to make I'll add the East Wind. Quite distinctive with it's yellow and silver paint scheme. They can put a GG1 on it if they want, but it would be even better with a B&M P4.

[wcfn100]

Frankly I don't see why it is an issue.  We're talking about three Tampo hits difference between being able to offer both schemes.....One on each side for the Burlington Rock Island or just Rock Island and one for the herald interior on the nose.

From what I've read, you would need to include the cars in there as they were also lettered Burlington Rock Island.

Also with some research, it would seem that the Mars light was added after only a year, so I would assume the model will have it with how they talked about the longevity of the 'normal' lettering vs. the B-RI one.

One last note is the cars.  There was some renaming of the Texas Rocket cars very early on because they weren't originally meant for that service.  A lot of questions will be waiting for the official announcement.

Jason

[eja]

Maybe KATO could put one scheme on the engineer's side and the other on the fireman's side. 

Best of both works. Keeps everyone happy.  Wake up in the morning and decide which will I run today and change the run direction appropriately.

 

[Bobster]

Good evening,

If I may add a few thoughts.....

After regaining my composure from a couple days ago I would really like to commend Kato for their approach.  I would think the Texas Rocket interesting but limited to the Texas crowd as it serviced the Fort Worth to Houston Route.  Each of these 6 Rockets had its cars named for people, places, or things that would be unique to each route.  Make the name boards big enough to accommodate Microscale decals and a four car set and I'll be good.    I don't know how close off the top of my head the ConCor observation car would be to either one of these. Just in case.

I do like the cleaner looks of the single headlight TA better than the 2 head light later versions.  The TA being the forerunner of the F units has its place in history.  I'd really like to see Kato do this.   

Yet another option Kato could take.  Do the four car set then use their E5 mechanism for E3 625 or 626 which tapered to meet the four car set.  I have the picture of this.  Or do an E6  RI 627-631.    Just trying to hold tooling costs down a bit.

Thank you for letting me throw in my extra 2 cents,
Bobster

[thomasjmdavis]

From a pure marketing class perspective, my inclination would be to produce the original 3 car set, and if that sells well, produce an add on set or variations on the original that would yield other Rockets, the dual lettered Texas Rocket, 2 headlight TAs, etc.

Whichever version they do, I think this could be a hit.  It obviously will sell, in whatever paint scheme, to many Rock Island modelers.  It is a near perfect "Pike sized" train- so could also be popular for those who want "a set", but something smaller than a Super Chief or Broadway.  It has historic interest- the more I think about it, the more I want one, and I don't model the RI and really don't want to model the RI.  Assuming Kato follows the same sort of pricing policy as their past offerings, it will be very affordable, compared to, say, a Con-Cor Zephyr- and packed with some Unitrack,  one could imagine it as some (lucky) kid's first train set. (Like what they did with the F7 and 3 Super Chief cars, only an actual model of a real train). 

What's next?  Rebel?  Green Diamond?  Go head to head with Con-Cor with a $200 Zephyr (admit it, wouldn't we love to see that)?

Did the TA share wheelbase as well as 201A locomotion with any or the other early streamliners?  Could open the door to several resin or RP designers.

[OldEastRR]

What's next?  Rebel?  Green Diamond?

Ugh. The "Tomato worm"? I can't see many generic modelers buying even a pike-sized version of that thing. You really have to love ugly to own that.

[CBQ Fan]

Ugh. The "Tomato worm"? I can't see many generic modelers buying even a pike-sized version of that thing. You really have to love ugly to own that.

Lol, some may buy it exactly cause it is ugly!