Kato bookcase carrier boxes

[gkoproske]

I acquired a Kato C&NW 400 set of gallery cars and E8A locomotive, as loose items.  I am rummaging through eBay and KatoUSA to find a suitable bookcase box to hold the set.  Trouble is that they are identified by a letter code, C D F N and so on.  None are obviously correct to hold my set.  Buying one to try it and returning would be weird because most of these sellers are located in Japan.  Any advice on which Kato blank bookcase is close enough?

[MetroRedLine]

I acquired a Kato C&NW 400 set of gallery cars and E8A locomotive, as loose items.  I am rummaging through eBay and KatoUSA to find a suitable bookcase box to hold the set.  Trouble is that they are identified by a letter code, C D F N and so on.  None are obviously correct to hold my set.  Buying one to try it and returning would be weird because most of these sellers are located in Japan.  Any advice on which Kato blank bookcase is close enough?

The closest thing -- Kato makes one (no letter code, but the product code is 28-952) specifically for North American hi-level passenger cars. You might have to get creative with the cutouts to fit the loco:

https://www.plazajapan.com/4952844123529/

Unfortunately it's out of stock at Plaza Japan, but hopefully you might be able to find other sources for it.


I'd love to see 3rd party manufacturers make their own car/loco storage cases using Kato's bookcase form factor.

[wmcbride]

There are various Kato storage boxes available on Amazon from US sellers. I have bought a few and undertaken the fun of cutting out the foam.

Without the foam, some do a good job holding cases (like Kato SD70ACes).

[pedro]

The one @MetroRedLine linked to (28-952) is the exact one you need. I bought one for the exact same reason (extra C&NW bi levels). The cutouts are exactly the right size. WOT bi-levels also fit. The only thing they lack is the ability to store locomotives like the one made for the “400” set does.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Have you tried contacting Kato?

[bbussey]

Have you tried contacting Kato?

This. Kato USA sells all of the bookcase boxes.

[peteski]

This. Kato USA sells all of the bookcase boxes.

If they do they don't have them listed under the Kato Store or Kato Parts Store.  I guess direct inquiry is in order.

[chessie system fan]

I would love for them to offer a set that holds regular passenger cars of American length.