Yep, here we go again. The Olympian Hiawatha is on the street, and she's fabulous. We've also welcomed another re-release of a CZ set (with WP F3s and DRGW PAs soon to come). That's all GREAT, but Kato has to be working on what's next. I'm looking for both predictions and wishes. My prediction (which is also at or near the top of my wishes) is a 1947 Twin Cities Zephyr with E5 A/B power. Kato released the E5A, and I can't believe it was just for the Silver Streak and the rare CZ appearances. If I did my homework correctly, I believe that Kato will have to tool three new items for this. The E5B shell, the observation and the baggage/café car. I believe the four domes and the diner are all common Budd designs that Kato has already produced (for, among other offerings, the CZ). That would make a nice seven car set, with A/B power. I think the prototype occasionally added additional flat top Budd coaches, which Kato has also done. Kato seems to like the more modest consists (cheaper and more layout friendly). After that, I default back to my wish list for the NCL. I haven't done the research on how many newly tooled cars that would require, but I believe it would be several (dome Pullmans among others). What do you all think?
Does the World really need another Zephyr ??? NCL is a GREAT idea !!! It would make SO MANY people happy !!! I would like to see a name that involves the word "Rocket". Would also like to see something that goes East (NYC / PC), North (GT / PC), or South (GM&O / N&W / PC) of Chicago. Of course, as I tell my GF, every time I put my 2 cents in, I get change back !!!
Even as an SP guy -- I would love to see a NYC 20th Century limited - with either a Dreyfus hudson or Kato made E-7's. Of course an SP Lark wouldn't hurt my feelings either. Wolf
B&O Capitol Limited or National Limited with P-7 or P1D heavy Pacific, but the only HW that Kato sells is the Penn RPO. and the only US steam that Kato has done is the USRA heavy 2-8-2. It would require much work. Kato has done B&O E-8s and smoothsides, so a Shenandoah might not be too difficult for the Kato. The best would be #29, #30 or #31 with a T-class (4-8-2) or Big Six (yes, B&O did equip some of its Big Sixes with steam lines and signalling devices). Kato could then cobble together some existing cars and some new ones, as mail trains often carried cars from foreign roads. Wm. Price took some photographs of Big Sixes and even an EM-1 as they worked those mail trains. The 2-10-2 was not necessarily a drag freight locomotive on the B&O; it actually managed to get some speed out of those things (as did SP from its 2-10-2s).
The Dreyfuss Hudson won in their web poll a while back, IIRC, so a '38 20thC Ltd may be in the pipeline by now. Probably a few years away yet, though. It's been a long while now since Kato did any Northeastern stuff, other than the ACS-64... but they haven't done anything Southeastern yet, have they? Maybe something in ACL would be appropriate? They could even do another run of GG1s if they did that (as if the market for those wasn't saturated enough... but IMO Kato's is still the nicest), since ACL's overnight trains used Pennsy power once they hit the Northeast Corridor.
I don't know what it will be, but I know I have at least 5 years to think about it. First up is to figure out if I'm going to want an armour yellow Hiawatha. Jason
Since Kato built the Pullman Superdomes for the Hiawatha, maybe we will get lucky and Kato will do some Santa Fe Budd Big Domes next. The Bachmann Big Dome is just not up to snuff.
20+/- years ago Kato released a four-car smooth side two-tone gray passenger set with a pair of Lightning-striped E8s. Also a six-car set of additional cars. Obviously they must have been very popular because I searched for any that might be for sale, even used, but came up empty. Lots of photos on e-tailer sites, but all were "out-of-stock" or "sold-out", and no engine photos. Even though they were very popular, I doubt if Kato would re-release them because there doesn't appear to be as much discussion about eastern roads as there is with western roads, at least based on TB discussions.
There's a four car set available now: https://www.ebay.com/itm/Kato-N-Sca...ide-Passenger-4-Car-Set-106-023-/192419763361
Wow... when I voted the later train was well ahead of the Dreyfuss train... great to know it won!!! It was mostly because of the older cars that prompted me to make my vote for the early train... hard to want to pass such things up.
If it is pulled by an E5 A/B set......YES!!!!!!!!! The CZ has been Kato's bread and butter. Five complete unique releases and now three re-releases. There appears to be a huge market for Zephyr's, and the Twin Cities is arguably the most iconic of them all.
They were also asking about expanding their Unitram track line, have asked about a PCC car....as a Pacific Electric modeler, I can dream about a 3 car set for The Long Beach Express
Now, if only Kato would make the PA and F3 locos in the D&RGW "bumble bee" paint scheme: http://www.hankstruckpictures.com/pix/rail/donald_beneke/diesel/ddrgw03.html http://www.hankstruckpictures.com/pix/rail/donald_beneke/diesel/ddrgw21.html
@bremner my family is from that area (Long Beach/Torrance) so I just had to find that spot on street view. To keep on topic - I'd like to see a real 70's era Auto-Train (ATC) set. I've amassed quite a few Kato cars for my own (UP repaints) along with the Bachmann offerings (something like 12 auto-carriers I think), but an official set would be neat! Cheers -Mike