NEW LIVE EVENT! Join Ken Jr. as he's with KATO Trains & Tony Cook of Model Railroad News, as KATO showcases the pre-production sample of their brand new N Scale Big Boy locomotive! This event will be LIVE on Facebook (TrainWorld.com) & YouTube (TrainWorldTV) on May 3rd at 6PM-7PM ET! Enjoy!
Thanks for the great on line review. I think these are going to generate a lot of enthusiasm (or more precisely already are). I personally don't get the concerns about availability of a rerailer. That new powered rerailer product looked nice, but many of us just don the geezer glasses and put things on the track directly.
N J - I too don the "geezer glasses" but still need help with my articulated steamers. So, I made my own powered rerailer using 2 KATO (I think) rerailers. Much easier on traction tires: Have fun !
That's neat Carl! I really can't see how an unpowered ramp would be a risk to traction tires, but we've heard a lot about how the early GS4's were victimized by modelers who would stick them on the track and then shove them back and forth to ensure that they were properly railed. That may present little risk with locomotives without traction tires, but apparently wreaked havoc with hubs in the drivers that were not designed for that. Hence, the "improved" drivers on later GS4 releases and the FEFs. I suppose if somebody used an unpowered ramp and shoved them onto the normal rails that the same would occur. At the end of the day, people just need to realize that these are precision machines that will be very reliable unless they are abused.
Watched last night and Ken was as entertaining as ever . Thank you Ken and TrainWorld for doing this. Very impressed with the look at this new release and was a bit surprised it is so close to arriving at dealers. The new features to help with how the articulation tracks are very innovative and it was neat to hear the Kato guys say the set it loose on thier layout and went home for the night and it was still running with no issues the next day. Also happy to hear the DCC and DCC w/Sound are factory installed. The guys said that is a new thing for Kato. Add to that the powered rerailer in development and the word that more superliners are probably coming and you had some great news and announcements during the broadcast.
I too enjoyed watching the event. Such a beautiful locomotive. Typical Kato invention and perfection, running every bit as good as it looks.
