Kato NYC 20th Century Limited "name train" release

NorsemanJack Jun 25, 2018

  1. NorsemanJack

    NorsemanJack TrainBoard Member

    2,264
    946
    51
    It has been reported through multiple sources that Kato announced several new releases at the manufacturer's breakfast at the recently completed N Scale Enthusiast convention in Salt Lake City. Perhaps the most intriguing report is that they apparently plan to release a 1950's era 20th Century Limited. While I haven't followed the NYC particularly closely, I am a big fan of vintage passenger trains, which certainly includes a major named train such as the 20th Century Limited.

    I've seen conflicting reports on the timing of this release, ranging from 2nd quarter 2019 to early 2020. Hopefully we'll see a more formal announcement from Kato in the near future, providing not only more details on the planned release schedule but also on the composition of the train.

    With respect to motive power, it was reported that they plan to release matching E7 locomotives, which should make a lot of Kato fans (myself included) very happy. If we include B units, the E7 production was the largest for any EMD passenger unit at 510 units total (barely edging out the E8 by 14 units). I haven't seen any reports regarding Kato's intentions to include B units. The NYC commonly ran their E7 units in either AB or AA configurations, so either would be prototypical. The 20th Century was also seen behind PA/PB power, so that may be another future option for Kato.

    Based upon a bit of internet searching, it appears that the following is representative of a correct 20th Century Limited consist for 1950:

    RPO/Baggage
    4-4-2 sleeper x 4
    10-6 sleeper x 3
    Lounge
    Dormitory/Kitchen
    Diner
    12 Double Bedroom x 3
    5-DBR/Lounge/Obs.

    That would make for a 15 car consist, so perhaps Kato will take an approach similar to that taken with the Broadway Limited; an 11 car base set with a 4 car add on set.

    Please post additional thoughts, historical information and any additional release information (rumored or reported) within this thread. Thanks!
     
  2. DCESharkman

    DCESharkman TrainBoard Member

    4,396
    3,025
    87
    I think what you said says it all!
     
    BarstowRick and EMD F7A like this.
  3. EMD F7A

    EMD F7A TrainBoard Member

    1,250
    148
    26
    You're making me sad with all this talk of "blah blah blah no North Coast Limited yet"... but yes of course I'll still be buying a 20th Century Limited so I can stage my own tiny scenes from North By Northwest ;)

    I wonder if this release's cars will be as modern as the latest Hiawatha cars? That old Kato smooth side car tooling is a bit long in the tooth (though I still love my 90's NYC 6 car set!)...
     
    BarstowRick likes this.
  4. DCESharkman

    DCESharkman TrainBoard Member

    4,396
    3,025
    87
    I have many of the 90's smooth side passenger sets perhaps I can find decals to number/letter them some day.
     
    BarstowRick and EMD F7A like this.
  5. NorsemanJack

    NorsemanJack TrainBoard Member

    2,264
    946
    51
    Well, "misery" loves company! I'm right there with you on the NCL. The only negative thoughts I had about this announcement is "well, I guess it will be that much longer for the NCL." OTOH, this will get the 20th Century "out of the way," so maybe we'll see an NCL in 2021/2022?
     
    BarstowRick and EMD F7A like this.
  6. NorsemanJack

    NorsemanJack TrainBoard Member

    2,264
    946
    51
    I doubt Kato will skimp on anything. They haven't with any of the named trains to date.

    On a related note, I've seen reports that there were a lot of similarities between the Broadway Limited and 20th Century Limited prototype cars from Pullman Standard, so it may be that some of Kato's Broadway Limited cars are correct for the 20th Century. Perhaps somebody who knows a lot about the prototypes can enlighten us.
     
    BarstowRick and EMD F7A like this.
  7. Point353

    Point353 TrainBoard Member

    2,879
    7,585
    71
    While the 20th Century Limited cars were all made by Pullman-Standard, the Broadway Limited had a mix of cars from Pullman, Budd and ACF. The only BL cars that might possibly be in common with the 20th Century Limited are the P-S built 10-6 sleepers, but they may not identical.
     
    BarstowRick and Hardcoaler like this.
  8. NorsemanJack

    NorsemanJack TrainBoard Member

    2,264
    946
    51
    Thanks Point353. Were the paired Diner/Kitchen-Dormitory cars different between the 20th Century and the BWL? I believe that they were both built by PS.

    [​IMG]
     
    BarstowRick likes this.
  9. brokemoto

    brokemoto TrainBoard Member

    1,685
    748
    45
    The E-7s are good news. Perhaps at some point, we will see single headlight E-7s in some other roads. I sold off my LL E-7s because they were dual headlight, only. C-C's were also dual headlight.

    NYCS dropped the PAs from the 20th Century early on. You did see them on the Boston connexion to it, and to the Lake Shore Limited, as well. They also ran on the Paul Revere and New England States, after the disaster with the DCA-2s, the six-axle Baldwin baby faces. Many ALCos wound up on the Boston and Albany. The usual power for the Twentieth Century was E-7s and later E-8s. In fact, some times they ran E-7s and E-8s. They ran in A-A, A-B or
    A-B-A. A-B-B-A or A-B-B was unusual. Kato did do NYC E-8s in the 1990s. NYCS did have E-7B s, but no E-8 B s.

    Some of the Baldwin baby faces (both six and four axle) did receive EMD 567s, but it must not have worked out well.
     
    BarstowRick likes this.
  10. NorsemanJack

    NorsemanJack TrainBoard Member

    2,264
    946
    51
    Do you have any idea approximately what year? I see that the NYC took deliveries of their PA1's and PB1's during 1947 - 1949 (with PA2's delivered in 1950 and 1952). If these Alcos can correctly be used with the train set that Kato ultimately releases, I consider that a real nice bonus. After the E5, it's hard to argue that there is a more attractive diesel out there.
     
    BarstowRick and thenightfly like this.
  11. Point353

    Point353 TrainBoard Member

    2,879
    7,585
    71
    If you believe Kato, the BWL diner and kitchen-dormitory cars were built by ACF.
    https://www.katousa.com/N/Broadway/BWL10.html
     
    BarstowRick likes this.
  12. Point353

    Point353 TrainBoard Member

    2,879
    7,585
    71
    Photo of the 20th Century Ltd. near Chicago in 1955 led by an Alco PA-1/PB-1 combo:
    http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_RG1QMixeNsQ/TJo8BN1BdCI/AAAAAAAACfo/3eiemnGB17o/s1600/2011-4.jpg
    http://nycshs.blogspot.com/2010/
     
    BarstowRick likes this.
  13. NorsemanJack

    NorsemanJack TrainBoard Member

    2,264
    946
    51
    Thanks. I had seen that photo elsewhere, but without the important date information. That should clearly make the Kato PAs candidates to mate up with the new 20th Century Limited. The older Kato NYC PA releases appear to be readily available on ebay, but I would likely wait for a new release (decorated number boards, paint that would 100% match the latest cars and possibly some other marking updates). (y)
     
  14. Point353

    Point353 TrainBoard Member

    2,879
    7,585
    71
    "Mid-50s" wasn't good enough for you?
     
    BarstowRick likes this.
  15. David Farlow

    David Farlow New Member

    1
    0
    1
    But not the 1938 Century with shrouded 4-6-4 unfortunately. My wife's grandfather was a NYC engineer in Syracuse and between him and others, it sounded like power for the century was often what was available of the right type, so maybe more preference for an E, but use what is available.
     
  16. Inkaneer

    Inkaneer TrainBoard Member

    4,325
    1,424
    77
    Well, I, for one, always thought the E8 was, by far, more attractive than the PA for passenger trains. The PA, with that big nose, always reminded me of Jimmy Durante (if you can recall who he was) . That being said, I liked the FA over the F7 for freight. The boxy lines of the PA and FA somehow gave the connotation of a freight engine whereas the sleek streamline design of the E and F units seemed to have 'passenger' written all over it.
     
    Onizukachan likes this.
  17. NorsemanJack

    NorsemanJack TrainBoard Member

    2,264
    946
    51
    Well, like they say, beauty is in the eye of the beholder! That said, I do agree with you that the bulldog nose E units (E8, etc.) are attractive locomotives, but I prefer the slant nose E units (especially the one of a kind E5 units - actually "11 of a kind"). I still can't believe to this day that Kato actually produced the E5 in N scale. See my avatar.

    Back on topic.… I would guess that on a model railroading forum, a disproportionate percentage of readers will actually know who Jimmy Durante was; our average age likely being well North of fifty. Like Jimmy, maybe folks are either going to like the PA unit or not. No harm. If Kato re-releases them to go with the 20th Century Limited, I think they will sell very well.
     
  18. r_i_straw

    r_i_straw Mostly N Scale Staff Member

    22,210
    49,624
    253
    How so?
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
     
  19. Calzephyr

    Calzephyr TrainBoard Supporter

    4,153
    1,149
    74
    Early in my N scale life I acquired an early ConCor PA-1 in the NYC livery. Since I was not interested in modeling freight and didn't like the ConCor passenger cars, I used it as trade on some other 'western' road stuff (Santa Fe, SP etc..). I later got the ConCor PA-1/PB-1 in Rio Grande Aspen/Silver and never looked back (to the east). I actually now have 'some' NYC freight cars (jade green ones)... but... never did get any NYC motive power again.
    My only thoughts about the Kato announcement is that they are 'going half-way' with this NYC passenger release by not doing the Dreyfus Hudson. It makes economic sense for them to release PA units and E8 units... but... not really for me. I like buying full trains with unique locomotives when they are NOT western roads. I bought the Broadway Limited and the GG1 (though I got the E units too). I'm not so sure I will buy the NYC Twentieth Century until Kato announces either a Dreyfus Hudson or an S2 Niagara.
     
    Atlas 080 likes this.
  20. NorsemanJack

    NorsemanJack TrainBoard Member

    2,264
    946
    51
    Yep. We all say that until the release hits the street..... :LOL:
     
    WM183 likes this.

Share This Page