Next Passenger Train

broadway zephyr Feb 28, 2007

  1. broadway zephyr

    broadway zephyr TrainBoard Member

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    Was talking with the guy who runs a pretty large internet operation the other day. Got into a Kato passenger car discussion and he said he believes Kato is going to come out with a Broadway Limited. Told him I had conversations with Leon on this subject, and what Leon said---and if anyone of you has had the same conversation with Leon you will know what I mean next---which was basically they would like to come out with a new train every year if they could and to stay tuned this year. I asked him about an NCL, which he vetoed. Asked him about an El Cap and he said that they had a lot of requests for an El Cap, and thought that would interesting. Didn't say no, which he will from time to time---like with the NCL.

    There has been some talk that they will do another western train, but recently I have been hearing about an eastern train to satisfy those modelers who have been deprived. Now the internet dealer is talking about a Pennsy Broadway Limited.

    I think I read something the other day about PCM doing a Broadway Limited---or is planning to.

    Would love to see ANY other full train offering from Kato---or anyone reputable for that matter.

    Lots of talk...what is accurate? Weigh in with what you know, or what you are hearing. Thanks!
     
  2. J Long

    J Long E-Mail Bounces

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    I think Kato should do all the name trains at once and put them in open stock like Walthers is doing. That way we get the sets we want before we die.
     
  3. dckuk

    dckuk New Member

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    I'd settle for an IC City of Miami, or a C&NW Bi-Level long distance train...
     
  4. skipgear

    skipgear TrainBoard Member

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    With the Athearn Challenger out and a big hit, it would make sense for them to re run the UP smoothsides. I think the cars are UP prototypes anyhow. It seems it would be a quick revenue generator from existing tooling. Maybe tune up the tooling or add a few more cars to go with what is available already.

    I would think with all the IMR/Centrailia PRR cars out and coming down the pipe that Kato would shy from doing anything PRR and as much as I would like to see a NYC train, I don't think they will sell in the numbers that Kato wants. I would love to see B&O of course. It seems that any new B&O release sells out, so that would be my locgical choice. It seems Kato hasn't realized that the first railroad in the US is a fairly popular one to model.
     
  5. NorsemanJack

    NorsemanJack TrainBoard Member

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    Kato has already proven that if they release a high quality, prototypically correct passenger set the market will expand to reward them with good sales. Many postings suggest that with the California Zephyr and Super Chief, a lot of folks bought them who would not otherwise be interested in those roads/trains. We've seen countless posts along the lines of "well, even though I don't model road xxx, I still bought these because they are just so darn appealing."

    That being said, I think they could hit a home run with an accurate offering of any of the following:

    North Coast Limited
    Broadway Limited
    20th Century Limited
    Empire Builder

    A heavyweight set would also be nice, however that also might require them to produce a nice new steam loco. Perhaps a Hudson?? :thumbs_up:
     
  6. keystonecrossings

    keystonecrossings TrainBoard Member

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    PCM doesn't make trains... they just announce them!

    By the way, I read in another forum that on PCM's schedule page "TBD" doesn't mean "To Be Determined" as most people would think. Apparently it means "To Be Delayed"!!!
     
  7. Rossford Yard

    Rossford Yard TrainBoard Member

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    Reading between the lines, sounds like El Cap is a possibility! Actually, they would be safe with any ATSF, UP, SP or Pennsy Train. Other great looking trains I think would sell well (although I bet they scope out the old Con Cor releases to see what sold then:

    Empire Builder (round two)
    NYC
    Southern Cresecnt
    NW Powhattan Arrow (?) in Pennsy tuscan
    B and O


    Darkhorses would be the lovely KCS trains, MILW, and the other Northern Tier roads like SPS and NP. What about a bone for our Canadian friends?

    I doubt anything IC, CNW, Rock or other granagers would sell. Ditto MP and C and O, since they just never caught on with most passenger fans, although they looked nice.
     
  8. Calzephyr

    Calzephyr TrainBoard Supporter

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    DRATS!


    Arrrrggghhhh!!!!
    :cry:
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Mar 3, 2007
  9. SecretWeapon

    SecretWeapon Passed away January 23, 2024 In Memoriam

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    :thumbs_up: :shade:
     
  10. broadway zephyr

    broadway zephyr TrainBoard Member

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    CalZ,

    I take it you'd like to see an NCL? IMHO, I think an NCL would be a blowout. My sense is that the Builder is just doing ok. There seem to be sets everywhere---cheap. If I were Leon---and I don't know if he reads these boards or not---I would package any future train like they package the CZ. I don't know what a typcial consist is for the NCL, but I am sure they can make a box to put in in. They would literally fly off the shelves. The Builder would do better if it was packaged like this as well. They could still offer some individual cars if they think they need to, and they would just be extras. They would sell well also along with a prepackaged set.

    I think we have a better than even shot at something new this year. My bet is an El Cap (although they may need new tooling. I don't think the Amtrak cars would work---anyone know?). I'd take ANY NAME train that went into Chicago however.

    I don't think Kato realizes---or maybe they just don't care---how much money they are leaving on the table by not producing these sets. The market is primed after the CZ, S Chief and Builder. And that could be said for any of these manufacturers. Produce a set and you basically lock up the buyers.

    Why aren't the other producers seeing the success of Kato's sets and getting on the schtick?
     
  11. NorsemanJack

    NorsemanJack TrainBoard Member

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    Unfortunately, the "Builder" doesn't warrant mention with the other two. Kato has not produced a prototypical Empire Builder.
     
  12. broadway zephyr

    broadway zephyr TrainBoard Member

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    Agreed. But it sure looks pretty good. They defijnitely took the easy way out and just reproduced cars from the previous release tooling, which is nothing more than their standard passenger car tooling.

    On the positve side: If the Builder is nothing but a re-release of old tooling, and the new CZ is nothing but a relettered old CZ, then Kato has had a few years to work on something completely new and different, right? The last two trains were not new at all. I almost think they would NOT release a SF El Cap on the heels of the SF Super Chief...but they do love ATSF, and they must find that it sells. The time between the Super Chief, and say a newly tooled, all-new name train would be just about right.

    We should all start peppering Leon for a better heads up...
     
  13. NorsemanJack

    NorsemanJack TrainBoard Member

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    The CZ is anything but a "relettered old CZ." Kato did an amazing job with both the recent and original release of the CZ. All of the cars are correct prototypes and as a CB&Q fan I am delighted with the results. A lot of us are scratching our heads wondering why they didn't make the extra effort on the Empire Builder, choosing instead to simply reprint the original non-prototypical cars. Despite being a GN fan, I would sooner buy the Super Chief cars than the recent GN releases.
     
  14. broadway zephyr

    broadway zephyr TrainBoard Member

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    jack,

    Perhaps you misunderstood my post...

    The new 2006 relase CZ is nothing but a relettered 2004 CZ set.

    How's that? What I am getting at is Kato didn't spend a lot of time, money and resources putting out the Builder last year---basically a relettering of an old GN release. And the 2006 CZ is nothing but a relttering of the 2004 CZ. So there was no money or time put into new tooling for either of these sets.

    They have had a lot of time since the Super Chief to produce something all new...we're on the same page here...we just want to see more stuff!
     
  15. wig-wag-trains.com

    wig-wag-trains.com Advertiser

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    Maybe that's because they did THREE runs of them! Also two runs of the Super Chief and the Set A is sold out.

    The packaging is just fine. The big box is a deterrent to sales.
     
  16. wig-wag-trains.com

    wig-wag-trains.com Advertiser

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    Because someone else is.
     
  17. daniel_leavitt2000

    daniel_leavitt2000 TrainBoard Member

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    Kato is going with the Broadway from what I have heard. The real question will be if they use their E8 or a new GG1.
     
  18. dascrab

    dascrab E-Mail Bounces

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    Tony - If you look at the tail car on that set, I think you will be pleasantly surprised. It is a dead match for the B&O river series cars.
    It would work for the NYC too as they owned them first.

    Daniel L 2000 - A Kato GG1??? Holy Moly! The N scale world would go nuts for them!
    RICK
     
  19. Alaska GP49

    Alaska GP49 TrainBoard Member

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    I am sure this isn't a hot request but I have to say it. I wouldn't mind see Kato do a Alaska set. It would be pretty close to prototype because many of their cars are ex-UP and Amtrak. I will keep wishing. I could make my own declas, that always seems to speed manufactured cars that I want!
     
  20. Calzephyr

    Calzephyr TrainBoard Supporter

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    There were?

    I thought there had only been one previous release of the EB set. I also thought that this second release was going to be done with the correct cars. I bought the "A" and "C" set of the last EB before I found out that they were not accurate... sigh. I prefer to buy them as accurate as possible... not that these are 'bad' looking to me... I'd just prefer them to be accurate.

    There are a few thing going against an NCL from Kato. First, the NCL used mainly FP7 power... Kato has not made FP7's and probably isn't looking to do that either. They may have to do too many different cars for the NCL... and those car styles might be too specific to the NCL to be used on other passenger trains for other railroads. The FP7 will be the realm of Intermountain Railway Co... and the Centralia Car Shops division will do the NCL cars eventually.

    I don't have a problem with IMRC doing the FP7 locos... they should turn out good (despite some past issues). But,,, the real killer is the cost of the passenger cars from Centrailia Car Shops. They are very nice looking... but... they are literally twice the price of a typical Kato passenger car... and NOT twice as nice.

    The CZ boxed sets are nice ... very convenient for display and hauling around the stuff. The Unitrack included is not a neccesity... but... i'ts nice to get extra track. The first CZ sets were quick to sell... the second set probably was playing to an oversaturated market of CZ cars. I think the real problem with the single large box is for the retailers... big box = more hassels to package & more shipping expense to the buyers. The buyers may not have the funds to purchase a complete set and would prefer to buy in smaller segments or individual cars.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Mar 3, 2007

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