YES!! And when Athearn comes out with 4014... Mark, your sacrifice has been duly noted! lol And, why is my post duplicated? So many questions, so few answers...
Actually Athearn already released Big Boy 4014 a couple years ago... Though I'm curious whether they will release an updated 4014 model with any of the changes to the rehabbed Big Boy (I know the tender will look a little different).
Or working on any sort of modeling at all? These days, I seem to be spending all of my free time working on my nascent European Locomotive Encyclopedia ... :-( Cheers, -Mark
It seems real enough to me... It's been a couple of years from the 'preliminary' discussion of a 'mystery "Pacific" named' locomotive on the drawing board by Kato. With the economy in Japan having taken a hit from the devastating 2011 earthquake, tsunami & nuclear accident... it probably delayed the project until now. Very likely a press release will coincide with one of the upcoming N scale or National conventions in late June 2014. The tweet was just a tease... but probably a real hint of the project finally going into production. It is the most logical product for Kato to produce given the effort they put into the COLA cars couple years ago... which probably would have been pulled by the 844 instead of E8/9 diesels models... if not for production delays from the disaster that year.
Bob... don't feel bad about not having taken a photo of the flyer or not knowing whether it was 'old news'... With the number of threads on Trainboard, Railwire, Atlas and other forums... it seems as though we would have had MULTIPLE releases of this model by more than one manufacturer/importer. At one time the news was that Athearn would follow-up on their Challenger and Big Boys... which an FEF... because Athearn was having good success with those other models. Debates were heated and rumors abounded anytime someone would mention the 844. I really think you stumbled upon the real deal this time.
I hope it's the big announcement at the N Scale convention this year. And I hope it comes with two auxiliary water tenders.
Wow, I didn't know this thread was gonna cause such a *^%&storm on the internet. I don't know what this shop has with Kato. I do know they had the F-2's in stock on May 15th which was much earlier than other retailers and they do have a large stock of Kato.And I kind of got the impression the flyer was "not for me to see yet" since the two employees were discussing it and I happened to catch a glimpse and then it was quickly stuffed back in it's envelope. I have no interest whatsoever in acquiring one, so I didn't pay it too close of attention. But I knew others had expressed a desire for such. I don't want to name the shop, and it's not what others have guessed, since not only is it against TB rules, I don't want to get them in hot water with Kato if there is a current gag order. They do treat me well. Bob
"We thought we'd take a break from posting info on models we've already released to stop and admire some scenery" is the caption of the Kato USA photo posted. I find it a real leap to assume a model version is forth coming from Kato in N-scale.
I think it's a teaser - meant to stir up exactly this sort of internet buzz. It would not surprise me at all if the official announcement came at the national N scale convention 11 days from now. Cheers, -Mark
OK, now someone is going to have to figure out how to convert one of these to a New York Central Niagara.
Personally, I think it is exectly as suggested; a poorly-veiled teaser (intentionally) to start stirring up some excitement for a near term official announcement. I'll buy one of any steam offering that Kato produces. When this thing sells like gangbusters, hopefully they'll be motivated to produce more US steam.
I have several Kato Japanese prototype steam locos and I love them. I'd buy an Kato American steamer in a heartbeat!
Oh... I can certainly agree that the caption is not 100% indicative of a pending release of the FEF. Kato has been known to send misleading information as well... and... they really have NOT been leaking any direct information of a new model in the near future. BUT... this is the time of the year when MAJOR announcements would normally be disclosed. The fact that Kato has released UP passenger equipment with their E8/9... and... the last few passenger car sets (Alaska, IC, CNW etc..) are basically UP prototypes... has me leaning very strongly towards a new UP related MAJOR announcement. What would be considered bigger news than a new steam locomotive from Kato... and one that would work great with their recent passenger car offerings??? Well it would seem obvious the "FEF"... and that photo they posted on Twitter isn't (IMHO) just another misleading prank. OF COURSE... now that I've said this... the next twitter post might show a forest of pine trees obscuring a greenish silhouette of F3's in the background... with some catchy phrase intended to make us think a North Coast Limited might be in the production line.
