Yaaay!! That means new scalloped track from Kato!! I just hope it's code 40 to code 200 and not that horrible code 45 to code 205 stuff.
They had a big poster of this one below at the Kato booth at the N Scale Enthusiast convention in Roanoke. I had a long discussion with the Kato rep about the locomotive and the issues they had developing it. It is for real and not a hoax.
I commend you for your effort Russell, but if anybody still thinks this is not real they simply aren't paying attention.
Time to start saving my nickels and dimes. Mr. Wallet is going to go into a sweat when I buy at least four of these! Cheerio! Bob Gilmore
even though my main focus is ATSF, I'm going to buy two...my plan is to, eventually, build a LA River/LAUPT central themed layout with peninsulas, branching off, that represent iconic areas that the three LAUPT railroads traversed in their travels to LA. At the very least, I'll need to represent a steam powered (or 'helped') freight drag and a COLA train with E units to represent the UP. Lokking very forward to this one! ~Bruce
I think there's a very good chance that'll happen on the first run. I hope it's the later yellow stripe version which would be the later two-tone paint for some contiguity with the Armour Yellow passenger cars. Cheerio! Bob Gilmore
Just so you guys know, one of the retailers is taking orders for this locomotive and an excursion train to match. It all looks to be my prototype. Of course, I will undoubtedly be buying one of these logos for a Northern Pacific kitbash regardless!
Listed for sale in different places: UP FEF-3 #844 (so far, only one model number referenced) UP Water Tender #809 UP Water Tender #814 UP 7 Car Passenger Set: Power Car Coach Dome Coach Sleeper Diner with Dome Museum Business A thank you to Mr. Fifer for posting photos from the show. It was the only thing I found online that mentioned this announcement.
Yes, I got an e-mail for Kato USA. I noticed the locomotive will be offered with dcc installed which I hope to buy rather than hire someone to install a decoder for me. I have not decided about the water tanks.
Me a Borg RR man … HELL NO! Borg Class1 railroad for me are CN,CP, BNSF, CSX and u.p. RR and Regional the GENESEE and WYOMING.. Here’s hoping that KATO produces a FEF in a Generic or unpainted version . Tom
I'm wondering if the decoder will be Kato's drop in EM13 as used in the GS4 or if they will go with something more sophisticated that will allow control of lights. The EM13 is perfect for its intended purpose, power cars of Japanese MU trains, but not the best for locomotives.
This is my concern, too. If a standard socket is provided, great, but if we are back to running wires.... grrrrr
The decoder will be a drop in board replacement style in the boiler of the locomotive with space inside of the tender to mount a speaker housing if desired. It is not designed to use the EM13 decoder. Kelley. www.dufordmodelworks.com
The response I got from Kato when I asked about what decoder method they were going with today was that it wasn't finalized. They did say that the decoder they would factory install was 99% likely to be made by TCS. In other words, it's apparently still under development.