Next Kato name train passenger release?

No disagreements. I would rather Kato just stay the course with their current business model. I really don't want my entire wish list in a year or two, because I don't like to spend that much all at one time and I also like to spread out the new releases rather than get all the goodies at once. Kind of like the kid with the December birthday. Sure, it's nice when December comes, but what do you have to look forward to the rest of the year? The fact that Kato has embraced the US name train market, and come up with an unbelievable number of prototypical consists to this point is cause for continuing celebration for any passenger train fan. That said, I really hope they make it to the NCL before God takes me home.

 

Kato has already produced a few of the passenger cars and the lead loco will be released soon, so what are the chances of them making the rest of the cars for this train?
http://www.trainboard.com/highball/index.php?threads/up-spirit-of-1943-business-train.116288/

 

...and the winner is:

KATO - N SCALE CITY OF LOS ANGELES PASSENGER TRAIN

 

I wish I could offer more. My understanding is that ideas are proposed and sometimes shot down. So a production schedule is not really possible because its often in flux, or so I am told. I'd be looking for an announcement at the usual times throughout the year. I'd just start saving. I am. You'll be glad you did.

 

You're about two pages behind there brother (but it's still all good ).

 

Did Trainboard get a new advertiser?
They don't seem to be listed here: http://www.trainboard.com/highball/index.php?forums/advertisers.155/

 

Thank you for the additional tidbits of information.
Your comments make me feel that the NYC Twentieth Century Ltd with the Dreyfuss Hudson may be coming sooner than later in 'my' production schedule estimate.

 

Kato has built up an impressive selection of tooling for cars, and at this point, they can produce a new CBQ, ATSF or UP train with minimal effort, and some of the sleepers from those trains or the Broadway Ltd. can be used as the basis of other road's trains. What I am getting at is that they have a lot of flexibility- and they have the option to reissue cars or entire trains if they find there is a demand for re-runs. Owning the factory and the tooling gives Kato a competitive advantage when talking about large production runs, and re-issues.

And their tooling is obviously flexible- as when they issued the ATSF modified F3s a few years ago- a mix and match of F3 and F7 tooling to produce a model targeted to a particular segment of their market. No one other than an ATSF modeler of the 1950s or 60s, or a collector, would want one, but EVERY ATSF modeler of the 50s and 60s wanted an ABBA set.

Given the recent tooling for the E5 (which I assume meant some modification of the frame of an E8 to accomodate the slant nose), I am thinking that before too long, there will be some E3s and E6s out there, with appropriate trainsets, some of which could be devised from tooling they already have. (*whether that is part of W Neal's secret inside info, or not.)

 

I wouldn't say "no one." I am neither an ATSF modeler, nor a collector, but I do have more than one set of warbonnet Kato F units. Best engine paint scheme ever and I'm a huge passenger fan.

 

Great post Thomas. I hope you are right about the E3s and E6s. Those slant nose E units were beautiful. Of course, an E5B unit is at the top of my list (see my avatar).

 

I have been thinking about just how easy it could be for Kato to expand their passenger train consists simply by modifying some of the existing tooling and create the appropriate E6 or E7 diesel ABA, ABB or ABBA set.

I really think that Kato was going to do exactly that... but... there were already some E6 and E7 units created by LifeLike... and later PCM/BLI (Precision Craft Models/Broadway Limited Inc.) got into the fray with some very high end models of E6, E7 and E8 units as will as PA/PB units. I believe that is why they did the E5 and the Silver Streak Zephyr... I think they might have changed up their plans and moved up the development of the E5's... which might explain why no E5B units.

It is probably why Kato floated the idea of the EMC TA units and Rock Island Rockets. I think an E3 is a bit of a stretch at this point... since they did the FEF and now the CoLA is being re-released. E4's are even more of a stretch if you figure east coast railroads were the primary users of them.

Somewhere in the next decade there will be an E6 and E7 release from Kato... but... I have my doubts it will be less than 5 years away. I really think Kato will do the NYC Twentieth Century Limited with the Dreyfus Hudson within 5 years (might be next?). I could see them use the basic design of the Dreyfus Hudson as a starting point for another similar locomotive... the F7 Baltic used by Milwaukee Road... as a next release of the Hiawatha series.

Meanwhile... anything that uses an F3/F7, E5, E8/9 or a PA as motive power could be a re-run or a completely new release within the next 5 years.
As a result... I still hold out hope for a North Coast Limited being run within 5 years.

 

If Kato made the 1940 version of the 20th Twentieth Century Ltd. they could offer it with both the Dreyfuss Hudson and E7 locos.
http://www.rr-fallenflags.org/nyc/nyc4001as.jpg

 

I would be happy to see either......

 

Well here's a surprise. Looks like the next "name train" release will be a C&NW 400.

http://www.katousa.com/N/400/index.html

 

That's a great photo Russell. Are we correct in assuming that one of those gentlemen are you?

For a small pike C&NW, I would have preferred the Kate Shelley (mainly because it went through my small home town when I was growing up).

 

The man who runs Kato USA is a Midwesterner...