KATO GS-4 pulling capability

Nick Lorusso Oct 30, 2009

  1. Nick Lorusso

    Nick Lorusso TrainBoard Member

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    I was wondering if the Kato GS-4 will pull 30 MTL 40' box cars and 1 60' WOT harriman coach? All cars converted to metal wheels from intermountain. I'm building a SP overnight train and I'm wondering what to use for the locomotive.

    Thanks in advance,
     
  2. Babbo_Enzo

    Babbo_Enzo TrainBoard Member

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    In a flat Pacific Coast or over Donner pass?
    Seriously... I've test a Black GS4, a Bachmann Heawy MT and a Key brass MT4 with 20-22 40' dark green Overnight plus 2 Harrimans baggages in my flat "plywoodscape"
    The best one ( smooth at yard speed limit ) was the Kato, then the brass and then the Bachmann. BUT... I must say I've test the Bachmann fitted with a Soundtraxx without any CVs modifications, and the other two in DC, so ... is not really a comparable test.
     
  3. Powersteamguy1790

    Powersteamguy1790 Permanently dispatched

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    The Kato GS-4 will easily pull the 30 boxcars and The WOT Harriman coach.
     
  4. Nick Lorusso

    Nick Lorusso TrainBoard Member

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    Good to know thanks Bob.
     
  5. DCESharkman

    DCESharkman TrainBoard Member

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    If you are looking for a top end, it can go almost 80 free rolling 40 foot cars
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Oct 31, 2009
  6. Powersteamguy1790

    Powersteamguy1790 Permanently dispatched

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    My GS-4 can easily pull 40 "Daylight " Passenger cars on the "New" JJJ&E which includes a 1 1/2% grade. I haven't tested the GS -4 with 40 foot boxcars yet.
     
  7. Nick Lorusso

    Nick Lorusso TrainBoard Member

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    Really good to know. I also have a good size reefer block & mixed freight to run behind one.

    Was the 40 car daylight a mixture of Kato cars?
     
  8. Powersteamguy1790

    Powersteamguy1790 Permanently dispatched

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    It was 26 "Kato "Daylight" Cars, 6 Intermountain "Daylight" cars and eight assorted old "Daylight" cars from various manufacturers. I ran this train after I ran two smaller trains which was the "Golden Spike" event of the "new" JJJ&E.
     
  9. Mark Watson

    Mark Watson TrainBoard Member

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    A 40 car Daylight Passenger train! That's gotta be one heck of a sight!
     
  10. RBrodzinsky

    RBrodzinsky November 18, 2022 Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter In Memoriam

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    Stretches from SF to LA - passengers just have to walk from one end to the other!
     
  11. Powersteamguy1790

    Powersteamguy1790 Permanently dispatched

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    It's a great sight to see as it takes up quite a bit of mainline(30 feet plus).
     
  12. Powersteamguy1790

    Powersteamguy1790 Permanently dispatched

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    Pretty close Rick...:lightning::lightning::lightning:
     
  13. SPsteam

    SPsteam TrainBoard Member

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    Did the zipper run with a coach or a caboose on the overnight run from LA to San Fran?
    I run my overnight with a Key MT-1 or a my Kato GS-4 in daylight trim. I've read articles where both types of motive power were used. My Key MT-1 will pull about 24 MT cars and my GS-4 will pull everything else. As Diesels came online and pushed GS-4's to the sidelines, they became more prevalent on the overnight. I would use a daylight vice the black since the black is only accurate for a specific period. If you remove the skirts, that opens the era a bit. As far as Key MT-1/4 they are showing up more and more on the online auction sites.
     
  14. Tony Burzio

    Tony Burzio TrainBoard Supporter

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    Order spare traction tires when you order the engine... :tb-biggrin:
     
  15. Babbo_Enzo

    Babbo_Enzo TrainBoard Member

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    As is also my interest (I plan an overnight too) I've takes two books from my shelf. The first [FONT=&quot]choice [/FONT]go the Coast Line of John Signor and the Coast line Pictoria of Tony Thompson & Signor.
    Well... there are two version !

    Under a 1939 pictures at Page 260 of Coast Line Pictorial ( T.Thompson & J.Signor)
    "The Coast Merchandise trains, nicknamed the "Overnights" by SP , were called the "Zipper" by crews. Train # are 374 (eastbound) and 373 (westbound).
    headed by a Dayligth GS2, consist contain not only "Overnight" box cars modified for passenger train speeds,but two baggage cars and an express refrigerator.
    The usual rear-end crew accomodation would be a steel-wheel coach.

    The CoastLine (J.Signor) page 150 describes some of the CM evolution and refer that : "The trains resume operation on April 1946 as CME and CMW, operating on first-class schedules of theirown... regular power assigned was the fast and capable MT type 4300.
    At first, cars assigned to this service were distinguished by a white triangle on the cardoor. The 450 special boxcars equipped with high-speed trucks were delivered in fall,1946 for the overnight service....
    The Coast Merchandise trains were blocked in reverse of standard freight trains, which had the first and subsequent setouts blocked behind the engine. The CM trains were blocked with the first setout ahead of the caboose because the road engine was not cut off on the entire 471-mile run."

    Now my question.... There are any caboose with Hi speed trucks able to consist with such train? ( I guess I need to open the Vol.2 of Tony Thompson Freight cars serie! )

    continue.... (?)
     
  16. Ed Pinkley#2

    Ed Pinkley#2 TrainBoard Member

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    Mine won't pull anything because the traction tires always fall off. It's a hunk of junk and I guess it will sit in it's box until I get a place for it on a mantle. What a waste of money. I knew there was a reason i didn't like steam engines.
     
  17. Powersteamguy1790

    Powersteamguy1790 Permanently dispatched

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    If You paint the wheel rims with Polly Scale grimy black paint and reinstall the traction tires immediately after painting each wheel rim, your traction tires will stay on.
     
  18. Babbo_Enzo

    Babbo_Enzo TrainBoard Member

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  19. CarlH

    CarlH TrainBoard Member

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    Wow......
    Would this be a case of an N-scale steam engine model that can outpull the prototype, on a scale basis?
     

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