Yeah, wouldn't that be somethin', your probably right. That's what happened when I bought an Atlas GP-30 in BN, I got a GP-39, LOL ! fatalxsunrider43
That would make more sense... Those are still not reworked for the 'latest' DCC enhancements including possibly sound boards. Maybe they just haven't gotten around to retrofitting those frames for the current generation of drop-in decoders. I'll keep my fingers crossed. WPZephyrFan... I'd like to get some of those NP and the GN 'Hustle Muscle' as well. I have one of the GN (not Hustle Muscle) lokies from their late 1990's run. Little did I know that they were not going to do any new SD45' for the next 10+ years. In the meantime... Bachmann has done an SD45... which IMHO is not a particularly good model. I hope that doesn't keep Kato from re-releasing their original SD45 with enhancements.
When Kato first brought out the Mikado years ago I thought a logical next move and something that would be a best seller would be a Pacific to go with it, I still think it would be a good idea especially with heavyweight passenger cars now coming from MTL.
I don't think I've ever seen the Kato or Bachmann SD45s for sale new. Actually, I don't think I've ever seen one, period. lol I have to add that I don't mind if Kato focuses on their home market, since I collect Japanese prototype equipment, too.
John... how could you! You made me start looking for mine... dang-it! I've been looking now for over an hour for that GN SD45 so I could take a pic of it. I know I've got one... either #410 or #415. I even remember the day I bought it because the LHS owner was practically twisting my arm to buy it. I kept telling him I'd rather wait for the D&RGW version... but finally caved in and bought one of the two numbers because I hadn't bought an engine from him in a long time. I test ran it and have buried it so far into the depths of my collection I haven't seen it for the past 10+ years. If I ever find it... it'll probably be in the last place I look (funny... isn't that usually the way it alway is... LOL). I I don't have a lot of GN stuff so it could be mixed with other roadnames... so it could be almost anywhere... baffled:
I've got two ATSF yellow warbonnet SD45's, one weathered, the other as new with just MTL couplers added. I must get round to putting decoders in them, I think I've waited long enough for a DCC ready version. They need a bit of extra paint as they are old school Kato where everything had black underframe and handrails regardless of the prototype. I had a Wisconsin Central unit ordered from TexNrails that was never sent even though they said all preorders had been met, I don't like the chances of it turning up now either.
NP and DRGW SD45's would be a forced buy for me. Just like the GG1. I don't model the Pennsy, and I don't have catenary over any of my layout, but I just had to buy one. I've recently backdated my roster so that the most modern engine is an SD24, but I always liked the SD45's. I think I owned two BNs and three GNs at one point, but sold them in trying to keep up with Kato's design upgrades. An updated offering with plug-and-play DCC and lighted number boards would be great.
i would be happy if Kato released a santa Fe 4-8-4 northern if they can release a GS4 they can make a Santa Fe northern that Bachman northern is a waist of money i tried it
I'd love to see a pic of it. I think of the two, I'd like a NP version as I see a lot of those in Inside Gateway trains on the WP. I have a GN orange and green GP35 so far. A Big Sky Blue SD45 would be nice, too.
Rumour has it... KATO announcement !! SD45's being re-released. "Redesigned" DCC Ready mechanism. Delivery November. D&RGW (2 Numbers) Santa Fe Kodachrome (2 Numbers) Great Northern Big Sky (2 Numbers) Great Northern - Hustle Muscle # 400 Which November?
Gee... imagine that... I didn't even have to send one email request for a D&RGW SD45 and they announced one! Wow... I just realized this makes TWO Kato locomotives in one year that I've been waiting a lifetime for! I had to look twice to see if I was just my imagination... now all I have to do is have the funds and a pulse by the time these are delivered .
