You're right. I didn't see that right away. I am not so good at spotting differences on these newer locomotives, and by newer I mean newer than about 1960, and I am even worse when it comes to GEs.
In 1999 thought I was getting out of N gauge and sold most of my locos on the internet – was very surprised at the interest showed on the Kato C&O U30C up for sale. Two years later was back into N gauge and though brand variety is nice I’ve never gone wrong buying Kato. I will buy a U30C from Kato for the second time in about 15 years.
Not anymore. N&W bought 3 U30Cs (8000-8002) in 1974. This was followed by 80 C30-7s starting in 1978 (8003-8082). All of them have distinctive Adirondack FB-3 trucks with triple clasp brakes. The U30Cs and the first order of C30-7s had the distinctive bell mounted on top of the "nose" of the long hood. These became NS with the same numbers. The C30-7s may have made to this century as NS locos, but they are all off the roster now. Mark
Don't like opening up old wounds but I wonder if the Kodachrome and ATSF units will have the same shade of yellow? I guess I'll have to order some to find out.:tb-wink:
Mark, thank you! I do appreciate the history lesson. Since there were only about 80 NS I doubt there will ever be one by Kato and fi there is it will have several detail issues. Still, I can dream.
I don't know but word to dealers is that they've found a nice mint green for the BN units. :tb-wink::tb-wink:
Good timing! I was just starting to search for a few BN C30-7s, I suspect new production will be more DCC-friendly.
I think that's a legitimate concern. Kato has become more and more erratic with their paint colors in the last several years so who knows? Like everything else these days, they dare us not to buy it. Who cares if the paint is remotely approaching reality, we'll buy it anyway because....who else is gonna to a C30-7 in n-scale? That is why I most likely won't be preordering one.
Because it's not a western road and probably not a favorite of the Japanese modelers, who drive Kato's decisions.
And, because they know you N&W guys will have a $#!*fit because they won't have the correct 3 brake cylinder trucks w/ the steel brake shoes.
Me either Doug. After pre ordering 4 of the last Kodachrome SD45's, I've had enough. I'll wait to see how these look. I just hope they go the same route as the SD45's so I can get some yellow colored handrails for my old C30's. I wonder if they'll keep the 4 piece window or do a new cab with a 2 piece..... yeah, who am I kidding, 4 piece it is. Mike
I hadn't thought of the 4 piece window, I guess it'll be still the one size fits all approach of 15 years ago.:tb-sad: It shouldn't be that hard to do two different cabs depending on the prototype, they are, after all, retooling the cab with lit number boards.
Pfft! Call yourselves model railroaders? Blank the extra windows like the manufacturer and railroads did!
