At the Sacramento convention/show, one thing I picked up at the Kato booth was that they were disappointed in the sales of their east coast sets, vs the western roads. But, when I mentioned how much I would love a 20th Century run (with art deco Hudson), I got an enigmatic smile.
I would not expect a Columbian, but rather an Olympian or Olympian Hiawatha. They ran behind Little Joes and Bipolar electrics out west. The GG-1 chassis might be a start for a 'Joe, but has a totally diff wheel arrangement (2-D+D-2 vs 2-C+C-2) from a GG-1. The 'Joe is even more different from a Bipolar (1B+D+D+B1). A Westinghouse Quill electric (2-C-1+1-C-2) would be a great idea as well for earlier MILW varnish. Boxcab electrics would be great choices as well, but even given the large fleet MILW rostered, they rarely pulled passenger duty after the Quills and Joes came along. GN is doubtful as Kato did an EB set a few years ago. Even though it was incorrectly based on the UP smoothside tooling.
A Kato enigmatic smile for the 20th Century Ltd! I have been waiting for one since my first Kato UP psgr set in the green "book binders" 20 years ago. I had to use ConCor smoothsides for the decade before that to approximate a 20th C Ltd.
Okay...???.... an 'enigmatic smile' might have been a puzzled response after they told you their eastern road sales were disappointing. It would not be a positive gesture for a new 20th Century Ltd. More like they were thinking under their breath... "What do you mean you want a eastern road? Didn't you just hear me say they don't sell well?" I would like to see a 20th Century Ltd with Dreyfus Hudson. It would definately be a train of destinction and one that ran for many years. I'm just thinking about that comment... eastern roads don't sell as well as western roads. Kato has done over 10 western roads (including re-runs) to the 1 eastern road (Broadway Ltd)... so perhaps they might take a chance on another eastern road at some time... and it may be soon. What that comment (and gesture) definately tells me is that they are not going to be doing very many of the eastern roads... so... if its not a big time... long running eastern road passenger consist... don't hold your breath.
Yep - thought that one, too. We actually spent more time in the that conversation discussing the need for a rerun of Mikado traction drivers - at least it looks like I'll be getting my wish on that one, sometime soon.
I hope you're wrong on this point. If we look to the UP offerings as setting a precedent, then the reverse could be concluded (i.e. after numerous non-prototypical UP releases, they retooled and put out a real train - hopefully they could follow the same "logic" with the EB). That said, if I had to place money on this, I would bet on a 20th Century Limited. I would prefer either NCL or EB, but I think that Dreyfuss Hudson possibility would be a home run (and they could also sell a bunch of E units as well). How many of us non-SP fans bought the Daylight after seeing the Kato GS-4?
Hate to dig up old threads, But I was able to confirm something over my trip to Wa over the last few weeks. My prediction is correct, and the Passenger set that is coming is going to BLOW YOUR MIND. It, if they do it right, will include a all new tooled locomotive, and several newly tooled cars too!! I wish I could spill the beans, but I was sword to secrecey by the guys at Kato, and my source in WA. I know one thing though, I am saving my money, and will be ordering this one!!!
Thanks for the 'head-up'... errr... even though I don't have a clue what it could be. I am happy to read that you're confirming a completely new locomotive... that is significant news... as most of us are pining for something more than just re-runs of existing tooling. I doubt that Kato will be doing a new diesel... though many have said a new EMD E6 or E7 would be a good addition... despite it having been done by ConCor (by Kato) and LifeLike. Can you clue us in on whether it's a steamer or diesel.... errr... or even an electric? I personally expect a Hudson class (4-6-4) which could open up possibilities for a Twentieth Century Ltd with a Dreyfuss Hudson... OR... an Olympian Hiawatha with an "F7 Hudson". Makes me wonder about my experiment of putting the Fox Valley 1935 Hiawatha in a Kato case... HMMMMM....????
I know Exactly what type of Locomotive, and Even a good idea on what Cars are probably To be new, and not Reruns. I Could spill the beans or leave some clues somewhere, but I'm a man of my word, and will not tell for now.
You already spilled them. So now that we know its a Hiawatha, what version? I want the one with diesel power from the 50's. Were they F-3/7's or E-8/9's? I can't see them copying FVM.
Never said it was a hiawatha, all I said is I know what train it is, what is going to be pulling it, and it will require a few newly tooled cars.
Ummmmmmmmmmm.... Delamaize Honstly, after FVM's Hiawatha, my money is on the Olympia Hiawatha, Pulled by the FM erie builts, they also pulled it with E units for a time period and I think mabey even F units, not sure about that thought. The coaches, the Skytop lounges could be used in sevral MILW schemes, and the CN in at least one scheme. The supre domes are the same way, for MILW sevral schemes, and at least one for the CN schemes, and IIRC Amtrak, Alaska RR(or tour railroad), C&NW, and VIA rail. I am sure their is others I just don't know about it. Not to mention the Pullman Superdome design from MILW was very simmular to the ones made for SF, it would be a easy one to re-use over and over again. I could also see them doing the Pre war Olympia Hiawatha pulled by the EP2 Bi-polars. they already have the corect trucks from some of their Japanese prorotype stuff, and I imagine they probally have something in that inventory that could work for the frame and drive, or be modifyed to fit and work under a Bi-polar shell. Although I don't think Kato has any Heavyweight cars tooled up, so that might not happen. Although, I think that the EP-2 bi-polars may have pulled the post war Olympia Hiawatha also, but I am not 100% on that. If they did pull the super dome/skytop Olympia Hiawatha with an EP-2, and Kato produced it, you can count me down for one! Just sayin :tb-wink:
Not trying to be an A$$hat...but... Hate to dig up old threads, But I was able to confirm something over my trip to Wa over the last few weeks. My prediction is correct, and the Passenger set that is coming is going to BLOW YOUR MIND. It, if they do it right, will include a all new tooled locomotive, and several newly tooled cars too!! 2 + 2 = 4 :tb-biggrin:
Delamaize, You may as well say what it is if you ''really'' know. I doubt you know any more than the rest of us. Are you some kind of ''insider'' ? Please tell us how you got the info. If it was just from talking to someone at a train show , I highly doubt that they know any more than the rest of us. If I knew what it was, I would tell all of you. Its not like it is top secret goverment information anyways , its just a stupid train set. I get tired of people coming on these forums claiming to know this or that , when they really don't know jack.
My source is strait from Kato's US Front office and parts department. About 6 months ago I had a LONG conversation about parts avaibility for a project, and up and coming planned releases, Mostly if they had any planns to re-use the GS4 mech for other big Northerns. I made a few sugestion for train sets that would most likely sell well, He had an opinion on each one on and it's chances of getting produced, I mentioned one particular name train, their was a long silence, then he said "I'd save my money if I was you if you catch my drift." I asked what power they were planning, he said that they basicly had several versions of avaible power on the table for it, but had not made a decision on witch power would be released with the first run. Then more recently, One of my sources in Seattle. who's a Supplier that is really close to Kato, Flat out told me "Kato is releasing the XXX with a newly tooled XXX pulling it, I'll e-mail you when the pre-orders come avaible." Her past information on up and coming passenger sets have been 100% dead on up to this point. Also, Yes, I did say that one of the Hiawatha's were on my prediction list, BUT I also said the NCL was also on that list, and it would require New tooling to get correct, Including a FP7 depending on the year of the train, NP's "Water Baggage" and several other newly tooled cars. Untill I hear it released elsewhere, I'm going to stay cryptic on what exactly is being released. :at-wits-end::devil::tb-biggrin: BTW, the guys at Kato do read these and other forums, and I bet they are ROLLING with laughter right about now!
OK, I think I understand now. It will not be a train that ran in the northwest. It will be the Dixie Flagler. You could pull it with C&EI, L&N, N.C.&ST.L., AB&C, ACL or FEC locomotives. Now that would be some train.
[QUOTE BTW, the guys at Kato do read these and other forums, and I bet they are ROLLING with laughter right about now![/QUOTE] I hope they are laughing. If they really do read this then they will be releasing what we want. A Hiawatha with steam and diesel power and a NCL. Maybe if the east guys are lucky a 20th Century Limited.
