Well... I certainly hope those others are done as well... BUT... please note that the Olympian Hiawatha hasn't actually been announced yet AFAIK... and there is still a lot of room for other possibilities. We think... based on a lot of chatter from well placed sources... that this is a leading candidate. HAVE YOU HEARD anything definate yet?
Yes, whatever train it is, I am glad they are doing these. The ones they have released already have been incredible models.
I still think 'The Train of Tomorrow' would be a good candidate. That is, after the 'Texas Special'..... Gerry
I don't know if Kato holds to any particular schedule for announcements of upcoming releases... but there is a major trainshow next week in Springfield MA which is attended by most of the major manufacturers. It would be a great opportunity for Kato to show any prototypes of the model(s) they are going to produce during 2012. The next best opportunity is the National Train Show in late July/early August which might be too far down the road to get pre-orders and interest. I really expect Kato to do more than one item this year... and perhaps they will have something ready prior to the 2012 NTS in Grand Rapids... so next week would be a great time to announce something.
I'm bringing this thread back to the forefront because the Springfield show begins this weekend. I'm hoping that Kato is present at the show and has some new announcement so we can put this topic on hiatus for another several months. I noticed that Kato has released a new C-62 Tsubame Japanese steamer... which is a Hudson class 4-6-4. The chassis is stated to be new with a new coreless motor. I don't know too much about these Japanese steamers or how they would (or would not) compare to similar US steamers. My thoughs wandered into the possibility that they might be able to utilize the chassis from this model for a US Hudson class steamer for either the Milwaukee Road or the New York Central. Those of you familar with these steamers may want to chime in as to the possibilities.
Kato has more recently been announcing their new stuff at completely random times that don't seem to have a connection to the larger shows any more. Leon from Kato told me they are doing that more now because they want to have their production schedule nailed down first so they can announce a product and get it to market in the claimed time frame. He said they are at the mercy of Kato Japan's production schedule. So that seems to dictate release announcements now. - jamie
The C62 is a much smaller engine than American 4-6-4's but the Kato model being 1:150 scale it might be close. The new Hokkaido versions of the C62 (C62 2 and C62 3) do in fact have a completely different mechanism from the last release of the C62 which was only a couple of years old. I think if anything, this shows Kato is not constrained by what existing mechanisms they have and anything is possible but a MILW or NYC Hudson would not be beyond their capabilities by any means.
I just got another C62 and it compares very favorably with 1:160. I have both the old mech (Model #2003) and the new one (#2017) and they run great - like you expect Kato Steam Locomotives to run. Is the new mechanism more DCC friendly? Of course, they would have to do a CB&Q S4 if they are going to do American prototype Hudsons. Andy Tetsu Uma
So Andy, what would the driver diameter and fixed wheelbase be in 1:160? Can you measure those for us? Thanks, Otto
I don't have a micrometer but the drivers look like about 11mm from tread to tread or maybe a bit more. 11 mm x 160 = 1760mm / 25.4 = 69.3" so roughly 70" in 1:160 They are kind of a four spoke Boxpok. Measuring from where the front driver touches the rail to where the rear driver touches the rail is 25mm or roughly one inch. I know the 2017 will handle 11" radius curves with no problem. The detail on the 2017-3 is really very nice and it doesn't have the Atlas-like "pizza cutter" wheels on the pilot truck like the older 203 and 2003. I'll try to take a picture of mine (sorry - really busy) but in the mean time, here's something I borrowed. Andy Tetsu Uma
I attended "The World's Greatest Hobby Tour" show this Saturday (Feb. 04, 2012) with the specific intention of talking to the Athearn reps and the Kato reps. My questions for the Kato reps were whether they were going to every produce a deskirted GS4 or maybe a GS3. The answer was a firm "No way". However the rep then told me they were going to announce a new passenger train towards the end of this year, which would include a "new steam engine". I asked if it would be an eastern road (some people think that's a stupid question, but I was thinking of the GG1), and the answer was, "No. It'll be a western road and it won't be SP." A light bulb went of over my head, and I said "Oh! You're going to produce a U.P. FEF, with accompanying train!" The rep laughed and would not give me a yes or no. He did say that it would be announced towards the end of the year and be available sometime in the first quarter. Later, I called a friend of mine who I know was at the show and asked him, "Jared, when you visited did you get any news from the rep?" He replied "They're going to produce a U.P. FEF!" He said the rep came right out and told him. The story is, that Athearn has dropped the ball with not introducing N-scale steam engines in the same order as they introduced their HO models. The next engine for them in logical order would have been an FEF. By ignoring the N-scale market, Athearn has created a huge void in the expectations of N-scale modelers, so Kato is happy to fill that void with their own FEF, which I am sure will be more accurate than the Athearn one would have been...especially the tender, which Athearn would have simply stolen from the Challenger and Big Boy. The train to go with it will be the modern heritage cars, with several new cars. This would allow the excursion train to be pulled by the 844 (an FEF-3) on almost any layout whose owner/builder would allow or want it as well as satisfy the U.P. modelers out there with FEF's to re-number to pull various passenger trains system wide. I think it's a great concept (yes, I am biased) and I'll be buying at least three of them to compliment my three brass Key FEFs. GOOD NEWS!! Bob Gilmore, modeling the U.P. in 1951 from Ogden to Wahsatch
If this latest turns out to be true... I'd definitely buy one!...they were still running in '57-'58...I'd have to have one for a future 'Sherman Hill' and/or "Echo Canyon" HCD layout! Bruce
Even if a I wasn't a UP modeler as well, my wallet wouldn't be safe! I'd have to kitbash a Rock Island R-67! No Milwaukee Road 261 to kitbash for yourself??
Meh, More Unkle Pete crap, why am I not suprized.....Althought it may be good kitbash fodder to make some other big northerns. I just hope the trainset that I had been told was coming is still in the works....
An FEF-3 844 and heritage cars would be great, I have been hoping they would make these sense they did the COLA and many of the cars could be used. I just hope they aren't painted in that same orange yellow paint.
A choice I wouldn't have bet money on, all their major passenger trains have been 1950's era. After 844 they could do AT&SF 3751 and complete the excursion 4-8-4 trilogy, Bachmann seem to be ignoring the Santa Fe Northern as Athearn has the FEF.
I generally welcome any new Kato announcement, especially one involving a new steam engine. Maybe the UP experts can give us a brief summary of how the prototypes were used (i.e. both passenger and freight? if passenger, which trains? etc. etc.).
