Egad!! There goes Mr. Wallet again..... (I'm referring to the just-announce SP Morning Daylight set). Congrats, Kato, for bringing out what is likely to be a beautiful set, and at a reasonably affordable price, especially considering that you get Kato-level quality for the money. I have a feeling that older Kato E8s and PA1s in Daylight colors just went up, in terms what prices they would fetch on Ebay....
I don't know. Kato has a pretty good track record of upgrading motive power when a new passenger set comes out. Yes, they have the new steam loco, but not everybody runs sream, and I am sure they know this. Also, those units already fetch a pretty good price. I think Kato knows there is demand for them. Would it surprise anyone if Kato came out with a rerun of Es or PAs? I mean, there are roads in both that are hard to find---PAs in UP, SP, D&RGW and E8s in SP, UP, CB&Q, NYC, B&O, PRR (in correct livery). What a great opportunity to do a rerun of some much needed diesels. Since I didn't "get" anything from Kato on this release, I hope they can at least follow it up with some diesels that can help my compatriates needing them for the Daylight, and maybe that gets me something I can use also. You all know that the set will be REALLY nice. The colors alone will look great, and the articulation. And to be able to get an 18 car consist? Wow. Question for you steamer guys out there: Can this steamer pull 18 passenger cars up a reasonable grade?
GO KATO!!!! After banging my head against the wall trying to get my concor gs-3 wartime to work worth a darn, I can't wait for the Kato release, hopefully they'll continue with a "wartime" shell as well. As much as I like the daylight paint scheme, the wartime version is even better for my early 1950's era when the diesels were running the passenger consists and the GS's were sent to freight duty. Or if not, maybe the "wartime" shell will fit on the kato chassis (fat chance I suppose).
Kato makes some decently weighted passenger cars, since there was no mention of traction tires that I could find, it's possible but unlikely that it will pull the basic consist 10 car set up any appreciable grade let alone 18. Not having seen the 4-8-4 run, we all might be pleasantly suprised. Afterall Kato has been known to make some quality stuff. My question is: Will there be an 8 pin plug in the tender to enable easy decoder installation and is the tender set up for sound? How about a traction tire conversion kit? My concern is that Nscale Supply ad stated that the drivers are rod driven, this could cause some durability issues, depending on how much force is transmitted through the rods. Another thought is will this chassis support a possible model of the UP FEF series of models? Bob
Wow, I'm SO glad I didn't pick up a ConCor GS4. I was thinking of buying one, fixing its leading truck to be more prototypical, adding a Mars light and living with the incorrect valve gear. However, reports of its inability to run on all but the widest curves dissuaded me. Now we can get a Kato quality GS4 with a Mars light for around 1/2 the price (street) of a ConCor one. Oh joy!!!
I would expect the loco to be able to pull the full consist on level without a sweat but who knows on a grade. How many people with steep grades have room for an 18 car passenger consist anyhow? That is more than 10' of train. I think the full consist is more aimed at N-trak running which is about the only place I would have to run one, and that is enough to make me interested in the set. Even though my area of interest is Ohio valley steam (B&O/C&O etc.) I have a CZ just because it is a classic/classy train to run. The Daylight will be the same way and as a bonus, it is another steam loco to add to the roster.
I've done alot of tinkering with my GS-3 (WP version re-lettered) and it now goes around my door sized layout. I had to under guage the front and rear drivers, replace the pony-truck wheels and much more, unfortunatly, the tender pickup stinks and the gearing is WAY to high. I'm looking at a re-motor (with a flywheel) and bypassing the pc board in the tender since my layout is DC. I've still got to add more weight to the tender as well as add some "slop" in the tender trucks, they are too tight and don't follow the track curves very well. HMMM, if Kato's tender pickup is as good as most of their products, I'll just buy one as a spare part and toss the concor one, that might work. Or if the concor shell fits, just toss the mechanism all together (sounds even better)
One nice thing is the Kato loco is actually cheaper than the Concor version: http://www.all-railroads.com/instock/ngs4484.htm
Maybe the mechanism for the Espee GS steamer could be a launching point for a Pennsy or NYC steamer that can be the motive power for a future east coast passenger train. What east coast steamers used 4-8-4 configuration?
GS-4s didn't cut in on grades in the prototype, either I'll never forget watching the GS-4 being pulled from the head end of the southbound San Joaquin Daylight in Bakersfield, California, in 1954; four F units took its place. I remember feeling like a sacrilege was taking place. (Railfans start young, I guess - I was 5 at the time.) Could a lone GS-4 handle the Cuesta Grade on the Coast Line? --Bryan
I think that con cor should release a set that would match that nicely produced bachmann J steamer.... I didnt buy the kato engines that go with the super chief, i just used intermountains... (i got them for a song) I mean, sure they didnt make the engine (bachmann did), but they could make a killing on the passenger cars. I am super excited for SP's to come... I believe that NYC steamer would easily use the same mechanism (If some one could give me that website that compares) and im sure there are several other 4-8-4's that would work!
The daylight has always been a favorite of mine. I think this will be a great set, and opens up more great possibilities!
Yeah we have this beautiful passenger loco and no decently painted passenger cars to go behind it! Can't even get decals for the passenger cars!
I just did a search and I can use these cars for several trains that ran between Oakland and Sacramento. Looks like Pinole will be seeing some Orange and Red.
This is great news! I decided when I was two years old that the 4449 was "MY train" and I am sure Katos will be a great engines. Why are they cheaper than the Con-Cors? I don't know. Adam
