Let's go back to the U30C, 10 roads released in 1989, and in 1991, they did a second run of Santa Fe units only because they sold out quickly.
And, as has been stated by many folks many times before, the Japanese market is a big driving force influencing what North American prototypes are produced. My take on all this is that the Japanese like anything smacking of the "Wild West" culture. If it can be even remotely associated with "Cowboys and Indians", it will sell there. It would be interesting to see how many California Zephyr or Super Chief train set actually sold in Japan vs. how many sold in North America. There is a historical park/museum not far from where I live here outside Houston, Texas. They hosted a large group of Japanese dignitaries and industrial trade delegation a while back. They pulled out all stops and served them BBQ and beans out of the back of an authentic chuck wagon, out on the range, while watching long horn cows just beyond a fence being rounded up by guys on horseback. Man they loved it.
Great!! If anybody has a photo of the NCL with buffalo/bisen/bears/moose/etc. in the background, PLEASE share it so we can forward it on to the fine folks at Kato. Anybody good enough at photoshop to do a "long horn" job on normal livestock?? Reminded me of an old reference to a speech (likely political) as being a "long horn speech." That's a couple of good points, with a whole lotta bull in between....
Kato has 'apparently' decided to make the 'Pocket Rockets' of the CRI&P (Rock Island)... including... the very unique TA diesels. How does one explain that choice over several other trains they could have created???? That seems like a lot of 'bull'... since we're talking livestock. I'm not too sure how many cattle ranches there are along the Route of the Rockets...but perhaps enough to convince Kato it is going to be a success. I like the bold decision to do the Rock Island Rockets... I will be a buyer... but would have preferred the NCL. Sent from my SM-G530T using Tapatalk
The various Rockets traversed a lot of cattle country in Kansas, Colorado, Oklahoma and Texas. However, if they had named one of their trains something like the Cowboy Rocket or Long Horn Rocket, Kato could make a lot of money off of that. A round of Kobe steaks for everyone on their board of directors.
A small complete train with a unique locomotive. It's the same formula as the Silver Streak which I believe was a really good seller for them. Jason
Keep the faith brother. I used to say things like "If only Kato would do an E5, I'll never ask them to do anything else." I was twice as shocked when they announced the E5 as I would have been with the NCL. I got my wish, but I'm still hoping for the NCL. And maybe a twin cities Zephyr, and maybe an Empire Builder, and maybe...... Edit: How did I forget to include the E5B??
I would like to see Kato do the 7 car 1936 Twin City Zephyr and the 5 car Nebraska Zephyr. Would buy the Nebraska Zephyr that is at Illinois Railway Museum. Have rode several times. Kato already has the E5A #9911A Silver Pilot. Dan
Interesting marketing ploy by Kato of marketing whole trains. Sort of like a throwback to the old Lionel days where they previewed complete trains in a catalogue which usually came out just before Thanksgiving so you had a whole month before Christmas to bug your parents.
Although we usually referred to those as "train sets," the official name used by Lionel was an "outfit." I was on the tail end of that classic era, but I remember wearing out the 1966 Lionel catalog. I actually bought another about 15 years ago for nostalgia sake. Sadly, that era passed and about everybody younger than me was more interested in slot cars, Hot Wheels and other such foolishness.
+1 That articulated "Train of the Goddesses" would seem to fit with Kato's marketing scheme. They've already tackled articulation with the Daylight and (I think?) the Broadway Limited. Unfortunately, the five car set might throw some kinks into the plan.
The Broadway Limited kitchen/dorm and diner cars were essentially a permanently coupled pair, but not articulated.
Back then... everything Kato made for the US market sold out quickly because they underestimated the demand. I remember that hobby stores were shorted because insufficient quantities were produced. It wasn't until the early 2000' that Kato realized they were 'leaving money on the table' in the US market. Sent from my SM-G530T using Tapatalk
And many people would claim that they still are as evidenced by others doing locomotives that Kato did formerly.
I agree with this to a point. FVM went against them on the GEVO and SD70ACe. They are nice locomotives but they do not run out of the jewel case like a Kato. They are more detailed, and they copied the Kato mechanism to a degree, but they still take some time to get broken in. Now Intermountain is going after the SD40/SD45 units. From what I have seen with the tunnel motors, copying the Atlas SD50 mechanism has been a big mistake. It will be interesting to see what these new units look and run like. On the F Unit front, Intermountain still hasn't figured out how to make lighted numberboards. I don't own a Bachmann unit, but do they have lighted numberboards? I am not a Kato disciple, I stopped buying them when they released the awful paint on the Kodachrome units and the overall lack of selection. I have in fact, switched most of my purchasing to IM and FVM, more out of availability and better coloration, and better details and more volume. As much as I like these models, they just do not run as smoothly as Kato locomotives. I speed match everything using DCC so the 200 MPH top end doesn't affect me. I have other manufacturers whose locomotives can not get up to actual prototype speed no matter what you do, but they just look better doing it. That all said, I do hope Kato does do the NCL. I like buying whole trains than having to make them up waiting to come from either Centrailia or Rapido. I have a big soft spot for passenger trains. I can't explain it, I just do.
And that is also my dilemma. Somehow I relegate freight trains to just scenery for my passenger trains to go by.
But will it play in Peoria? http://ctr.trains.com/~/media/image...f-the-day/2016/08/20160818.jpg?mw=1000&mh=800
