I took my Daylight to it's first train show on the weekend, well Sunday at least, had to spend Saturday driving real trains. I gave it about an hours running all up on address '00' on the Digitrax, not something I normally do and I'll be installing a decoder as soon as I decide on the best plan of attack, but in small doses there was no appreciable warming up of the motor. The loco ran well with no derailments or traction tyre problems, one of the short hand rails near the front of the boiler was found hanging by one staunchion, so these will get glued at the first opportunity. I had it hauling freight most of the time because the most annoying thing was the cars coming uncoupled, a problem I've never had before with Kato passenger cars, I'm hoping the close couplers will fix this when they come out. I'd like to know why Kato felt they had to redesign their coupler.
Me Too! I've wondered the same thing. I didn't know you get to play with the one foot to the one foot scale model trains. So, what railroad do you work for? Guessing...BNSF! You lucky guy. My biggest regret, is I didn't go to work for the railroad. Have fun!
While waiting for a fix try a small dab of Walthers goo on the faces of the couplers. It holds them together very well but will come off the slippery plastic with a tooth pick.
GS4 chatteriing update If you're experiencing forward motion chattering, try Vince's suggestion and replace your old pulse power packs with modern, simple pure-DC packs. Today, I subbed a new MRC 1300 for my old Troller Auto Pulse ("Cab B"), and the chattering went away. Unfortunately, putting a load on the loco (6 Kato smooth-side Daylights) brought the chattering back, but only with my 5-year-old MRC Tech 4.350 ("Cab A"). The GS4 remains quiet using the MRC 1300. I need to decide whether to keep it for Cab B running or return it for motor mount surgery. As we decide what'll it'll take to fix our GS4s, let's keep track of other reports: pilot truck de-railing, motor mounts and clearances, intermittent shorting and DCC issues, inop lights, bouncing into and out of frog holes, loco crabbing to the right and traction tires coming off. Let's not get discouraged: (1) this is a gorgeous model that shows it can run like a Swiss watch, (2) Mr. Kato is very proud of his excellent reputation and customer service and (3) we've heard that the Kato folks are hard at work and some of these concerns reportedly have already been fixed. Yes, a recall would be appropriate and nice - I gotta hunch that Kato-san will do the honorable thing. Arigatou, Scott
I haven't had any problems at all with the couplers. I guess I should knock on some wood and go buy a lottery ticket.
Who said What? ""What? What? What?"" Quoting, David Letterman. Scott and of course all tuned in, Vince, is correct. Vince, can take the credit for this...grin! Chatter in your locomotive is usually due to either an AC leak ("Bleeding Rectifier") or from the older AC pulse power transformers. This leak can be detected as the noise will be "Universal" as "All your locomotives" will chatter in either forward or reverse motion. See previous discussions here on a number of pages... back aways. There is a physical reason for another type of chatter and that is a "Unseated motor" that is touching the side of the frame and the buzz or chatter noise of the motor is amplified into the body shell. Place the motor back in place and the noise is gone. I believe the motor can become unseated during shipping and handling. Nice to know you appreciate Vince and he made this recommendation. That means we both agree on the subject and that can't be a bad thing. Thanks for the comeback Scott. Engineer Bill, That's a good suggestion and I will give it a try. SP Steam, Every time the train heads down grade or into a tight turn one or two passenger cars uncouples. GRRRRR! I've mentioned this before. Back when I purchased the Kato, ATSF Super Chief, passenger cars, I noted here on TB that they came uncoupled on the down hill grades. Making me a not so happy camper. Steam Donkey, I'm knocking on wood for you. You must be running on the flat. Westfallen, As I said "Lucky Man" Envious as Hell-o! Have fun!
Kudo's to Kato! Perhpas someone at Kato and some of you, aren't going to appreciate this next disclosure. Why, do I always have to be the bad guy? But wait, the news isn't so bad. During SP's hey day of passenger trains there were two different "Daylight" trains that plyed the Pacific Coast SP rails. The "Coast Daylight" and the "Shasta Daylight". The Coast Daylight, operated from San Francisco to Los Angeles LAUPT, round trip. This train saw or had articulated cars at it's inception (correction: At the time of delivery of said articulated cars to the SP property) but were eventually pulled off and later delivered to other SP passenger trains Ie., The "Shasta Daylight" (as it was nicked by rail fans). Track problems on the "Coast Route" (San Francisco to Los Angeles via San Jose, Gilroy, Watsonville, Salinas, Paso Robles, Ventura and finally LAUPT) may have prompted the equipment move. The other Coast Daylight train AKA the "Shasta Daylight" operated from Oakland, California to Portland, Oregon, round trip. This train saw a major influx of articulated passenger cars as did the southern routed "Sunset Limited". You had to transfer from the Coast Daylight in San Francisco to the Shasta Daylight in Oakland, California, to travel the entire Pacific Coast...on a "Daylight". The "Lark" and/or "Owl" both night trains, primarily pullman sleepers, may have operated the full distance...Los Angeles to Portland. I need to double check my SP timetables. The Owl ran L.A. to S.F. The Lark from L.A. through the San Joaquin Valley to Sacramento, CA. There was a "Valley Daylight" that operated in the San Joaquin Valley, California that ran from Los Angeles to Sacramento (via Tehachapi, Bakersfield, Fresno, Lodi and finally Sacramento). This train did see articulated cars but they were removed after problems persisted with some of the cars. Maintenance was a key factor in the survival of these articulateds. The "Valley Daylight" did see the 3/4 dome in it's consist during it's last days over Tehachapi pass. When diesels took over, and the F types made the pull, these locos were dressed in the "Black Widow" paint scheme...an unusual combination but looked good. So, depending on the era, we may all be modeling the "Shasta Daylight" how about them cookies? The good news is that in the eyes of many railfans this was the AKA "Coast Daylight"...although it saw little if any actual coast line. In reality the Coast Daylight and the Shasta daylight is/are/was/were two different trains. As we say in the West...That's ah no bull. Thought I'd share a little research and history. Feel free to toss in your two cents. I'm sure there is an SP man out there who can elaborate or correct any error I made. Jump right in. Despite all the bad press here on TB and elsewhere, said with utmost respect, I sure appreciate what Kato has given us. Kudo's to Kato! I've been waiting since the age of 15 years old to have articulated passenger cars operating in my SP passenger trains. Thank-you KATO! Thank-you BIG TIME! Have fun!
That actually rules for me, since my modeling center around NW Oregon. Who am I kidding? I bought this train because I really like the 4449 and because it's just so gawl-durn purty!
I hate to contradict anyone, but the consist of the Coast Daylight did indeed use articulated cars: http://espee.railfan.net/coast-daylight.html Richard also lists consists for the Shasta Daylight, Noon and San Joaquin Daylight, as well as other SP passenger trains. Shasta consist had larger windows, BTW.
Well, I am relettering some of the cars for my Sunbeam. The T&NO bought many of the identical cars in the origional order from Pullman. I will use my kit bashed heavyweight RPO, my kit-bashed full baggage, one Kato coach, two Kato articulated coaches, one Kato parlor and the Kato observation car. Only the observation car is different from what really ran on the Sunbeam. After a few years the T&NO traded two of its articulated coaches to the Pacific lines for four single coaches to give them more flexibility in their trainsets. After that they only had one articulated in each trainset. I will model the train for the era before that. When I run the Daylight behind my GS-4, I will just mix the two trainsets together and leave off the Sunbeam head end cars. I doubt many will notice the tiny Sunbeam logos on some of the cars.
Where have you been? Glad to have you drop in on us. You've been missed. I noted with a correction on my post, the info you provided. I don't remember seeing any articulated cars on the Coast Daylight...but that doesn't mean they weren't there. The trains used to whiz by us in such a hurry I could have easily missed them. Besides, by the time this little boy was able to watch, identify and appreciate the articulateds... they had been removed for one reason or the other. Your right the pictures I have of the Shasta Daylight do show larger windows. I might add here, the Shasta was one of the last trains to get the articulated passenger cars. One has to wonder if the car sets delivered to the Shasta had the windows enlarged to improve on passenger ridership. Thanks for stopping in! Stick around and help us out from time to time. Have fun!
I notice these are only due in April, Kato must have had some extra production they held back, I also notice they weren't announced until the first shipment were sold out. Preorder or you'll miss out, Oh wait a minute, we've just found some more:tb-biggrin: Wonder if these will have the DCC problem fixed?
I kinda of kept this as a secret until I could pick-up my GS4. I didn't want you beating me to it. If you are in the Southern California region there are a number of hobby shops that have the first run Kato GS4's available for sale. You can also find the "Lady Of The Rails" still available at some of the TrainBoard internet sponsors. Check it out and get yours, today! Pre-ordering is questionable in that you never know what your getting. Waiting until the negative press has passed, can sometimes benefit a buyer. I wouldn't expect the DCC problem to be fixed as the second production, should be in shipping by now. Have fun!
Now that the Kato GS-4 is out, I'm curious to know what you would pay for a new Con-Cor GS-4 (Daylight) or a used Con-Cor GS-4 (Daylight)????? I paid $129 for my Kato, and it easily leaves the Con-Cor in the dust. I personally would not pay more than $65 for a Con-Cor version...., and that's considering using it for spare parts!
I was lucky and got a great running CC locomotive in the American Freedom Train colors. With the Katos at $129, the CC has definatly been overpriced. Now, it was worth it when they made it, and thats why I bought mine.....and I am happy with it, but I wouldn't pay over $129 for a CC now. Jose is probably closer to the value at $65.
There is a Con Cor GS-4 in Daylight colors going for over $150 (includes shipping) on Ebay! Is the buyer Informed, Mis-Informed, or not Informed???
