KATO Announces Amtrak, CP, CN Aluminum AutoRacks!

[jagged ben]

It's a little misleading, IMHO, to call this a freight car.

[peteski]

Kato has certainly fallen in bed with Amtrak over the past year. Anything else uniquely Amtrak that they could hit on?

Personally, I think that is great!  The are filling a niche.  After all, who else does proper Amtrak bodies?  Especially, some of the more contemporary rolling stock? Bachmann Amfleet and Acela?  Con-Cor Superliners and Viewliners?  That's about it. Everything else non-Kato is just Amtrak livery on generic bodies.  BTW, I really wish that it was Kato, not Bachmann, who produced the Acela.

With other companies producing mostly freight equipment, it is also really nice to see Kato filling the passenger car niche.  And they do it quite well.

[peteski]

It's a little misleading, IMHO, to call this a freight car.

Ok then, what is it?  Does it transport people or something else?  What would you call it?

[sundowner]

It's a little misleading, IMHO, to call this a freight car.

CN and CP have the same style rack.

[w neal]

Wow, I can breathe now a bit . That feels better!

I was a "research consultant" for them just a bit. Per their request, I sent them some photos from the midwest to help with proper (non- graffiti-ed) painting etc. I can't wait for their official announcement.

[One of One-Sixty]

Kato has certainly fallen in bed with Amtrak over the past year. Anything else uniquely Amtrak that they could hit on?

E-60CPS and of course Swedish Meatball Toasters!!   And with Kato's new found love of commuter modeling the we can add MARC & SEPTA to the list of roadnames and get Meatball foobies for NJT and SEPTA as a stand in for the ALP-44.

And of course we can't just have engines running around and not pulling anything so thats where the Horizon cars come in with more commuter rr foobie goodness SEPTA, NJT, MBTA, MTA and for our neighbors to the north Agence métropolitaine de transport.

And then we have PRR last baby that is still found on the rails today albeit modified, Metroliners.

[ljudice]

It's a little misleading, IMHO, to call this a freight car.

When I posted this, I had no idea what it was!!!

[jnevis]

  Amtrak boxcars next?

Ummmmm....... both Kato and ConCor have MHCs

[mu26aeh]

Ummmmm....... both Kato and ConCor have MHCs

Maybe he was talking about the expresstrak reefers ?

http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/rsPicture.aspx?id=525650

[jmlaboda]

"If they were doing the original Auto Train consist, now that woud be kwel !!!!!!!!!!"

These cars ran on Amtrak a lot longer than most people think...
http://abpr.railfan.net/abprphoto.cgi?march09/03-04-09/Amtrak9009atSanfordFL12-24-91EO.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/79009322@N04/7910556302
http://rr-fallenflags.org/amtk/amtk9030aac.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/79009322@N04/7910554946

The original AutoTrain's newer cars lasted into the Phase III era also and even a phase 1V shot...
http://www.northeast.railfan.net/images/amtk9092.jpg
http://rr-fallenflags.org/amtk/amtk9093amh.jpg
http://rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=2046891
http://www.railcarphotos.com/PhotoDetails.php?PhotoID=44513
http://www.flickr.com/photos/79009322@N04/7910555078

[ljudice]

My bet is the CitySprinter, it may share some components with something they can do in Europe....

[Ike the BN Freak]

Ummmmm....... both Kato and ConCor have MHCs

MHCs are not the 60ft express boxcars that Amtrak was running in the Amfreight days.  I'd like a few, but want to say Amfreight didn't really start until after 96, which is pass my modeling timeframe.

[jagged ben]

Ok then, what is it?  Does it transport people or something else?  What would you call it?

I'd call it a passenger train add-on set. (Assuming that's how they'll sell it.) 

I said "a little misleading", not that it was a lie.  The point is that anyone interested in freight operations is not going to be interested in this paint scheme.

[Puddington]

...mannly men.... with buttered scones for tea.................

[sd75i]

  I guess i should have been more specific.  I didnt think about the express refers.  I was talking about these http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=3179259.  I have not seen these cars done by any manufacture.

 dave t