Why Kato needs to do the Empire Builder and North Coast Limited...

[NorsemanJack]

Big Sky Blue is my favorite passenger paint scheme. Otherwise I have almost zero interest in GN. I would buy a BSB passenger train from Kato, a green and orange one would be a possible buy. Anything east of the Mississippi has a zero chance with me, except for a Kato Acela.

Would a Twin Cities Zephyr have any interest?  Other than the final mile, that train traveled entirely East of the Mississippi.

[Point353]

Would a Twin Cities Zephyr have any interest?

Sure. That would give Kato another opportunity to use (forthcoming) the E7 loco. Plus, one can never have enough dome cars.

[peteski]

Sure. That would give Kato another opportunity to use (forthcoming) the E7 loco. Plus, one can never have enough dome cars.

A 6-car consist with twin locos?  That would be perfect, even for modelers with smaller layouts.  Plus, as a bonus, the entire set would fit in one of Kato's book-cases.  Can't get any better than that! 

[NorsemanJack]

A 6-car consist with twin locos?  That would be perfect, even for modelers with smaller layouts.  Plus, as a bonus, the entire set would fit in one of Kato's book-cases.  Can't get any better than that! 

While that photo is of the Twin Cities Zephyr, it is very early and likely before the entire consists had been delivered (note the pre-war non-dome Parlor/Observation car on the end).  The full 1947 consist is seven cars.  Four of the domes as shown in that photo, plus a baggage/café, diner and domed Parlor/lounge/observation.  The consist in that photo is interesting, because it can already be assembled using the original Kato CB&Q corrugated cars.  The pre-war diners were, I believe, still used for the first year or so of the 1947 consist until they were replaced with new diners that were essentially identical to those used on the California Zephyr.

I'm still hoping for an E5B unit so that a Kato Twin Cities Zephyr could be powered by an E5 A/B consist, however Kato's announced E7 offering may be the end of that.  The NYC E7 won't be correct for the Q because the NYC units were single headlight.

[CBQ Fan]

I will buy one of every Q passenger consist Kato sells.

[nkalanaga]

Big Sky Blue should sell well to the overall Kato market.  GN fans may prefer the orange and green, although I agree with Englewood that BSB is attractive, and I actually prefer it.  Much of Kato's market is set collectors and overseas modelers, and I'm sure they'd be attracted to a brightly colored train.

[sirenwerks]

NP's North Coast Limited is the one I am waiting for (still waiting). C'mon Kato, you already have a matching FP7.

Jane

But the NP only had two FP7. If they want to do the NCL justice, Kato would need to release an F9.

[NorsemanJack]

But the NP only had two FP7. If they want to do the NCL justice, Kato would need to release an F9.

Why not just use the F7s?

[atsf3751]

Why not just use the F7s?

An F7 can stand in if necessary, but an FP7 is a little longer. It is not noticeable by itself but if you park it next to an Intermountain FP7, it is noticeable.

[GN63]

Sure. That would give Kato another opportunity to use (forthcoming) the E7 loco. Plus, one can never have enough dome cars.

This reminds me of my transfer to Chicago on the BN - I sharred an office with a former Q Traveling Passenger Agent, who told me about a trip on the Twin Cities Zephyr where a little old couple sitting in one of the dome cars, told him to complement the engineer on the the train, he had timed every stoplight just as it turned green to red.

[sirenwerks]

An F7 can stand in if necessary, but an FP7 is a little longer. It is not noticeable by itself but if you park it next to an Intermountain FP7, it is noticeable.

It's common knowledge that the FP7 is 4 feet longer than a F7, but are you saying the IMRC FP7 is not properly proportioned compared to the Kato FP7?

[OHCR 4218]

I know it's not very realistic thanks to Bachman, but I've always wished for a Powhatan Arrow or Pocahontas from Kato.

[Kev1340]

I know it's not very realistic thanks to Bachman, but I've always wished for a Powhatan Arrow or Pocahontas from Kato.

One of hopes too, but now manufacturers are not shy of duplicating each other perhaps there is a slim chance?

Cheers,

Kev

[Point353]

The NYC E7 won't be correct for the Q because the NYC units were single headlight.

Just the opposite problem seems to be keeping Kato from re-releasing their F-units in NYC, PRR, etc.

[sirenwerks]

One of hopes too, but now manufacturers are not shy of duplicating each other perhaps there is a slim chance?

And this is the problem with manufacturers releasing foob releases (ala Lowell Smith) and people gobbling them up just 'to support the manufacturer." It's like selling your soul. You only perpetuate the notion that manufacturers can treat N scalers as second class, 'oh, they'll take what we give them' citizens. I get that consumer ethos was more acceptable during the early years of N scale, but if we want to be a mature consumer base we need to start putting our foot down. Especially those of us who want prototypical models, like the EB and NCL or any other name train.


I'm not saying we have to scream every time the lift rings are wrong, the number of fan blades are off, or the horn is in the wrong place, but when a manufacturer tries to pass a paint scheme on a model the RR never had or, on the wrong passenger cars, we should get dickish abut it and not buy, at this point.