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

[Ike the BN Freak]

When talking to Alex at the NSE show, the poor sales of the BL had more to do with the economy versus lack of Pennsy interest. The train set was released in 2008, and we all know how the economy acted in 2008. When people are given the choice between making mortgage/rent payments versus "toy trains," place to live always wins.  He also mentioned that the NCL and EB are both on their list to do, just not sure when it will happen.  Also speaking to Lowell Smith, his new line RailSmith is planning on doing both of those trains are part of their initial releases.

[NorsemanJack]

I'm still waiting for Kato to make the PAs in the black and gold/yellow paint scheme:
http://www.hankstruckpictures.com/pix/rail/donald_beneke/diesel/ddrgw03.html

Likewise for the F3s:
http://www.hankstruckpictures.com/pix/rail/donald_beneke/diesel/ddrgw21.html

Both are simply gorgeous paint schemes (and anything looks great with a CZ behind it)!

[atsf3751]

The Hill Lines votes got split between the EB and the NCL.  Then the undivided NYC guys win the voting and Kato announces a 20th Century. 

Man, if people don't buy the east coast train again (nightmares of the Broadway Limited) and Kato gets gun shy about big name trains again, it could be another 10 years before we're back in the running for an NCL or real EB.

Say it ain't so!

I am a Santa Fe fan, so I was happy to see Kato do a Super Chief and an El Capitan in sequence. Makes a nice combined train. But it is time for some Eastern trains. I do have a Broadway Limited and do run it on my club layout with either a GG1 (there is no catenary but with the pantographs down, the general public does not notice) or a set of Centipedes. It pulls into, and stops, at the downtown Santa Fe depot in San Diego and no one has called me on that yet.

[NorsemanJack]

When talking to Alex at the NSE show, the poor sales of the BL had more to do with the economy versus lack of Pennsy interest. The train set was released in 2008, and we all know how the economy acted in 2008. When people are given the choice between making mortgage/rent payments versus "toy trains," place to live always wins.  He also mentioned that the NCL and EB are both on their list to do, just not sure when it will happen.  Also speaking to Lowell Smith, his new line RailSmith is planning on doing both of those trains are part of their initial releases.

Well at least they made the "to do list."     With the TCL being an Eastern train, I will hold out hope that NCL or EB will be next in line so far as new tooling.  When the Hiawatha came out, I kinda assumed that it would push back the NCL and EB a bit because of the similarities in the trains (Northern transcontinental routes, domes and, in the case of the EB, even some somewhat similar coloring).

I've already said it once in this thread, but I'll say it again.  I absolutely accept that the BL sales were very adversely affected by the late Fall 2008 release dates.  It is a beautiful train, and the fact that they did the gorgeous DGLE five stripe GG1 to go with it is just icing on the cake.  I was just running the Pennsy E8's yesterday, and those are great locomotives as well.

[NorsemanJack]

That's what I get for not looking it up.  But as you say, both are fantastic models.

LOL.  You were close!  You may meet a bigger Kato-named-train-fanatic than I am, but I seriously doubt you'll find more than one or two.   

[CBQ Fan]

The sheer number of GG1 releases are an indicator of the east coast demand.

[CBQ Fan]

The original Super Chief was 3 Sets of 4 car releases, not the traditional big box set like CZ with 10 plus cars. They later brought out, what was it, an 8 car set. 

[JanesCustomTrain]

I'm still waiting for Kato to make the PAs in the black and gold/yellow paint scheme:
http://www.hankstruckpictures.com/pix/rail/donald_beneke/diesel/ddrgw03.html

Nice picture, do you mind if I copy it to my hard drive ? 

Jane   

[JanesCustomTrain]

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

Jane 

[wcfn100]

The sheer number of GG1 releases are an indicator of the east coast demand.

Five of which are still in stock at Kato.


Jason

[Point353]

When talking to Alex at the NSE show, the poor sales of the BL had more to do with the economy versus lack of Pennsy interest.  He also mentioned that the NCL and EB are both on their list to do, just not sure when it will happen.  Also speaking to Lowell Smith, his new line RailSmith is planning on doing both of those trains are part of their initial releases.

Is Lowell Smith really planning on doing all of the cars required for a complete NCL and EB - including dome and observation cars - as part of the initial releases?
Or, is he simply going to offer the existing cars (for which he now has the tooling from Walthers) in the NCL and EB paint schemes - whether or not the cars are prototypically correct for those trains?

[Peter Amling]

Now, closer to home- is there a dedicated group of modelers who want a "New Dixieland"? (the 1954 re-make of the CEI, LN, NCStL, ACL, FEC "Dixie Flagler"- an excuse for 5 locomotive releases) or Georgian (CEI, LN, NCStL)?

Count me in as wanting a Dixie Flagler or Dixieland streamliner (and every other streamliner that originated/terminated in Chicago).

And, count me in also as a Kato named train collector. It's hard for me to do trains piecemeal for two reasons: I don't know if they will ever release all the cars for a particular train, and I don't know if the paint is going to match between releases, especially if it takes years.

I'm excited about the TCL and E7, and will buy one. I'll also buy an EB or NCL if they are ever released. I wanted pretty much everything from that recent Kato poll.

[CBQ Fan]

Is Lowell Smith really planning on doing all of the cars required for a complete NCL and EB - including dome and observation cars - as part of the initial releases?
Or, is he simply going to offer the existing cars (for which he now has the tooling from Walthers) in the NCL and EB paint schemes - whether or not the cars are prototypically correct for those trains?

I ordered the two NP sleepers for the NCL but I will very surprised if he actually created new cars that don’t already exist.  He has never done so before has he?  I am fine cobbling togetherna secondary train to partner up with a Kato release.

[mplsjct]

The former Walthers sleeper cars are correct for the NP, but they were not used on the NCL, pretty certain they were used on the coast pool trains.

I was impressed with the decoration on the Walthers cars, particularly the GN cars, so
I purchased one NP car as a color sample for painting. After browsing the Lowell Smith web page, it sounds as if the color research was extensive, so I’m pleased to hear they will be returning.

I have dis-assembled a few of the Walthers cars for painting, and they are similar to Kato in that they are dis-assembly friendly, the end diaphragms are a bit of a challenge, though.

[Point353]

Nice picture, do you mind if I copy it to my hard drive ? 

Jane   

No doubt you could, but it's not my photo.
Likely they're more concerned about reposting or other such usage without permission.