Kato N scale CNW 400 with all new Pullman Bi-levels just announced

[Point353]

Metra 8570 is a Nippon-Sharyo car built for Metra, not a Pullman car built for CNW or RI.

8570 is the roadnumber shown on the Kato website: https://www.katousa.com/N/Bi-Level/index.html
Perhaps it's a typo and it should actually be 8750: https://www.chicagorailfan.com/rosmetcp.html

[keeper]

Or perhaps a resin shell......coming soon......

Ahhhh, count me in for one!

Thomas

[nightmare0331]

someone was dyslexic.  the Metra cab-coach is 8750.  I'm on vacation this week (well, staycation/work on the house) but I see it's already been corrected on the site.

Below is an extremely short version of this project.  It's a hair more complicated and involves a bit of drinking to twist some logic.

The original plan proposed by me was to make the Pullman Standard 4 window coach and 4 window cab coach (I would have liked to have seen the 6 window version done and it was initially proposed however it was nixed).  These were going to be offered as small commuter sets (ie, 2 coaches, a cab coach and a F7 in CNW and Rock Island, F40PH and PS cars in Metra in the Starter Series [locomotive, 3 or so cars] with additional cars being offered at some point...either individual or bookcase add-ons). 

As always, projects evolve as you don't always see coming and the marketing team basically was looking for a way to shoehorn this into a bookcase concept similar to the CB&Q E5 silver streak zephyr set in order to make it more appealing to a broader audience.  The powers that be were sold on the long distance concept by our R&D guy and gave the go ahead for another car (coach buffet).  Yes, I'm aware the 400 bi-levels generally did not have cab-coaches on them and that came up, however had we not pushed for that car to be included, it probably would have never gotten tooled (and you would have had a Pullman standard bi-level coach only).

So, now the door is open at some point to utilize these cars elsewhere as part of a building block (see my original concept).  Maybe some Amtrak variants down the road.  It's always a possibility in the Kobo custom line that short runs like the Wisconsin and Southern cars, VRE and a handful of others could get done.  But in all honesty, it really depends on how the initial release of these cars sell.

The point being from all of this is I got Pullman Standard bi-level coach and cab coach done in N scale.  That was my original intent and I succeeded. 

On a side note, I might have to pick up one of the Skytop models CNW bi-level dining car kits to go with my set and pull myself out of painting retirement. 

In the words of Pete the Cat “No matter what you step in, keep walking along and singing your song …… because it's all good.”

Enjoy!

Kelley.
www.dufordmodelworks.com

[learmoia]

Yeah that's some twisted logic.. since Bookcase Commuter sets of RI. CNW, Metra Amtrak, and  Hawkwye Express (if you can get the licensing).. would work just as well, and only required tooling 2 cars.. 

So let's spend money to tool 3...(Woops 2?) extra (obscure?) cars.

Hopefully these do OK,.. or push hard to move forward with your commuter train idea so tooling doesn't sit idle for the next 20 years.

~Ian

{Edit.. I assumed 3 extra cars including the single level balloon dinner, but I didn't have access to the release on my phone..}
.. Is the Parlor actually a different body style from the coach?

 

[Point353]

someone was dyslexic.  the Metra cab-coach is 8750.  I'm on vacation this week (well, staycation/work on the house) but I see it's already been corrected on the site.

Someone else must have sent them an e-mail about it. 

[Tom L]

Well, I’m doing my part, preordered one. First thing I’ve preordered in many years. Heck, the hobby shops I last preordered from have faded away, so giving Hogtrainz  a shot.

It’s nothing that really fits my layout theme but what a cool train, wish I could have ridden it back in the day. We had relatives in some of the places it ran in Northern Wisconsin, but my parents always drove us there.

Tom L
Wellington CO

[spookshow]

I'm confused. The Pullman Bi-Level 4-Window Coach is a new model, but there is no picture/drawing of it on Kato's web page? https://www.katousa.com/N/400/index.html

-Mark

[thomasjmdavis]

I'm confused. The Pullman Bi-Level 4-Window Coach is a new model, but there is no picture/drawing of it on Kato's web page? https://www.katousa.com/N/400/index.html

-Mark

When I go to the website, I get a photo of the train, description and then links to artwork for the loco and the various cars.
http://www.katousa.com/N/400/index.html
http://www.katousa.com/N/400/pics/CNW-400.jpg
http://www.katousa.com/N/400/pics/CNW-Coach.jpg
http://www.katousa.com/N/400/pics/CNW-Buffet.jpg
http://www.katousa.com/N/400/pics/CNW-CabCoach.jpg

[spookshow]

Yes, there are links to pictures of 3 different cars - coach/parlor, coach-buffet and cab-coach. However, the consist for the set also lists 4-window coaches. Are the 4-window coach and coach-parlor the same model?

Thanks,
-Mark

[GhengisKong]

I figured the difference was probably interior molding.

[nightmare0331]

side note...if you want extra cars, the parts department at Kato is taking pre-orders for kits.

Keep in mind these are on a preorder only basis and orders are due by June 25th.

See PDF attachement.

Enjoy!

Kelley.
www.dufordmodelworks.com

[thomasjmdavis]

Yes, there are links to pictures of 3 different cars - coach/parlor, coach-buffet and cab-coach. However, the consist for the set also lists 4-window coaches. Are the 4-window coach and coach-parlor the same model?

Thanks,
-Mark

Apologies Mark, I thought you meant you could not see any of the pictures due to some website glitch.

[Peter Amling]

side note...if you want extra cars, the parts department at Kato is taking pre-orders for kits.

Keep in mind these are on a preorder only basis and orders are due by June 25th.

See PDF attachement.

Enjoy!

Kelley.
www.dufordmodelworks.com

Is this something you can do directly through the Kato website or only through a hobby shop?

[wcfn100]

side note...if you want extra cars, the parts department at Kato is taking pre-orders for kits.

Will they have road numbers?

Jason

[nscalbitz]

side note...if you want extra cars, the parts department at Kato is taking pre-orders for kits.

Keep in mind these are on a preorder only basis and orders are due by June 25th.
Kelley.
www.dufordmodelworks.com

Parts Kit Specials - Pre-order deadline 6/25/2019
Yes I was about to point that out as it appeared to be overlooked- a significant "for the modellers" approach is a step in the right direction (if it pays off...), although it also states"assembled into a fully painted and numbered C&NW", so renumbering ? maybe is still a chore.
davew