Kato Pacific Surfliners

[DMU-Fan]

Looks like more details are leaking out. Received an ad today from a retailer in Canada with list of sets and prices. Looks like there will be a loco + 4 car set, a 4 car add on set, and a loco + 8 car set. Cars are painted in two different Surfliner schemes (the original and the California Car repaints with the silver roof). The 4 car add on set and the 8 car set include a Superliner I car to replicate the equipment that is currently running (although the current trains are 6-7 cars long, not 8, but we can’t all be perfect). The include Charger locos appear to have the cowl on the back of the locomotive to attempt to match rooflines. It looks like a great set, and reasonably priced as well (I think about $250 for the loco and 4 cars, no dcc). I for one am SUPER excited about this, I’ve been waiting quite a while for Surfliners in N scale, and I’m VERY happy Kato is doing them. High quality and a reasonable price. I was excited about the VIA Charger + Venture sets that Bachmann is producing, until I saw the price…

[DMU-Fan]

**UPDATE**
Looks like it’s a loco and 3 cars (Business Class, Coach, and Cab) for the base set. The four car add on set is a Phase VI Superliner I, the Surfliner Coach/Cafe, another Surfliner Coach, and a Surfliner painted Superliner I (the silver roof car). The 8 car set is thus a 7 car + 1 loco set. $240 for the base set, $190 for the 4 car set, or both for $420 (no DCC, no Sound, no lighting). Those are all available for an upcharge.

[tehachapifan]

Glad to see these are official now, but I'm a bit disappointed on how these are being grouped. Surfliners started as 5 car sets and are now typically 6 car sets (sometimes more) and Kato is making 3 and 7 car sets. No matter the number of cars, every Surfliner train includes a Business Class and a Coach-Cafe car and the base set doesn't have both. Plus, it looks like they don't want you to be able to outfit your existing Bachmann Charger with a set that has a cabcar. It appears you have to buy a Kato Charger if you want a cabcar. Still, an exciting release! Maybe there will be singles at some point?

[jagged ben]

From the NSE thread:

https://katousa.com/amtrak-pacific-surfliner/

[DMU-Fan]

Agreed, it is unfortunate they chose to group the cars the way they did. It would have been nice to see one of each of the “Surfliner” cars in one pack, and then offer the two Superliner cars and additional coaches as options. It is nice to see they made the cab car fully lit and have a decoder for it so you don’t have to go the custom route to get directional lighting on DCC. These are for sure going on my wish list!

[jagged ben]

My current plan is to buy probably the 8 car set, sell the Charger I will never want, then forlornly contemplate repainting the cars into the Amtrak California (i.e. Capitol Corridor/San Joaquin) paint scheme for six years untio Kato finally announces they will do that paint scheme as well, then sell the rest.

[EspeeGoldenState]

While, I'm tempted to get both 4 unit sets and the 8 unit set personally, just for the added flexibility on some of the longer Pacific Surfliner consists. I'll be curious how close the colors will be to the Athearn F59PHI. I've had a pair forever waiting on someone to produce these and just wasn't quite ready to pull the trigger on the 3D printed versions.

Now I have 3 undecorated Superliners that I had planned on doing in Surfliner paint that I'm not 100% sure what I will do with.

I enjoy watching Mike Armstrong's (CoasterFan2105) and his videos.

as an example. P42s and B32's pulling Surfliners.

[MetroRedLine]

I noticed there are options for "Sound and Light." Does this also mean the cab cars will have directional lighting?

[DMU-Fan]

Yes, it appears the cab cars have directional lighting automatically under DC, and it can be controlled by DCC with addition of a Kato decoder.

[Pizzaparty]

Happy to see these being made. Now the value of those Atlas Dash 8 in Amtrak California paint are gonna skyrocket! Hopefully they make another run soon. I’ve always like the looks of those big dash 8s on Amtrak trains

[jagged ben]

I noticed there are options for "Sound and Light." Does this also mean the cab cars will have directional lighting?

More importantly, would the cab car have its own sound decoder?  The horns in the cab cars are different than on the Chargers.

[tehachapifan]

While, I'm tempted to get both 4 unit sets and the 8 unit set personally, just for the added flexibility on some of the longer Pacific Surfliner consists. I'll be curious how close the colors will be to the Athearn F59PHI. I've had a pair forever waiting on someone to produce these and just wasn't quite ready to pull the trigger on the 3D printed versions.

Now I have 3 undecorated Superliners that I had planned on doing in Surfliner paint that I'm not 100% sure what I will do with...

I got a bit further than you in that I DID already paint up and decal two Kato Superliners in Surfliner blue and also purchased four 3D cars plus (Kato) trucks, decals and tinted windows. I have three of the 3D also cars already painted and decaled and I spent a LOT of time coming up with a paint match with the Athearn F59PHI too. Probably into the 3D cars for maybe $75+ each in parts alone. They came out pretty dang nice though. Maybe I'll just stick with them? I dunno. Might post pics later.

[jwaldo]

I'm a little bummed to see that the 'basic' car set is only available with the Charger. When I think Surfliner, I think F59PHI. Not that that's going to stop me from getting the set.

[arx nakanishi]

found in Tokyo yesterday

https://livedoor.blogimg.jp/american_nscale/imgs/d/d/dd546db1.jpg

[peteski]

found in Tokyo yesterday
https://livedoor.blogimg.jp/american_nscale/imgs/d/d/dd546db1.jpg

Nice find - thanks! Might as well make the image visible in a post.  Is the car with large windows (5th row) also part of the set?  nto familiar with Surfliners, but it looks interesting.