Hmmm... spare trainset cars BEFORE the trainset comes out

[OldEastRR]

In addition, Kato USA is now taking advanced reservations for N C&NW Pullman Bi-Level Parts kits - these are the cars that will be present in our upcoming "400" series passenger train, painted and complete, that will be sold separately through Kato USA's parts department. In order to gauge interest and guarantee availability, Kato USA is taking advanced reservations prior to the production of the train to ensure that we can make sure that everyone who wants some of these cars can get them.

This will be the ONLY way the individual C&NW Bi-Level cars will be released for the time being, so if you're looking to expand your C&NW fleet or build a commuter lineup, be sure to let your hobby store know so they can reserve some for you! We will manufacture some extra upon release for those who missed the pre-order window but at that point availability will be extremely limited!

No link to their site yet. There are PDFs of the cars, going for $40 list.  This is interesting .... maybe KATO will do this whenever they are going to bring out a trainset. Probably do very well with the Pennsy RPO if they run another set of BL.

[wcfn100]

They are shipping the same time as the sets.

The parts are due December, a month after the set.  They are up on the Kato site now.

http://www.katousa.com/N/400/index.html?fbclid=IwAR03X6g6giRe4qI_dMEU9WUmrUaiSk1XZUwvxVVXie1ObxczyQ6y_7GIvBY


Jason

[learmoia]

I wonder if they are just producing X# of cars.. then assembling sets based on pre order and sending the rest as parts for Kato US to distribute.

~Ian

[JanesCustomTrain]

I wonder if they are just producing X# of cars.. then assembling sets based on pre order and sending the rest as parts for Kato US to distribute.

~Ian

Kato Japan is producing only sets and the only way Kato USA got individual cars is in form of spare parts ?

Jane

[Nato]

        Sorry about my similar post in the Train Set Announcement Thread in the Products section. Nate Goodman (Nato). 

[daniel_leavitt2000]

Kato Japan is producing only sets and the only way Kato USA got individual cars is in form of spare parts ?

Jane

I actually think it may be something like that. Kato and Kato USA have a rather obtuse relationship.

[Peter Amling]

I just preordered both the set, and a bunch of extra coaches from my LHS. I tend to get paranoid about things like this. Kato is not known to do a lot of reruns of things and I'd like a full length commuter train.

[nickelplate759]

I just preordered both the set, and a bunch of extra coaches from my LHS. I tend to get paranoid about things like this. Kato is not known to do a lot of reruns of things and I'd like a full length commuter train.

When I was a little boy we lived across the street from the C&NW tracks running through Wilmette, IL.  My parents hated the noise, but I got to see lots of trains every day. We used to play "guess how long the train will be" as soon as we heard one coming. Commuter trains were as short as two cars (one coach, one cab). I don't remember them being longer than 8 cars.

[Peter Amling]

When I was growing up, in Glen Ellyn, we lived pretty close to the tracks and the downtown area and saw loads of passenger and freight trains. That was the Metra era for me with the white brown and red scheme but trains were (and still are) up to 9 cars long. There are still 4 window b-levels in service, maybe not the exact cars Kato is doing, but largely the same.

[greenwizard88]

I actually think it may be something like that. Kato and Kato USA have a rather obtuse relationship.

I really wish that they would work on their relationship. They're missing out on sales on items that they already make, simply because they don't listen.

[peteski]

I really wish that they would work on their relationship. They're missing out on sales on items that they already make, simply because they don't listen.

Wishful thinking . . .