Probably never see O&W. After all they only had 21. Most went to the NYC. Stayed in O&W paint for a while. Frank
I called and asked about additional releases in other roads and was told "This is a good start." When I went on to say that I understood that meant we would see more in coming months and was told "That is not an unreasonable conclusion."
It figures. After I went and chopped, hacked, and carved a perfectly good SW-9 into an NW-2 for the SP&S somebody would finally make one. They rostered three so I may be sorely tempted to add a 2nd one to the roster. Of course the SW-9 has been much used as a donor mechanism for a number of critter projects. Could be yet another good mechanism for some of those as yet built projects.
The Northern Pacific got one of the old O&W NW-2s. I believe it was the only second hand deisel the NP ever aquired. Andrew
I emailed Bacdhmann awhile back about the 4-6-0. They told me about the motor problem and that once it was worked out that they would announce it only when it is being produced. That is a new policy for them. Probably has something to do with the speed of information in the internet age. So there are at least two companies that announcing models only after they are done and ready for distribution. I think this is one reason the announcements have been kinda dry. Eric
Even though there's no mention of it in Kato's ad I've taken a gamble and ordered a couple because all Kato's recent diesels have been DCC ready, (ie. a drop in replacement board as soon as someone produces one and in enough quantity for everyone to get them), but all manufaturers if you're listening how about being a bit more specific on the DCCability of new releases, the terms used are rather ambiguous. As someone said with Kato and also Atlas diesels DCC ready usually means a drop in replacement board, but sometimes you don't know until you remove the body shell if you are up for a major project or not, DCC friendly could mean anything, I've passed up the Atlas shay for this reason. I don't mind having to fit in and hard wire a decoder but if I do I'd rather it be as easy as possible and not a major rebuild. Would it be too hard for the manufacturers to show a photo of the mechanism with the shell removed or even dissasembled when they announce a new release, if you wait for someone else to get one and post details you might miss out. How about it manufacturers, not everyone uses DCC but there are a lot of us out here. I better start saving up in case they do the zebra stripes, only problem with Kato's new policy is you don't have months to get the cash together like you used to and the most popular locos still sell out just as quickly.
In the Early 80s, EMD announced that they were no longer supporting the Pre 567C models, so most of the Major railroads dumped their 567, 567A, 567B, and variants such as 567AC, and 567BC powered locomotives. Models included SW1, NW2, SW7, SW9, GP7, SD7, F2, F3, F7, BL2, ETC. Many of the switchers were sold to smaller railroads and industrial operations, such as grain elevators. Some of the GP and a few of the SD units also moved on. By that time most or all of the cab units had already been retired or preserved. Mark
James, Just checked my MR Diesel Cyclopedia and the measurement from truck centerline to truck centerline on BOTH the SW1500 AND NW-2 is 22ft!! Thw SW8, 900, 1000, 1200 models are 22ft as well. The chassis seems to be a prime kitbash candidate. So, with a couple MP15 shells from atlas and some grafting of hood doors, etc. you could make a really nice SW1000, 1500 fairly quickly. Chuck
Murphy's Law #666 If the truck centers are the same for all of those EMD engines... it is possible that Kato has plans for some 1000, 1200 & 1500s for the future. Kato did collaborate with ConCor to do an SW-1500 (sort-of) about 15 yrs ago. I'd venture that if you kitbashed an SW-1200... Kato would announce a RTR version within a few months.
Yes, but my point is we don't know how 'friendly', until we see one first hand or Kato shows us what's under the hood that term could mean a lot of things. The term as I understand it usually means the motor is isolated but you may have some work to do to make room for the decoder and wires, or at the very least have some soldering to do, though Kato's ad for the F3 refers to it being DCC friendly and it has a drop in replacement board. It's odd that the actual Kato ad for the NW2 makes no mention of DCC, these days you would think DCC capabilty would be a big selling point. From the pics on your site the cab interior looks nicely done, it would be a shame to have to put the decoder there. Anyway, all will be revealed when they arrive.
Kato USA is supposed to be at the WGH show here in Pittsburgh tomorrow, so I'll try to get a look at (or maybe even inside) one or two of these. Ray
This is good news for N-Scale. I will be keeping my eye out for one in BN paint. Yes I will use my modeler license to use this loco in the modern age As I have done with a few other locos
Yes, and it is the same wb for a SW1 also. But let us get to the real world. There is a lot more to swaping mechanisms than just the wheelbase. Trying to use a LL SW9 chassis for a SW1500 will have you pulling out your hair. The SW9 (prototype) has a wider hood, the LL SW9 chassis is a poor choice to narrow. Trying to cut it down for a SW1 is also a bad choice. The CC/Kato SW1200 (sic)(it was the olde RR/Atlas/Arnold body version with the wrong Spartan style roof), also is a wide body but can be modified to work as a SW1 chassis, and _could_ be narrowed for a SW1200. The technology is back in the days of the first Atlas/Kato designs, the old high friction trucks and no flywheels. Kato will _probably_ make a similar fat frame for the NW2 (for weight purposes), they _could_ use the small double ended motor from the Pocket Line with at least one flywheel (this motor is the same design as the std Kato motor, but with a very short armature) and they will probably have a different truck mechanism. This is logic talking, who knows what they really will do. Bob in IDaho, who will probably re-engineer the LL frame and pickups, and kitbash a NW2 on my olde CC/K chassis.
