At least the locomotive anyway. I haven't seen any posts on this yet. My e-mail newsletter from Japanese dealer Hobby Search today contained this item. GS-4 American Freedom Train Color (Red/Blue/White/Black/ No.4449) (Model Train) Kato 126-0311 Locomotive|Freight Car N Scale|1/160 They are taking reservations for a November release date. Also a rerun of 4449 and 4450 in daylight colours.
This would be very good news if it is true. I'd love to add a Freedom Train to my collection. This was the scheme that 4449 had when we first met.
It was stored at EMD for a while, while in the Freedom train paint. I've seen pics of it there next to a new SD40-2 (can't remember the RR, maybe southern?)
Though I think this was a ConCor GS-4, you guys might be interested in Jerry's American Freedom Train thread. I thought I would be a good read to resurrect here.
N Scale Supply has them listed now, MRSP $220-230, no discount price yet. Dare we hope that the American Freedom Train itself will follow?
The 4450 is not a rerun. It's lettered Southern Pacific Lines in small letters. As delivered I believe. I think I may have to reserve both of these, and just in time for Christmas, too!
I heard somewhere that Kato made dealers stop posting the discount prices directly next to the MSRP. 4449 took over the hauling duties at La Grange in August 1975. http://www.freedomtrain.org/html/aft_timeline.htm BN had an SDP40 #1976 and an SD40-2 #1876. Could have been someone elses, though. http://www.freedomtrain.org/html/aft_consist_bn_diesels.htm
Yes that has been the case for some time, but on N Scale Supply and most other online dealers when you add a Kato item to your shopping cart it gives the 'real' price, as yet it just comes up as $0.
It would be really nice if Kato made the train that belongs behind the GS-4 in AMF. If anything maybe MTL should step up to the plate..... I am just saying.
The copy on the BLW webpage indicates the following: "For this release the locomotives have been retooled to have the train number board at the front of the boiler, which is the way the locomotives were originally built (and how the surviving locomotive has been re-built today). • Train Number boards located at the front of the locomotive to reflect the “as-built” GS-4 design." Can one of you SP fans elaborate on this? Was the original Kato release reflective of a period of time during which the number boards were not as indicated above? If so, what would be the approximate time period? Thanks. Jack
The numberboards were moved back to the middle of the boiler, like the first Kato release, as it was easier to see the numbers at night.
So this release is the correct one for 4449 in it's modern day excursion service and previous models were only correct for the steam era? If you worry about such details, that is.
Actually, 4449 was delievered with the numberboards up front, had them moved to the middle during her career, and then they were moved back up front for the AFT tour.
