According to Scott's website, this would be an unexpected (and very welcomed**) surprise! http://www.nscalesupply.com/KAT/KAT-PassengerCZSet.html Maybe they're running low on the fifth release (or sold out) and they anticipate rabid Q fans demanding something long and shiny to pull behind those beautiful new E5 units. **this is the only one I failed to buy upon initial release, and they are very uncommon in the resale market. IIRC, this one closely followed the second release (106-055 with the Silver Solarium) and they may have made a much smaller quantity; making it a reasonable candidate for an additional release. Not sure why they wouldn't just go to a sixth release (since the prototype would support this), but maybe they just have some shells, etc. to use up and are doing another short run. Decisions, decisions.......
btw: here's the CZ release decoder for anyone trying to sort things out: [TABLE="width: 1245"] [TR] [TD][/TD] [TD]106-055 [/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD]106-055 [/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD]106-055B [/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD]106-056 [/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD]106-057 [/TD] [TD][/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]Baggage [/TD] [TD]Chicago Burlington & Quincy [/TD] [TD]Silver Bear [/TD] [TD]903 [/TD] [TD]Chicago Burlington & Quincy [/TD] [TD]Silver Coyote [/TD] [TD]Western Pacific [/TD] [TD]Silver Beaver [/TD] [TD]Denver & Rio Grande Western [/TD] [TD]Silver Antelope [/TD] [TD]Western Pacific [/TD] [TD]Silver Stag [/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]Dome Coach [/TD] [TD]Denver & Rio Grande Western [/TD] [TD]Silver Bronco [/TD] [TD]1105 [/TD] [TD]Chicago Burlington & Quincy [/TD] [TD]Silver Bridle [/TD] [TD]Chicago Burlington & Quincy [/TD] [TD]Silver Lodge [/TD] [TD]Chicago Burlington & Quincy [/TD] [TD]Silver Saddle [/TD] [TD]Denver & Rio Grande Western [/TD] [TD]Silver Pony [/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]Dome Coach w/Conductor's Room [/TD] [TD]Chicago Burlington & Quincy [/TD] [TD]Silver Ranch [/TD] [TD]4719 [/TD] [TD]Denver & Rio Grande Western [/TD] [TD]Silver Colt [/TD] [TD]Denver & Rio Grande Western [/TD] [TD]Silver Mustang [/TD] [TD]Denver & Rio Grande Western [/TD] [TD]Silver Rifle [/TD] [TD]Western Pacific [/TD] [TD]Silver Sage [/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]Dome Coach [/TD] [TD]Western Pacific [/TD] [TD]Silver Feather [/TD] [TD]812 [/TD] [TD]Western Pacific [/TD] [TD]Silver Scout [/TD] [TD]Chicago Burlington & Quincy [/TD] [TD]Silver Thistle [/TD] [TD]Western Pacific [/TD] [TD]Silver Dollar [/TD] [TD]Chicago Burlington & Quincy [/TD] [TD]Silver Lariat [/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]Dome Buffet [/TD] [TD]Chicago Burlington & Quincy [/TD] [TD]Silver Club [/TD] [TD]250 [/TD] [TD]Western Pacific [/TD] [TD]Silver Chalet [/TD] [TD]Chicago Burlington & Quincy [/TD] [TD]Silver Lounge [/TD] [TD]Denver & Rio Grande Western [/TD] [TD]Silver Shop [/TD] [TD]Chicago Burlington & Quincy [/TD] [TD]Silver Roundup [/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]10-6 Sleeper [/TD] [TD]Chicago Burlington & Quincy [/TD] [TD]Silver Valley [/TD] [TD]428 [/TD] [TD]Chicago Burlington & Quincy [/TD] [TD]Silver Point [/TD] [TD]Chicago Burlington & Quincy [/TD] [TD]Silver Falls [/TD] [TD]Denver & Rio Grande Western [/TD] [TD]Silver Pass [/TD] [TD]Western Pacific [/TD] [TD]Silver Range [/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]10-6 Sleeper [/TD] [TD]Denver & Rio Grande Western [/TD] [TD]Silver Glacier [/TD] [TD]1134 [/TD] [TD]Western Pacific [/TD] [TD]Silver Surf [/TD] [TD]Western Pacific [/TD] [TD]Silver Mountain [/TD] [TD]Chicago Burlington & Quincy [/TD] [TD]Silver Shore [/TD] [TD]Denver & Rio Grande Western [/TD] [TD]Silver Summit [/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]Diner [/TD] [TD]Chicago Burlington & Quincy [/TD] [TD]Silver Diner [/TD] [TD]194 [/TD] [TD]Denver & Rio Grande Western [/TD] [TD]Silver Banquet [/TD] [TD]Denver & Rio Grande Western [/TD] [TD]Silver Platter [/TD] [TD]Chicago Burlington & Quincy [/TD] [TD]Silver Cafe [/TD] [TD]Chicago Burlington & Quincy [/TD] [TD]Silver Restaurant [/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]16-Sec Sleeper [/TD] [TD]Denver & Rio Grande Western [/TD] [TD]Silver Aspen [/TD] [TD]1120 [/TD] [TD]Chicago Burlington & Quincy [/TD] [TD]Silver Maple [/TD] [TD]Chicago Burlington & Quincy [/TD] [TD]Silver Larch [/TD] [TD]Western Pacific [/TD] [TD]Silver Poplar [/TD] [TD]Denver & Rio Grande Western [/TD] [TD]Silver Pine [/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]10-6 Sleeper [/TD] [TD]Western Pacific [/TD] [TD]Silver Canyon [/TD] [TD]862 [/TD] [TD]Denver & Rio Grande Western [/TD] [TD]Silver Gorge [/TD] [TD]Chicago Burlington & Quincy [/TD] [TD]Silver Cliff [/TD] [TD]Western Pacific [/TD] [TD]Silver Palisade [/TD] [TD]Western Pacific [/TD] [TD]Silver Bay [/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]Dome Observation [/TD] [TD]Denver & Rio Grande Western [/TD] [TD]Silver Sky [/TD] [TD]1145 [/TD] [TD]Chicago Burlington & Quincy [/TD] [TD]Silver Solarium [/TD] [TD]Western Pacific [/TD] [TD]Silver Crescent [/TD] [TD]Chicago Burlington & Quincy [/TD] [TD]Silver Penthouse [/TD] [TD]Chicago Burlington & Quincy [/TD] [TD]Silver Horizon [/TD] [/TR] [/TABLE]
Maybe the uptake on the individual E5's was slower than expected and re-releasing a sold-out CZ set, for which the car names were already selected/tooled, was a simple expedient to boost sales. IIRC, Kirk Reddie once mentioned that he was looking for one of these particular sets. First this, then more Mikado driver/traction-tire sets due in February - could eastern roadname F-units be far behind?
It seems interesting that Kato has never corrected the steam generator vents on the F3 A units. It looks like they added lighted number boards to the shells.
I never bought any of the CZ sets and am tempted to jump on this. The kids are going to be shocked when I get all the presents from Santa this year.
I would have to doubt that since they would have to have started producing the CZ set before the E5's even hit the shore line. Remember, they have to build them and then ship them across the Pacific that takes more than a week or two. Plus lead time in the que after deciding you want to do it.
Kato still make their own stuff in their own factory so if Kato-san says he wants more CZ's I expect they'd find a slot in the production schedule, but you're right, they would have been planned months ago. More likely they thought the E5 would stir interest int things CB&Q so they could sell a few more CZ's.
Now confirmed on Kato's website: "Previously released in extremely limited quantities in 2007, the third production of the California Zephyr will be re-produced this holiday season in larger numbers to allow those who missed it (or those looking for a California Zephyr in general) to finally add this historic piece to their collection!" This is almost as big a surprise as the E5 release. I have been tempted for awhile to start searching for one of these, but concerned that the cost, time and potential "less than mint" condition would be disappointing. Only Kato knows the official production numbers, but it is apparent that this release was not produced in the same quantities as the others. It is the only time (until now) I recall when they issued another CZ release while the previous release was still in stock. Thanks Kato!
I currently have the 106-056 set which is apparently the 4th release according to Jack's chart above. What's the advantage of the 3rd release? Why does it appear to be so highly sought after? Is the only difference the car names? Physically, I assume every set is identical, unless Kato retooled at some point to improve accuracy later on. Any thoughts?
Brian is correct. For most folks, any one of these fine sets will be just as good as the others. That said, some of us have grown so fond of these that we feel compelled to have all of them. If it were most other passenger trains where only a few, or none, of the cars had "names," we might not feel the same way. In this case, and as an extension of CB&Q practice, each car in the shiny silver train has a "Silver xxxx" name, which now extends to our E5 locomotives. If that doesn't make sense to anybody, just move on because I can't back it up with any kind of logic. I'll look to the other CBQ guys to confirm or dispute my assessment. The only one of these that might be less desirable would be the second release, because it includes a very minor misprint on one of the cars. If anyone reading has one of these, and doesn't know about it, please forget you read this because it is still a fantastic set that is worthy of treasuring, and if I hadn't read about it on the internet I would have never noticed it.
Has anybody out there received one of these re-released sets? Kato's website indcated that they were shipping last month, but my on-line retailer (who is normally very fast) has yet to indicate that these have been received and are being shipped. I'm wondering if the East coast storm aftermath might be a contributing factor.
I received mine about two weeks ago. It's just as beautiful as all of the others. I have three of the five sets.
If anyone has a silver solarium or the entire set containing it they would be willing to part with, send me a PM.
Just before the inauguration into service in 1949 all three railroads made up special consists of the train containing only their cars. Then they each displayed them around their systems to promote the new train. The CB&Q had three special roundtrip excursion runs. On the second day there was a mechanical problem with one of the F3s, and they had to substitute a different locomotive on that day. The next day however, the alternate locomotive was not available so they wound up pulling the train with a steam engine. One of the few occasions on which the California Zephyr's Vistas-Domes were dusted with cinders!
The dome cars were also used regularly on the Exposition Flyer before the CZ was inaugurated. http://i1127.photobucket.com/albums/l632/erikclindgren/expo2.jpg
