What? No love for steam here? I would love to see the Milw 261. Or even their 2-6-6-2 that worked in the mountains. I would be willing to go for one of those! Question. Has Kato ever made an articulated locomotive? I don't believe I have seen one anywhere. . Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk
That's the one I am thinking about. It's a result unique locomotive and was used for both freight and Olympian service. Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk
I wonder if a N&W J could be done using the FEF mech? With the resurgence of the 611 it would be a good time for one. The Powhattan Arrow could be made for it to pull. Now if Kato got into bigger steam, that would be something to see. Personally, I'd really like the see a Virginian Blue Ridge class 2-6-6-6. Of course any Virginian steam would be nice.
I think that Kato would eventually look at the 4-8-4 mechanism as a basis for other passenger trains such as the Twentieth Century Limited and the Powhattan Arrow. No way to know how long it would take for them to get around to these iconic steam powered passenger consists... but it is in their nature to do this. On the other hand... an articulated steamer for coal hauling railroad is probably not in the 'nature' of Kato. Not that they haven't done some freight locomotives in the past... its just an unlikely 'leap' for them. I would expect the C&O/Virginian - Allegheny/Blue Ridge class articulated would be most likely a model that Bachmann would be able to pull off. The only other maker that might do one is BLI (Broadway Limited Inc.).
Well personally. I think if we want Kato to build anything we would like to see modeled, it's going to be a tough deal. Unless we can find a way to influence modelers over there. Our voice here is just a wimper.. Not putting down kato, but after learning how the company works and it's beliefs, I don't believe we carry much weight in its choices. Perhaps it is Bachman and others that we need to push for other locomotives. I believe the others actually pay attention.. But I will hope against hope and dream that someone makes the MILW 261. Such a pretty shiny chooch........ Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk
Maybe I'm in the minority here, but I think Kato does a great job with what they choose to produce. Complete Southern Pacific, Santa Fe and Union Pacific passenger trains. Modern Amtrak and commuter trains. Maxi IV's and I's. SD70ACes and Gevos. Lots of love for us western modellers.
Yep we are definitely the lucky ones from a Kato standpoint! Our eastern modeler brothers don't receive quite the love that we do though....
It would be nice to see a McGinnis B&M F2 A\B set, if they do decide to do an eastern road. The colors are flashy and unique so it seems like something Kato would do, if they were into eastern roads. Single headlight F7s or F2s would be great though as I could also just repaint them. Since they did that late-phase ATSF F3 with F7 grills, B&M (among others) had some late F3s with F7 grills and low fans... externally they were basically F7s with the older slot style (F2/F3) dynamic brake vents. That would be a neat model as well. Of course it's all wishful thinking, I doubt Kato has any interest in B&M.
So... a few years ago... on a whim... I bought some of the early Amtrak Ph-I cars and E8 units from Kato. I figured... what the heck... so I'll include my nemesis Amtrak just for the fun of it... after all there won't be anymore stuff in the Ph-I scheme made by Kato in my lifetime. NOW I'm sucked in... probably going to get the Ph-I SDP40F units to go with the E8's. ONLY because it is Kato... would I consider buying this.
The El-Capitan cars in PH-I were shown on an e-tailer site. But I believe those were already released a while back.
Thought they would announce at Train Fest, not just before it. Nice loco. Don't need it for my 2005 era, but do recall those ugly ducklings fondly.
I might have to get a couple just because I remember when SDP40Fs powered Amtrak trains. And then I'd need a train for it to pull... man, this is a slippery slope!