Tonight I was looking through my Kato SD40 and SD45 boxes for any additional parts when I ran across a cash register receipt that was dated Sept 1991. I had to pause for a moment when I realized that these units have been in service on my layouts for 19 years? It they were people they could vote, join the military and drink illegally. I am amazed at their durability and quality over these last two decades and I am looking forward to the next two decades.
Has Kato ever made anything in a Frisco paint scheme? I know that they made an O/W GP7 for Atlas, but I don't think that that counts. Rich
To my knowledge, only a few pieces of rolling stock. And on the GP7 I think it means an Atlas shell on a Kato drive.
Ethan is correct. Kato has never produced any factory painted Frisco units. I don't believe either the SD40-2 or the SD45 Kato shells are correct for the Frisco. I am running UP SD40s and a SD45. They just keep running and running and running . . . .
The Kato drives on the Stewart F-units, and later U25b's, are terrific. The only "pure" Kato I have left now is one undec RS2 - to be a SLSF 550-554 some day. I had several undec NW2's SD45's, GP35's (three phases), and another RS2 - all gone now. They all ran smooth as silk. Ken
Thank you Ethan, Rick and Ken for your responses. Ethan, what pieces of rolling stock has Kato produced? Ken, I forgot about the Stewart F3's though those are not pure Kato products. I've got a Stewart U25B only with an Athearn drive. It's a mediocre model that was expensive. Rich
Rich - Kato made the ACF 70-ton 2-bay covered hopper car in kits several years ago. They came in sets of three per road name - they did do Wabash & Cotten Belt, but no Frisco. Very innovative kit - you put it together without the need for glue/cement/adhesive. It also came with their ASF A-3 Ride Control truck, which was nice. Yes, all the mid-90's Stewart F's ran on a Kato drive chassis, F3, F7, F9. They run like a fine watch. I still have a bunch. The early Stewart U25b did indeed come on an Athearn drive chassis, with Athearn AAR-B trucks. Their second release (later phase with the slope nose) came on a Kato drive chassis, with much better trucks. The two I have (one early one, one later one) both are on the Kato chassis through some astute and lucky shopping on my part once! Ken