A British domestic train from Kato? 800 series available from May 2021

[jpendle]

It's nice to see a bit of realism in the thread.

I'm glad that Kato have done these units, and even happier that they've been done to 1:148 scale.

But I'm sceptical that this will lead to any more UK outline Kato models.
More UK outline Hitachi products? Perhaps.
Anything else? Probably not, but I'd love to be proved wrong.

At least Zimo make suitable decoders, but not enough by the sounds of things 

John P

[Adam1701D]

I think Kato will continue to look at models that appeal to both the UK and Japanese markets and would make a good box set.

[BertFredStan]

Im a tad more hopeful given their continental range and recent additions of the Glacier Express and ICE4, none of which have a Japanese connection. I'm sure the connection helps to some degree but clearly it isn't a requirement.

I suspect that they would look to more "exciting" or "iconic" trains first such as the 395, but who knows what data and insight they garner from this.

[Bartercode]

Kato are bringing out  two OO9 locos in conjunction with Peco

[jpendle]

It seems many people think this will be a one off from Kato, I am curious as to why, is it because it's a newer train in real life? Because it is similar to current Japanese models? Because the demand may not always be there for other models?

Because it clearly has the Japanese market in mind, as evidenced by the lack of standard DCC sockets.

I would be delighted to see more from Kato, and if they choose modern MU's then so much the better, but I'm not holding my breath.

John P

[Dr Al]

One additional comment - folks have praised Kato (rightly) that time from announcement to delivery was suitably small. This is something of course we all have longed for from Bachmann, Dapol for years.

But, for context again, it's again not unique - Bachmann have moved to their 3 month announcements, and indeed we had exactly that with the new EFE range from them - 3 months from announcement to delivery of the Claytons and others. Everything Farish they have announced on this 3 month rota has generally arrived in that time (I forget if a few were delayed a little due to covid, but surely that's excusable). As such, Kato doing similar is fairly unspectacular - it just feels spectacular as Bachmann are still generally mopping up the mess of previous announcements even a year or so after moving to the 3 month thing! I think this will change though as the mopping up gets completed, and we will start to see more complete new toolings arrive with only 3 months between announce/delivery. Indication is that this is coming with some special things for Farish's 50th year.

No criticism of Kato - just reeling in a little of the potential for hyperbole on this one.

Cheers,
Alan

[njee20]

The EFE JIA wagon was announced a year ago, with nothing since, so not quite, but yes, they're doing much better at short gestation periods.

Im a tad more hopeful given their continental range and recent additions of the Glacier Express and ICE4, none of which have a Japanese connection. I'm sure the connection helps to some degree but clearly it isn't a requirement.

The Glacier Express was a tourist souvenir, as it's a huge destination for Japanese tourists. Clearly it was more popular than anticipated given they have developed it into a range including far less glamorous models. The ICE is an iconic model, like the TGV, and I'm sure is again popular with the domestic market.

I find it interesting that even when you see big Japanese layouts they tend to consist of large Unitrack-esque setups, with huge amounts of track, minimal scenery and loads of long units zooming around at top speed. I'm sure people do do the 'branch line terminus' thing, and focus on realism, but it doesn't seem as popular from what I've see. No doubt that dictates what is popular.

[bigdawgks]

Remember Kato are a huge player in the US model railroad scene, yes I'm aware that they may be able to shift more product in the US, but an SD40, GEVO or SD70Ace are nothing like anything Japanese (that I'm aware of), so if Mr Kato thinks there may be a viable market then I'm sure we will see future models (he seems fond of producing multiple units though, except in the US, which would be nice to see)

I'm not sure that's really comparable since Kato has its own subsidiary in the US (unsurprisingly called Kato USA), and I would imagine that most of the US models are designed/requisitioned by their full time US based staff. Kato has no such equivalent presence in other markets, so it can probably be assumed that any UK models won't have their own dedicated design or research team, and therefore be competing for internal resources with their Japanese & European products.

[njee20]

Yeah I'd be truly astounded if that happened. Kato USA got into a much larger market, in two scales, a long time ago. IMO the UK market is far too crowded for them to really make a go of it in line with their USA offering.

Perhaps "Kato Europe" would be more viable, but I still can't see it.

[Dr Al]

Going back to the 800 model, has anyone tried fitting the optional interior lighting kit? Looks to be Kato K11-211, and would be interested to know how effective this is - again Kato's approach here is somewhat different to Dapol's light bars (multiple LEDs as compared Kato, which appears to be only one). Price is slightly less than Dapol's light bars at £8.50 a set.

Cheers,
Alan

[red_death]

If I remember correctly (and I wouldn't swear to this) Kato USA came about because Mr Kato set it up after studying in the USA.

A large chunk of Kato's European models are produced for Lemke.

[GlenEglise]

My LNER 800 arrived Monday.

Sadly part of the red transfer on one of the power cars is missing where the white LN of LNER is located.

Have asked questions of Rails who supplied the box set. Will advise outcome.

Great news, my replacement LNER 800 AZUMA arrived today from Rails of Sheffield.

Looking good, many thanks guys.

[Ben A]

Yeah I'd be truly astounded if that happened. Kato USA got into a much larger market, in two scales, a long time ago.

Hi all,

Mike is right.  Hiroshi Kato, the current President and son of the company's founder Yuji Kato, went to college in the US and told us that while there he became convinced that Kato should enter the US market.  Kato USA has its own premises in Illinois and appears to be a fairly independent operation.

I was interested to note that the original publicity material for the Class 800s incorprated 'Kato British Railways' branding (with a logo reminsicent on the BR totem) suggesting that the company was not just producing a one-off, however this seems to have been quietly dropped on the models themselves, which feature standard 'Kato - Precision Railroad Models' branding.

If I had to predict what Kato would offer next I think they'd be looking at what might sell in Japan too, and if not a Class 395 (the only other Japanese train I can think of) then maybe something world famous such as Mallard, Flying Scotsman or even Rocket, perhaps in a train pack with some coaches.

cheers

Ben A.

[railsquid]

Mike is right.  Hiroshi Kato, the current President and son of the company's founder Yuji Kato, went to college in the US and told us that while there he became convinced that Kato should enter the US market.  Kato USA has its own premises in Illinois and appears to be a fairly independent operation.

From my amateur observations, the Kato US range is not widely available in Japan apart from the small selection of "iconic" sets which are actively marketed here. Most of the rest is usually available in the small selection of shops which specialise in foreign models.

If I had to predict what Kato would offer next I think they'd be looking at what might sell in Japan too, and if not a Class 395 (the only other Japanese train I can think of) then maybe something world famous such as Mallard, Flying Scotsman or even Rocket, perhaps in a train pack with some coaches.

Again, just my subjective opinion, but those are not particularly well-known in these parts, and apart from the Rocket are available anyway in some form or other anyway. I could see them doing a Rocket equivalent of the Minitrix "Der Adler" set (which I see pop up on local auctions and go for quite high prices), but apart from other Japanese-designed/built multiple units I can't see what UK outline stuff there is which a) hasn't been done already; b) would be attractive for the Japanese market (though I suppose Kato could market something to attractiveness) and c) is the kind of stuff which Kato does well (i.e. mainly multiple units, because that's a massive part of the market in Japan).

[Bealman]

There certainly is a model of Rocket in the Kyoto Railway museum....



.... and even Locomotion no 1!