does anyone have any comments ( pro or con ) about this Loco ?
Its a Kato, nuff said.
David B
Yes, I bought one and to my complete shock it ran like a rtr Athearn. I have 10 Kato in my roster ranging from old to new, 4 and 6 axel. All of them run smooth and the 4 axels run almost completely silent.
Maybe it’s just the one I got, but I will not buy another one of the newer Katos unless I can test it on a test track.
edit: needless to say, it went back to the store the next day.
I don’t remember when I bought this unit but I bought the Kato SD40-2 Norfolk Southern unit (road number 1652) several years ago. It was a great unit. Ran great, no problems with derailments, strong puller. The only problem I didn’t like was it had a yellow hue light instead of a white light.
The Kato HO models are some of the best runners in the market place. That said, the first run of SD40-2’s a few years ago had contact problems with the motor leads and did not run at all. The lights would be on but the motor would not run. This was easy to fix by using solder instead of depending on contact by very little compression for the leads. The motor and gear sets are extrememly good and will run on a home layout for any normal lifetime.
Kato has fallen behind on some of the detail compared to P2K and Atlas in the last few years but they are still excellent models overall.
The cost is worth the money.
on my Santa Fe, they are prize runners. Have some of the old chassis with the rewire, many of the newer models, all are top drawer.
Bob
I have several SD40s+SD40-2’s bought new and used (none of the latest run as yet),all of them are smooth, quiet,strong pullers. The detail as previously noted isn’t quite as good as the competition now (although to me they are still excellently detailed-ignorance is bliss I suppose).I run DC and can’t comment on ease of converting to DCC. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend them to anyone, if you can get them at a low price buy it! I doubt you’ll regret it.
Andrew
Mine runs smooth as silk and quiet as a mouse. Oh if they only would make steam engines in HO.
Jarrell
You said it right about the Kato HO steam models. If only!!!
Kato seems to specialize in N scale and offers HO now and then.
Hello,
in my experience Kato makes an excellent product. In my collection is at least one version of a locomotive that Kato made in CP colours. Being in DC I find that they all speedmatch perfectly, are very quiet, reliable, smooth and good pullers. In this collection are four SD40-2’s. One in CP, one in UP colours, ie the older runs. They both run great. Recently with the production of the new SD40-2 I picked up two in CN colours. They are a little lighter due to the speaker mount in the fuel tank and are not as quiet as the other units. Still great performers. Would I purchase another engine made by Kato, YES.
Hope it helps
Frank