Kato N Scale BN F-Units

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
1

I received an offer to purchase some Kato F3 Units in N scale, lettered for the Burlington Northern. I was told they were road numbers #713 and #714. I was also told they were modern 2003 releases. Problem is, all of the research I can find shows that Kato only made these F3s in 2003:

F3A F3B Set: #703 and 706
F3A add-on loco: #710

I have also discovered that Kato made some F7s in 1992:
F7A: #724
F7A: #732
F7B: #751

Could the seller be mistaken, and could these engines be earlier F3 releases from 1988? Does anyone know just what F units are available in N scale lettered for the BN? (Excluding anything from Bachmann, LL train set, Model Power, etc… as well as 1970’s stuff, etc)

Thanks. I am modeling then BN in the mid-1970’s to early 1980’s and would like a full roster of F units!

Ben [:)]

2

The road numbers (#724,732,751) for Kato BN F7’s were models released in 1992. The 1988 Kato F3’s had no BN models but released GN’s. Kato had reruns for the F3’s in 1990 & 1995 but no BN’s.
Cheers,
Cliff
http://cliffordconceicao3310.fotopic.net/c328807.html

3

Scoobster -

I could not find anything on the Kato F3 BN units 713 & 714 either. Perhaps they are custom painted? Intermountain is the only other to make F3’s and they didn’t release any in BN. I also checked HO models and could not find those unit number either.

4

I checked them out. They were #710 units that were decaled over. By the way, the coupler mounting “brackets” on the engines were so flimsy two fell apart while i was just handling the engine. Is there a better way to install couplers on them?

5

i have a Kato BN #710 “A” unit that I purchased a couple of years ago. I also have a ABA CN Kato F-3 lash up that was purchased around 1996. The difference between the two is the newer ones can accept a drop in decoder from Digitrax.