Kato did a bang up job on the El Capitan set. The cars are well detailed and very smooth running. I run the 12 car train on our N scale club layout, and when we do a train show, the public really likes to see that long silver train, snaking between the curves.
Very nice, really top-of the line You can get to N-scale today. I have the other Santa Fe-set (Super Chief) and they are great together. Kato has made it agian!
I may have to add a northern extension to my planned Surf Line layout (don’t think I could explain El Capitan at Oceanside as a result of a washout somewhere further north!).
Like one of your previous readers commented, I rode this train in 1966. I was 16 and it was a fantastic three day experience that I will never forget. I boarded in Pasadena, California, and transferred in Kansas City to another railroad to Memphis. I’m an HO guy, but I will purchaes this N set for display. Might even convert. Thanks
Yes, Kato has done it again. Even though I don’t model in N scale (my layout is HO), I had to have the set, if just for display.
For those who are yearning for an HO version, InterMountain has produced a ready-to-run version of Train Station Products kits. These cars are very well done, and include separately attached wire handrails. However, the diaphragms are not working and the couplers are truck mounted (to allow these very long cars to negotiate sharp curves). So far the Step Up Coach, Hi-Level Coach, and Diner in appropriate numbers have been available. What is lacking are the Lounge and Baggage-Dormitory Transition cars.
These cars look even better than the Super Chief if that’s possible, they are next on my list.
My mom took me on a trip to California in July 1966. We rode the Pennsylvania RR to Chicago and then the El Capitan from Chicago to Pasedena and back. A big adventure for a ten year old! The train was beautiful and so clean compared to the Pennsylvania’s passenger trains. I remember the delicious hamburgers that were my favorite in the dining car, and having orange juice and coissants for breakfast in the Kachina Coffee shop on the lower level of the lounge car. I still have the info literature from the train. I don’t have an n guage layout, but I’m getting one of these for display until I do!!!
keep them coming
True to form’ Kato is a premium molded plastic model builder and these passenger sets are no exception. I own sets from past runs that are still as fine as I have ever seen. I would like to see Kato include interior lighting and Kadee couplers on there passenger sets for the price of the product, but that is my opinion. I did not see that interior lighting was included on this set, but I could be mistaken. This was an add on with my older sets. All of my Kato engines and cars have very sharp molded in detail often rivaling photo etched parts when compared using magnification. Quality has never been an issue with Kato in my experience. Buy them while you can get them!!
Looks excellent yet again - Well done Kato - I have a lot of their models and they are always well made and superior running against other manufacturers - need to do some saving for this
Owning both the El Capitan and the Super Chief trains allows me to run the 1967 version pulled by two Athearn FP45s in War Bonnet Super Fleet scheme. Makes for an outstanding looking passenger train. Running this for the first time during the Madison Trainshow this last weekend on our Capital City NGineers NTRAK layout, the silver (and stimulated stainless steel) really stood out, especially when passing another train… The colors reflected off of the sides.
Smooth running, superior finish, and just… Kato!
Yes, Kato was still right on target. Even if I do not practice the N scale (I practice scales HO & HOn3, S, On3 & On30, Om 22.5 mm), I have admired the train on the layout of a friend, a lover of N.
I hope a HO version, byKato or Concor , who seems to have deferred his project.
Until now , Train Station Products produced only three of the four cars, the Step Up Coach, the Coach and the Dinner, and even if Inter Mountain produced a version of “ready to run” integrating interiors very well crafted, it still missing the Lounge and maybe a baggage-dormitory transition car easier than the kit from Union Station Products.
Thank you Mr Kato (or Mr Concor) to hear our prayer.
It seems I picked a great time to get into N scale! I just finished reading the article in the April 2010 issue of Model Railroader and it looks like a great product.
But, where is the video that was promised at the end of the magazine article located on your website? The article states, “We ran the ‘El Capitan’ on our N scale layout with a pair of Kato F7 diesels. Subscribers can watch the video at www.ModelRailroader.com.”
I can’t seem to find the video anywhere on the website.
Great review and photos though! Thanks.
Kato has given no instructions for installing lighting kits.
Awesome layout and scenery - a perfect backdrop for a demo of the beautiful El Capitan set. Kato definitely has done it again for those of us who never could afford earlier reproductions that I believe were done in brass. For those of us who enjoy watching such things in motion, especially on those super-elevated curves, a little longer video would have been really nice. Thanks anyway for this great peek at a gorgeous train!
True to form’ Kato is a premium molded plastic model builder and these passenger sets are no exception. I own sets from past runs that are still as fine as I have ever seen. I would like to see Kato include interior lighting and Kadee couplers on there passenger sets for the price of the product, but that is my opinion. I did not see that interior lighting was included on this set, but I could be mistaken. This was an add on with my older sets. All of my Kato engines and cars have very sharp molded in detail often rivaling photo etched parts when compared using magnification. Quality has never been an issue with Kato in my experience. Buy them while you can get them!!
The silver paint on the models’ body shells is especially well done. The finish is metallic enough to do a convincing job of simulating stainless steel. All lettering and car numbers match prototype photos. All the window gaskets are correctly painted black.
this is on of the best sets I have ever seen do you know were I can bye it in Australia