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Kato USA HO scale GE P42 diesel locomotive
I wonder if the split power truck design will eliminate dead spots due to dirty track, etc by having extra power feeding a separate motor further ahead or behind the one that looses power. May make DCC even more robust.
Nice… but damned pricy.
The motorized trucks re just great! It can be used to increase power on long or heavy trains! Kato das done another grat job!
Sounds like a great model.
I’ve been using LiPo batteries and NWSL decoder/rf receivers in my O-scale loco’s and I love it. No more wiring layouts. I think this is the start of the HO revolution in that direction. Coreless motors use about half the voltage of regular DC motors. I’ve wanted to convert my HO loco’s to straight battery, and thought about using only 7.4volt-2 cell LiPo. I was going to use Kato N-scale motors on each end to make room for the batteries. That’s what this new loco looks like to me. Take out the weight, and install the largest LiPo battery that will fit. With 7.4 volts, you’d have no trouble getting good performance from this loco. Thats my thoughts, anyway!
Wow!!
Thanks for the information on this new locomotive. Sounds real interesting.
Kato is noted for VERY smooth running locomotives, but very “clunky” handrails and grabs - how do these look on the P42DC?
Send me one. I would like to try it!
I remember Tyco did this with an EMD “F” unit in the early sixties. The model was the blue freight and yellow cat wiskers paint scheme. Each truck had its own motor, and two wheels on each truck had traction tires, so electrical pickup was split between the two trucks. Dirty track could be a problem, but the locomotive could pull a wall down! Worm gears on the motor shaft rode directly on axle spur gears so there wasn’t a very good gear ratio resulting in extremely high top speeds. It was quiet though. I like Kato’s approach with the coreless motors with their smaller diameter and all that room now available in the shell for more sound!
The P42 locomotive from Kato sounds nice and interesting. I would add this item to my Amtrak rolling stock. Thanks for the info.
I order one already. I can’t wait to see it and test it! Something revolutionary.
its on order and i can not wait
Hmmmmmm… Interesting!
A beautiful piece off technology…Kato has raised the bar once again to produce something so fascinating. I’m awaiting the DCC version with Tsunami sound as a new addition to my commuter service…
It sounds like a FANTASTIC model & the coreless drive system accuratly replicates how real locomotives work. Love to see this thing in action on company layout!
What happens when one motor works more efficiently than the other? We at the R/C cars side of the electric hobby have that problem. Other than that I think that’s an awesome approach to a new age of model locomotives and is more prototipical to the real one in that case!
Ever since I had heard of the benefits and power of a coreless motor for electric model trains I have been waiting for some other main stream model train manufacturer , besides Marklin whose models are Germany prototype, to step up to the plate and produce something similar to what Kato has done. I can’t wait to buy one of these beauties. MR’s review only adds to the excitement.
You guys should look at the details more. Molded on truck details and handrails. Chunky underframe detailing. Incorrect plow. No extra details like windshield wipers, MU hoses, etc that have been standard Kato accessories forever? The large intake grill on the sides at the rear is incorrect. It should be see thru from top to bottom…not just the middle third. MR should have done a better job inspecting this loco before they made this report. All Kato put effort into was the drive system. And I work on the real P42’s for a living…so I know.