I have noticed that Kato is like king midas whatever they touch turns to gold and nothing but praise from the MR. So I petition Kato USA produces an AEM-7 in N Scale and releases them in Amtrak, Septa, MARC, and NJ Transit. All in favor say “I”
P.S. and any feedback is welcome too
another P.S. I know NJ Transit use ALP-44’s but close enough
All who don’t care say [zzz]
Sorry, couldn’t resist.
Atlas made one in HO…They are still available in many hobby shops.
You see that locomotive has a limited market-those that model the NE Corridor.
Note that Kato USA doesn’t manufacture anything. They distribute products manufactured at the Kato plant in Japan.
You can forward your request/suggestion to Kato USA, and I’m sure they will pass it on. Whether or not that will result in action will be determined by Kato’s CEO - who has total control over what is manufactured.
Bear in mind that Kato’s primary market is Japanese prototype, for domestic consumption. If I were to request a new edition of the JNR ED16, my chances would be better than yours - but still slim.
Chuck (modeling Central Japan in September, 1964)
Unless Mr. Kato in Japan thinks he can sell at least 1,000 in the U.S., the chances of it ever being made is mighty slim.
Guys,
Don’t forget that there was a consideration on the table to produce a detailed FP45. Athearn beat them to it with a Genesis unit. Apparently they saw that there was a demand for it inspite of the naysayers and critics claiming that sales would be poor because it was owned by very few roads. Funny how Athearn sold them out!
The AEM-7 has been the NEC’s “King of the Road” passenger locomotive for a couple of decades, even with the Acela and HH8 on the scene. IMHO, it would sell, inspite of the critics.
It’s a good suggestion and Atlas should be written to as well for an N-scale version.
[8D][tup]
That’d be cool. I’d prefer an atlas model than a Kato one. I might get it if it’s atlas, but Kato=probably not.
Well since my local RR is NJTransit and I am in N scale, I’ll give ya a shout out on this one.
may i point out the GG1 (currently being produced by kato) though iconic was the workhorse and ran on and was limited the same lines as the AEM7 I also believe it was developed to replace the GG1
Pity you’re not modelling in N, Chuck - World Kougei have a nice etched kit for the ED16:
http://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10056329
For those who are wondering, an ED16 looks like this:
They were built in 1931 for the electrification of the Chuo line in Tokyo.
Cheers,
Mark.
I dunno about turning stuff to gold but the Kato engines I have (HO scale, RS2, RSC2, NW2) all run smoothly from dead slow to a reasonable top speed, are pretty quiet, and can lead a long train down my 2.8% grades with out pogoing. Some times their detail isn’t waay outstanding but it’s usually pretty good. Did I mention that their engines I have are proving to be reliable too?
Cheers,
Charlie Comstock
Yes, the GG1 is still legendary. However, it was the E60 that was built to replace the GG1 back in the 1970s. Because of problems with the E60 (overweight and severe yawing/ pitching problems), the GG1s soldiered on until the advent of the AEM-7 in the 80s which was built to replace the GG1 AND E60. It was so successful that Amtrak replaced the MU Metroliners with AEM-7/Amfleet sets.
Brakie is quite correct and I would further point out that when Atlas produced this item in HO about 8-9 years ago, it ended up being probably the biggest failure in the way of sales of any locomotive that company ever produced. In the end, these models were being offered by shops advertising in MR for around 30% off original dealer’s cost! So, it is unlikely anyone else will take a chance on this model again…its market is far too limited to turn a profit.
CNJ831
[zzz][zzz]
[zzz][:-^]
But there’s another angle to be considered…
It’s obvious that the forthcoming Kato GG-1 in N scale is going to be a hit, as it replaces the ancient and venerable Arnold model that was done back when GG-1’s were still in service. The projected popularity of this model, along with its supporting cast of passenger cars, is going to give rise to products that were, until now, not considered viable.
I know of at least two manufacturers that are working on N scale brass models of the PRR’s unique catenary poles, which have been the “missing link” for many NEC modelers. You had to either settle for a European prototype, or scratch build your own. This is an important factor, because while the locomotives and equipment have come and gone, the poles have remained pretty much the same. With the possibility of expanding the eras one can model on the NEC, so too will expand the need for more modern equipment.
The HO model by Atlas is beautifully done, but I think it failed because HO scale simply doesn’t lend itself to the type of railroading done on the NEC. N scale, and N trak in particular, is ideally suited, but until now has lacked the equipment and infrastructure to do it right. I believe that an N scale AEM-7 would be an extremely popular item, and would more than pay for itself for Atlas or anyone else who produced it.
Consider that Custom Model Railroads already makes a great model of Baltimore’s Penn Station, Alkem already makes 4-track PRR style signal bridges, Bachmann already makes Amfleet cars, ConCor already makes Material Handling Cars… What’s missing? Cat poles and The AEM-7. And by the looks of things, the Cat poles will soon be scratched from the list.
And, despite its limited territory, the AEM-7 can still be made available in a pretty wide variety of paint schemes, including several phases of Amtrak, as well as all the various commuter services between Washington and Bos
[zzz][zzz][zzz]
Actually I do have a comment to make on wish-lists: you wanna see this!; I wanna see that!; and Kato wants to see something that sells!
Amend that to read, “Kato wants to see something that will produce at least the same rate of return on investment as something manufactured for the domestic (Japanese) market.”
Slightly OT, to Mark Newton
Thanks for posting that photo of ED161 - even if it is stuffed and mounted. She and her sisters (and an occasional ED27) used to run right behind my house when I lived in Fussa-machi, handling trains of side-dump hoppers from Okutama to Haijima on the Ome-sen. I currently roster ED161 and ED1618 (in that lovely grunge color!) so my needs for the type are adequately covered.
Chuck (modeling Central Japan in September, 1964)
Perhaps I should amend my statement to read:
and there sure ain’t nothin’ wrong with that!
Profit is the linchpin of capitalism; Wm. Vanderbilt did not say "The public be damned . . . . . . . . . . " - for the uninitiated that comment was made in a byline in a Chicago newspaper by a hack reporter who was frustrated because Wm. Vanerbilt would not grant him an interview so he created one. The comment would have been completely out of line with any capitalistic philosopy; profit drives this system and if I can’t afford something - or refuse to purchase an item because I feel a price to be exorbitant - there are others who can - and will - afford it. We all lament the closing of a hobby shop and the postings here on the forum frequently attribute this closing to retirement but the owner in these circumstances may be disguising the fact that his “profit and loss” statement may just not warrant a sale to an entrepreneur. Kato’s primary market may well be to the Japanese but K
Profit is the measure of the value added by the product or service. It efficiently directs limited resources for the bulk of the services and products society needs and desires more effectively than a bunch of bureaucrats and elitists.
Almost everyone abhors slavery and believes workers deserve a fair wage, but unfortunately this isn’t true for all the risk takers (entrepreneurs, investors, inventors, and so on) who make capitalism possible.
Mark