Dear N Scalers: Kato has announced new UP Passenger Sets with Matching A-B-A E 8/9 Units to pull them. They have also announced a second road number on the SP Daylight Steam Engine. The details are below.

Attn: All Exta Net Customers: Special Pricing will be in effect for all orders for complete UP Passenger sets placed on the Extra Net System. For those of you who want to save on the sets, please contact us and we will show you how to get access to the special pricing. Or sign up for access by going to the this link on our web site, https://www.pwrs.ca/client_services/index.php and sign up for savings today.

Available On: March 1, 2008

The Union Pacific A-B-A E unit set hauls 15 cars (including 6 domes) WB between Portola and Clio. (963B and 949 trail) During July 4th weekend 1994 UP and the Portola Museum operated 4 round trips over 2 days between Portola, Keddie, and Reno Jct. This is the first mornings train from Portola to Keddie.

Photo courtesy of John Sesonske

Kato - N Scale - GS-4 Steam Locomotive - Southern Pacific #4453 (May 2008)

Available On: May 1, 2008

Pull the Kato 18 car Daylight train!

The GS-4 runs on four massive 80 inch drivers, 300lbs psi boiler pressure, and puts out a roaring 5,500 horsepower at 55mph, with a maximum speed of 110 mph. The large drivers gave the locomotive a high top speed, the telling mark of a steam engine built for passenger service. The GS-4 was built for the Southern Pacific Railroad by the Lima Locomotive Works and delivered in the early 1940s for premier passenger trains of Southern Pacific, finding its way to the Daylight series of name trains. One of the more unique specifications for the GS-4 by the SP was its Mars light, a necessity with the large amount of grade crossings and fog present on the West Coast. The Mars light, like ditch lights on modern locomotives, was utilized as a warning for grade crossings that a high speed train was approaching, its shifting light patterns serving as an eye catcher in foggy conditions.

Features:

* Drivers are operated by the side rods for smooth performance
* Locomotive has driver and tender electric pickup
* Directional operating (simulated) Mars light
* Directional operating headlight
* Illuminated number boards as it appeared in 1946
* Kato magnetic knuckle couplers on the front and rear of the locomotive
* Detailed cab interior
* All detail parts installed
* DCC friendly

(Here is the first Production Photo from Kato)