Dear N Scale Customers;

Kato is excited to announce New Chicago Burlington & Quincy (CB&Q) E8A Diesel Locomotives & California Zephyr Passenger Cars

4 Unit Starter Series Set

Christened as the premier “cruise train” on March 20, 1949, the famous California Zephyr redefined transcontinental travel, sweeping across 2,532 miles of American landscape between Chicago and San Francisco. Known nationwide as “the most talked about train in the country,” its schedules were famously engineered to traverse the majestic Rocky Mountains and breathtaking Feather River Canyon in full daylight.

This classic collection celebrates the unique, joint partnership between the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy (CB&Q), the Denver & Rio Grande Western (D&RGW), and the Western Pacific (WP)—featuring accurately detailed, prototypical rolling stock from all three lines.

 

Set Features:

Authentic Historic Details: Captures the iconic look and spirit of the original 1949 transcontinental “Silver Fleet.”

Multi-Road Name Fleet: Features precisely decorated cars and motive power reflecting the iconic three-railroad cooperative effort.

Panoramic Dome Cars: Includes the legendary Vista-Dome cars designed to give passengers sweeping, daylight views of America’s finest scenery.

 

What’s Included in the Box

Locomotive & Car Type                Road Name / Number

E8A Diesel Locomotive                 CB&Q #9940A

Dome Coach Car                            CB&Q #4722 “Silver Stirrup”

10-6 Sleeper Car                            D&RGW #1133 “Silver Creek”

Dome Observation Car                 WP #882 “Silver Planet”

 

CB&Q California Zephyr 8 Car Add-on Passenger Set

 

 

Looking for more Kato Passenger Cars & Train Sets? Click here!

 

 

E8A Diesel Locomotive

The E8 and E9 diesel locomotives share the similar “bulldog nose” carbody style as the shorter, more popular F7. The E units were powered by two separate 12-cylinder prime movers (i.e., diesel engines) capable of producing 2250/2400 hp.

E8 and E9 locomotives also rode on A-1-A trucks (powered axle-idler axle-powered axle), resulting in an exceptionally smooth ride favored by crews. The E8 and E9 were produced in both A-units and cabless B-units; the A-units were usually built to railroad specification of either single or dual headlight and freight or passenger pilot. Like the F3 and F7 of the same time period, the E8 and E9 were utilized in both passenger and freight service.

 

Model Features:

• Locomotives will be equipped with a mix of body and truck mounted KATO magnetic knuckle couplers.
• Locomotives feature directional Golden White LED headlights and illuminated preprinted number boards where appropriate.
• Locomotives have a powerful five pole motor with all wheel electrical pickup and blackened wheels.
• Locomotives are DCC friendly.
• Drop in DCC compatible with ESU 58941 LokSound 5 Micro DCC Direct Kato USA Widebody & Digitrax DN167K0A

 

 

Looking for more Kato EMD (Electro-Motive Division) E8 /E9 Diesel Locomotives? Click here!

 

 

Established as a “cruise train,” the California Zephyr initiated service on March 20, 1949, heading eastbound to Chicago. Covering 2,532 miles in just over two days, it traveled “the scenic way across America” through the Rocky Mountains and Feather River during daylight hours. Operated jointly by the CB&Q, D&RGW, and Western Pacific railroads, the CZ was pulled by sets of locomotives tailored to each leg of its journey.

 

Model Features:

• Each car is individually molded to be prototypically true to the original Zephyr passenger cars.
• Equipped with low-flange wheels, KATO magnetic knuckle couplers, and shock-absorber construction for smooth, reliable operation.
• Interior lighting upgradable via optional #11-211/#11-212 Interior Light Kit with White LED
• (DCC friendly).

 

for Versions with DC/Analog

 

for Versions with Pre-Installed Lights, Digital DCC, and DCC + Sound

 

Order Due Date: September 30, 2026

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