First of all, thank you to everyone who ordered during our recent summer sale.
The sale was very well supported, and that genuinely helps. It has set us up well for the slower summer period and for our own financial year end - not quite as exciting as a new locomotive release, perhaps, but rather important all the same.
This morning in Japan, Kato announced some interesting bits. You can see the 'posters' above. We'll need a few days to digest, publish on our website and confirm the prices of everything. After that we'll open pre-orders as usual.
In the meantime, we have had plenty of new stock arriving, so the shelves are looking healthy again after the sale. Recent arrivals include new Japanese N gauge sets, European multiple units, HO Japanese items, buildings, figures, scenic details and the new 2026 KATO catalogue.
HO DD51 Hokutosei colour diesel locomotive and Taki1000 tankers
N scale dolphins, because apparently this is now the sort of railway email that includes dolphins
A quick reminder on pre-orders too. If there is a forthcoming KATO item you know you want, pre-ordering is still the best way to secure it. We do not ask for payment up front on pre-orders, so there is no immediate cost to reserving something. You have the option of adding card details for easy of payment when they arrive, but it's your choice whether or not to do this.
All we ask is that pre-orders are made in good faith. We understand that circumstances change, but we do get mildly grumpy if people wait until the stock arrives and then cancel, as by that point we have ordered it specially and committed the cash and shelf space.
We are also around over the summer holidays. We are not a normal walk-in model shop, but visitors are very welcome by appointment. If you are in or near York over the summer and would like to collect an order, see some KATO items in person, look at Unitrack options, or talk through a layout idea, please get in touch before travelling and we will do our best to arrange a suitable time.
There is also still a lot going on behind the scenes with the York model railway attraction idea. I am still working through the research, funding conversations and practical questions, but the response so far has been encouraging.
If you have experience in visitor attractions, property, funding, museums, tourism, schools, family days out, community projects, or simply have strong views about what would make a model railway attraction worth visiting, I would still be very glad to hear from you. This is very much still at the “ask awkward questions before spending large amounts of money” stage.
Thank you again to everyone who chooses Train Trax. We work hard to be the best place in the UK for KATO models, Unitrack and practical layout advice - and every order, email, recommendation and bit of feedback helps us keep improving.
