I seems like yesterday that I was writing the previous of these emails - the last few weeks have flown by.It was great to meet some of you at The International N Gauge Show (TINGS). Despite the heat we had a great time and sold more that we have at any other show previously. I'll bring more stuff next year if they'll have us back! Many thanks to David L who helped out on the stand over the weekend.
Since then I've been keeping a low profile due to having a mountain of emails and admin to catch up on, but today I found time to get the latest announcments from Kato USA available to pre-order.See below for direct links. To summarise there's N gauge EMD SD90/43MAC locos in UP and CP liveries. As normal there's a range of running numbers and the choice of DC, DCC or DCC Sound fitted. All arrive in the first part of next year.
The second announcement from the USA is the Amtrak Phase III Viewliner II coach pack. This is 4-car set including 2 Sleepers, 1 Baggage-Dorm and 1 Diner. I think this one will be popular, so I'd highly recommend pre-ordering.
I mentioned the KATO Japan annoucements in my last emails, but to summarise there is a Shinkansen N700 series (8 car), N700 2000 series (8 car set and add on pack), C56 160 Japanese Steam Loco and appropriate rolling stock.For UK modellers, we also have a new OO9 Small England, and a 'new' Large England.On the Swiss side there's a re-run of the RhB Allegra and a newly numbered RhB Open Panoramic car.Finally, four bridges in a new light green colour.
Train Trax and Model Railway Magic are keeping busy, so I'm again on the lookout for some part-time help (12-15hr pw) with packing orders and customer service at our York HQ. If you'd like to know more and feel you might have some useful skills, then please do get in touch.
Best wishes Ian Miller on behalf of Train Trax UK
September 2023 news from Train Trax UK
The phone has barely stopped ringing today, so my plan to write this earlier didn't work out. You're getting the quick and dirty version, rather than the carefully crafted words I'd hoped to send!
'The International N gauge Show' (TINGS) - next weekend! I'm looking forward to chatting with folks and perhaps introducing Train Trax to some new people. If you already have a shopping list, then you can now place orders for collection from the website - look for 'Local Pickup (TINGS)' at checkout. This ensures that you'll get what you want, and saves us all the hassle of postage.
Stock levels are generally good at the moment, with more arriving from Japan in the middle of next week (depending on customs etc).
KATO Japan made their monthly annoucements this morning - the 'posters' are below. Pre-orders will open as soon as I can confirm pricing during next week. Keep an eye on our Facebook page to be kept informed. I'm sure that re-released RhB Allegra will be popular, as will the KATO/PECO OO9 models which you may have already heard about. The Japanese C56 steam loco also looks like it will be a lovely model.
I shouldn't complain about the phone ringing - it's great to speak to customers.
This weekend I'm off for a family jolly on the NYMR. Do enjoy your railway, whether it's little or big!
Best wishes,
Ian on behalf of
Train Trax UK
KATO trains - more August News from Train Trax UK
I try to send these regular update emails every other Friday, I hope you continue to find them useful. I hate unwanted email as much as you. If you decide you'd rather not receive them, please unsubscribe using the link at the bottom and they'll come no more!
Yesterday we had more arrivals and re-stocks from KatoUSA. It includes a few more of the sound fitted locos, normally only available for pre-order.
'The International N gauge Show' (TINGS) gets ever closer. I'm looking forward to chatting with folks and perhaps introducing Train Trax to some new people. My understanding is that representatives from KATO will also be present at the show alongside Gaugemaster, but I think we'll probably have a wider range of stuff on sale. However, it's tricky to know what items to take along with us as the stand is smaller than HQ so we can't take everything. Let us know in plenty of time if there's anything in particular you fancy a look at and we'll include it. If you already have a shopping list, then you can now place orders for collection at the show from the website - look for 'Local Pickup (TINGS)' at checkout.
I sent a special email earlier in the week to open pre-orders for the latest annoucements from KATO Japan. There's also some more new stuff (more Chicago Metra locos) due early next year from KatoUSA, which you'll find here.
I was away in the north last week for a few days with family, enjoying the always excellent West Highland line to Oban and on our return taking a first visit to the Riverside Museum in Glasgow. This is a fantastic modern transport museum - I'm hoping for a return trip sometime. Jonathan did a great job to keep orders moving back at HQ.
At the end of next week and over the bank holiday both Jonathan and I will be 'out-of-office', so please make sure orders are placed before 1pm Wednesday 23rd if possible. Any orders placed after that won't be despatched until Tuesday 29th August.
Best wishes,
Ian on behalf of
Train Trax UK
August 2023 News from Train Trax UK
Hello,
Summer is a quieter time for many modellers, so you'd think we'd be able to put out feet up a bit at Train Trax HQ. However, there's been plenty going on.
There have been two fairly recent annoucements from Kato USA. All available to pre-order now, with arrivals expected around the start of next year. See pictures below.
Two Chicago MP26PH locos in DC and DCC, with new Metra paint schemes and re-issued coach sets.
Two EMD E8 locos in Amtrak Phase I livery, and 4316 in the 'Day One' livery, both in DC or DCC, plus a re-release of an interesting eight car set of coaches for the Amtrak 'Rainbow' Era.
There's also been a lot of arrivals from KatoUSA. See the 'Latest Arrivals' section.
We've begun to prepare for our debut at 'The International N gauge Show' (TINGS). It's tricky to know what items to take along with us as the stand is smaller than HQ so we can't take everything. Let us know in plenty of time if there's anything in partular you fancy a look at and we'll include it. You will also be able to pick-up orders at the show if pre-booked.
As mentioned last time, we've been improving the photographs that appear on the website. These have now also been updated on our ebay shop. We'd still love to know what other photos or information would be most useful. Do you have any other ideas for how we can improve the website? Get in touch
Our normal target is to despatch same working day (for order places before 1pm-ish), but deliveries may be slower than normal for the next few weeks, as it's the school summer holidays. Please allow for orders to be shipped 2-3 days after ordering. Thanks for your patience!
Best wishes,
Ian on behalf of
Train Trax UK
More July News from Train Trax UK
Our BIG news that I've been hinting at for the last couple of emails: we've got some new shelving at Train Trax HQ and have filled it up with HO/OO gauge KATO unitrack. As many subscribers here will know, Unitrack is a top-quality product, and while we're expecting N gauge to remain the most popular for us, we kept getting asked for HO gauge track, so we've decided to find space to stock the whole range. Shop the HO/OO range here.
As a reminder, any Kato item not listed on the website can be obtained to order, subject to availability, we source KATO items from the USA, Japan and Europe. So if you are just starting your layout or you are a seasoned Unitrack modeller we endeavour to have the products you are looking for! Why not get hold of a catalogue to browse the whole range on paper? We can also supply other items distributed by Gaugemaster on request.
During this quieter summer period we've been improving the photographs that appear on the website. Starting with the N gauge, you can now see high-res photos of nearly all the track in packaging. We'd love to know what other photos or information would be useful when choosing track pieces? Do you have any other ideas for how we can improve the website? Get in touch
After sending this email, we're having a long weekend so there will be no despatch on Monday 24th July. Thanks for your patience.
Our normal target is to despatch same working day (for order places before 1pm-ish), but deliveries may be slower than normal for the next six weeks, as it's the school summer holidays. Please allow for orders to be shipped 2-3 days after ordering. Thanks for your patience!
In these emails I often talk about the latest releases of Trains and Locomotives from Japan or the USA, so I wanted the emphasis this time to be about the excellent Unitrack. If you haven't tried it, Unitrack is a high-quality, pre-assembled track system that is known for its accuracy, durability, and ease of use. It is the perfect choice for modelers who want to create realistic and detailed train layouts without frustration. Made in Japan, Unitrack has a tough plastic base and the HO version uses code 83 rail. It is fully compatible with most HO and OO gauge trains. Give it a go, whether you model in 2mm, 4mm or both scales!
I'm sure I'll have something more about the latest trains in my next email. Until then...
Best wishes,
Ian on behalf of
Train Trax UK
July 2023 news from Train Trax UK
This is the first of our regular newsletters sent via a new system, we hope it looks OK and it gets received as well as previous emails. Let us know what you think.
A few important bits of news for you in this edition:
1. Latest KatoUSA announcement came towards the end of June - New Chicago Metra Locos:
The MP36PH is a diesel locomotive built in 2003 by MotivePower, Inc. (MPI) to tow commuter trains in the U.S. and Canada. For Chicago Metra, these MP36PH locomotives are routinely seen with double-decker Gallery Bi-Level cars in push-pull operation. In the Chicagoland area, they transport around 300,000 people each day! Starting in 2020, the entire roof of the locomotive was painted black to make soot stains on the roof less noticeable. These locomotives are perfect to double-head with other Chicago Metra locomotives such as the MP36PH with regular paint or the F40PH! The new road numbers will be #403 & #424.
DC/Analogue and DCC versions available to pre-order below. Expected towards the end of the year.
2. From Japan the announcement includes the stylish Series 283 'Ocean Arrow' (pictured top of email), Series E231-1000 Tokaido Line, EF65 2000 Revival JNR color, and Hankyu Railway Series 9300 Kyoto Line which we rather like the look of.
Also announced is a single module T-TRAK kit... We think it's great that KATO are doing a module kit, and supporting the ever more popular T-TRAK system. We did send some kits to Japan last year, so we're unsurprised that their's does look a little bit like the NGS Yorkshire Area Group one that we sell. We still think ours is better, but we'll still stock both to give folk a choice.
All available to pre-order below.
3. As you may have seen on our Facebook page, the 2023 glossy paper catalogue has also recently arrived in stock, along with some back copies of the 2022 catalogue too if you missed it. Both are mostly Japanese text but a picture says a 1000 words (machine translation with a smartphone works well). American outline is not included.
I'd hoped to share another bit of news with you, but the stock has not yet arrived as hoped, so there's a BIG empty gap on the shelves for the moment. I promise it will be ready for my next email - in the meantime keep an eye on the TrainTrax social media channels for updates.
Best wishes,
Ian on behalf of
Train Trax UK
More June 2023 news from Train Trax UK
A few bits of behind the scenes news from Train Trax this time, as well as some more arrivals from KatoUSA and re-stocks of T-TRAK module kits.
Behind the scenes:
1. This is (probably) the last email that you get from us using this emailing tool. In the future our emails might well look a bit different as I'll be moving to something new. Your details are still safe and I fully respect your right to opt-in or opt-out as you choose. The new tool will eventually help me to send emails which are a bit more tailored to you. I hope to also follow up orders automatically to make sure everything is as expected.
2. We've been re-organising Train Trax HQ a bit recently. Jonathan has been putting his many skills to use making things a bit more comfortable (we have a mini kitchen now), as well as creating more space for new stuff coming next month. Hopefully we're now set for greater efficiencies to keep up with the ever-growing demand. If you want to drop in and have a look then you're welcome, but you must let us know beforehand.
3. We're signed up to have a stand at The International N Gauge Show (TINGS) at the Warwickshire Event Centre. It's going to be on Saturday 9th and Sunday 10th September 2023. Stick it in your diaries now if you haven't already - we'll see you there. You might find a flyer in your next order pass it to someone else if not interested.
4. I've also been working on some other stuff which I'll probably announce in my next email. Bigger news!
And also... I recently discovered the largest Japanese railway layout in the UK. It's one of the exhibits at Wroxham Miniature Worlds, which seems to be one of the best kept secrets of the modelling community.
I found my visit an inspiration in various ways - it was so good to see a full KATO layout in the flesh and at scale. I've written up a few of my thoughts after the visit and included some more photos for you to have a look at:
Thanks must go to the friendly folk there for taking the time to chat with me.
Arrivals
Recently arrived from KatoUSA are the 4 versions of the EMD SD70M Flat Radiator, in Norfolk Southern and UP liveries.
I've also received re-stocks of many of the popular Glacier express sets, Kato's most recent revision of the Swiss RhB N gauge (1:150) range, as well as the Turntable mentioned in my last email which I've restocked at a special price.
Also worth a mention is that I have a full range of T-TRAK module kits available again. If you want more than two sent to the same address please do get in touch as I can offer generous discounts due to the way the postage charges work.
Looking ahead
As well as new email systems and TINGS to look forward to, there are a few changes to the website planned over the next couple of months, as well as some summer holidays. Thanks in advance for your patience during those times!
Have a great weekend (hopefully with lots of trains).
Best wishes.
Ian
June 2023 news from Train Trax UK
There's lots to include in this email. Keep reading to the end as that's where you'll find the discounts!
I took a few days break last week, this included a family trip to the wonderful Beamish museum. I spotted this tucked away near the loos, which reminded me rather a lot of the little Pocket Line shunters. I do hope it sees a bit of TLC in the future.
Arrivals:
Back to the world of models, and I think the biggest news is that Big Boy is on the way (in fact by the time you've read this I've probably begun to despatch). I've managed to secure an extra allocation of all three versions of this iconic locomotive, so if you missed out on a pre-order it's not too late to add one. See below for links.
From the biggest steam loco, to the smallest in the KATO range, more of the little 'OBB' pocket line steam sets arrived last week. These are very popular.
We've also managed to get hold of some more of the latest batch of KATO Unitrack turntables. Only three currently in stock. Yes, the price has gone up on this but there were problems with electronic component availability at the factory which means production was limited and the price had to rise (I believe it had been static for years).
The other arrival of of note is the rest of the DCC sound fitted GE ES44 locos from KatoUSA. There's just one of each of livery available - order quickly if you want one as these are normally only available to special order. As there's been quite a few Sound Fitted Kato USA locos arriving over the last few weeks (and more to come!); I've put together a little guide to what your options are if you want your Kato trains to make noise.
Announcements:
At the beginning of the month KATO Japan made their regular announcement. Compared to last month there are fewer items, but they might well be of interest. See below for pre-order links.
June Sale:
It's time for a rolling stock clearance sale. The company end-of-year stock taking is coming up, so we need to reduce stock to make everything a bit more manageable and make room for new items. Some shelves are groaning a bit.
You'll find some massive savings (more than 30% in some cases) on Japanese, North American and European trains. Browse https://traintrax.co.uk/sale or go to each category page and look for the items marked 'Sale'. These items will not be restocked (generally the distributers are now out of stock) and reductions will end Monday 19th June. More items may be added as the week goes on. Keep an eye on the Train Trax Facebook page for notifications of this.
Again I'll be running some trains this weekend with the Yorkshire Area Group. I hope you find some time in the next few days to enjoy your collection or layout. In my next email I'll be featuring an amazing layout I've recently been to visit.
Best wishes.
Ian
May 2023 news from Train Trax UK
As ever, it has been fairly eventful in my world since my last email. I enjoyed meeting those who came along to the Train Trax open days, and I had a great time at the N Gauge Society show. As a result of some of the interesting conversations I have all sorts of plans developing for the future.
You may have heard some rumours which emerged from Mr Kato's talks at the show. I confirmed with him that the current plan is for more Class 800 releases later this year, and next spring. This will probably include 9 car versions, the Paddington GWR livery and new numbers, although details are far from finalised. KATO is committed to the UK market with these so watch this space...
We'll also see more of the fun mini-diorama's at TINGS and Warley - you'll be able to sign up to join in these mini-circuses nearer the time but the diorama bases are in stock now.
Golden Month
The beginning of May is part of 'Golden Week' in Japan, a series of spring holidays. To celebrate this I'm offering 10% off all models of Japanese trains. Use the code 'golden10' at checkout before the end of the month. There's some additional reductions on some Japanese trains too - I need to clear some stock to make room for various items arriving in June and July.
New starter
I'm pleased to announce that Jonathan Scott as joined me as a part time assistant to Train Trax HQ. I forgot to take a picture, but here's what he has to say for himself:
"I'm 47 years old, and live near Keighley, West Yorkshire with my wife and 2 step kids, aged 8 and 16. As well as working at Model Railway Magic, I have my own business, JSModels, designing and producing laser-cut model kits.
I'm passionate about model railways, and always happy to learn new skills. I've been an N gauge modeller since childhood, and although I moved over to OO gauge a few years ago, I still love N gauge. Kato appeals to me because of the 'system' approach, and the variety & level of detail in the rolling stock.
I'm looking forward to working with Ian to develop and grow Kato within the UK"
Bear with us if there's any hiccups whilst Jonathan gets familiar with stock and processes - we're both learning how to make things work most efficiently. There's also still the possibility of a further vacancy for a few hours each week to help the business develop if you're local to York. As I mentioned above, I have all sorts of plans!
Arrivals
This week has seen re-stocks of most track items and the arrival of the DCC sound fitted GE ES44 locos from KatoUSA. There's just one of each of livery available - order quickly if you want one.
I'll be running some trains this weekend with the Yorkshire Area Group. I hope you find some time in the next few days to enjoy yours.
Best wishes.
Ian
PS I'll be away for a few days during the Summer half term week, but you can continue to place orders and I'll despatch when I get back.
I'm sending this just to Train Trax customers who might be interested in Japanese trains. If I've got that wrong, then apologies, delete it and ignore. (alternatively - have a look anyway - it might just start a new interest!)
New announcements from KATO Japan
Last Friday KATO Japan announced over 30 N gauge items, some new and some keenly anticipated re-releases. All available to pre-order now from Train Trax.
In addition, to celebrate the end of 'Golden Week' (Spring holiday season in Japan) there's 10% off all Japanese trains in stock. Just use coupon code 'Golden10'. This is valid until the end of May on all items except pre-orders, no minimum spend. This helps me create room for new stock coming soon!
