Prototype Information:
Since 1982, the BethGon Coalporter has been hauling “black diamonds” across the United States. The largest selling Coal Gondola in the world, the car’s double tub design increases hauling capacity while reducing maintenance requirements. Tubs below the car lower the center of gravity, providing a smoother ride.
Today, coal is no longer sold at the volume it once was in the United States, and many coal carrying railroad cars have sadly been left to rust. Bethgon Coalporters could transport 44,000 pounds of these “black diamonds,” a necessity for the railroad in the era of a coal-driven country; therefore, a need of recycling these cars had to be found!
Model Features:
- Coalporters: The removable coal load lets operators run full or empty between coalmine and terminal
- The shock absorber construction and low-flange metal wheels provide smooth operation
- The internal bracing of the tub, close coupling between cars and detail lettering on these cars make them look just like the real equipment
- Available in 8 car sets, making it easy for modelers to assemble long unit trains
- Designed to complement the Kato SD40-2 Mid Production, SD70ACe, and ES44AC/DC perfectly
EMD F7A + F7B Southern Pacific Freight 2-Locomotive Set
* Dual Headlight, Freight Pilot, no steam generator
Prototype Information:
The F-Unit is probably the most recognized diesel locomotive in North American history. It was found on railroads from East to West and North to South. Similar in appearance to its predecessor, the EMD F3, the EMD F7 was a 1500 hp multi-purpose locomotive. Although originally promoted as a freight-hauling unit by EMD, the F7 was also used in passenger service hauling such trains such as the Santa Fe Super Chief and the Great Northern Empire Builder. The F7 was the fourth model in GM-EMD's highly successful F-unit series, and was for a long time (until the introduction of the EMD SD40-2 freight unit) was the best selling Diesel-electric locomotive ever made.
Model Information:
The Kato EMD F7 comes in both A and B (cabless) variations, and is retooled from earlier variations of the F-unit locomotive chassis to make it DCC friendly. Passenger units can be identified by their Steam Generators vs. freight units which lack this detail.
Model Features:
- DCC friendly mechanism
- Per-prototype paint variations on Bluebonnets: #325 lacks blue stripes under the lower headlight while #332 has the double stripe, just like the prototype.
- A-unit LED has directional headlight and illuminated number boards
- Locomotives have a powerful five pole motor with all wheel electrical pickup and blackened wheels
- KATO magnetic knuckle couplers
- DCC Fitted by KatoUSA.
More February 2024 KATO train news from Train Trax UK
The latest announcment from KatoUSA is a re-run (with new numbers) of the SD40-2. I'm not a 'railroad' expert, but this is always the loco I think of when I think of North American Railways - tough and utilitarian looking, but colourful! A bit of classic Americana, available in various liveries. As you might expect it will be available in DC, DCC and DCC Sound versions. The DC version will be coming around September time, with the others in the following months.
Available right now are the 'My Tram Classic' - also available in four simple liveries. These arrived last week and they are great fun and lovely runners. There's a quick video on our Instagram account which you can see below. A range of buildings have also arrived recently.
We're doing a bit of work behind the scenes to improve how we communicate and understand our customers, so over on Facebook I'm asking some wierd and wonderful questions over the next few weeks. Your comments and contributions are very welcome.
As mentioned in my last email, our rolling sale page is now live. We've added some new Japanese Items so it's worth another look. Products on this page are unlikely to be re-stocked, but as they go out of stock we'll try to add something different throughout the year.
Best wishes,
Ian Miller
On behalf of Train Trax UK
176-7615-DCC N EMD SD70M Flat Radiator Union Pacific #4364 (DCC Fitted)
(Note that currently the image shown is of same livery with a different road number)
Prototype Information:
Introduced in 1992, EMD SD70M was a 4000 horsepower locomotive that ran on EMD’s new steerable truck design, known as the HTCR-II radial truck. This new truck allowed the locomotive to transfer its power to the rails more efficiently, which in turn enabled two SD70M locomotives to pull a train that would have taken 3 SD40-2’s to pull. The DC brother of the SD70MAC, the SD70M was primarily put to work hauling coal trains due to its high pulling capacity.
Model Information:
These models will be equipped with all-wheel electrical pick-up and blackened metal wheels in trucks that replicate the HTCR Phase II trucks.
Model Features:
- Powerful five-pole KATO motor with dual brass flywheels
- Directional Headlight and illuminated, preprinted numberboards
- Kato magnetic knuckle coupler
- DCC fitted by Kato USA with the Digitrax DN163K1C
176-7614-DCC N EMD SD70M Flat Radiator Norfolk Southern #2586
(Note that currently the image shown is of same livery with a different road number)
Prototype Information:
Introduced in 1992, EMD SD70M was a 4000 horsepower locomotive that ran on EMD’s new steerable truck design, known as the HTCR-II radial truck. This new truck allowed the locomotive to transfer its power to the rails more efficiently, which in turn enabled two SD70M locomotives to pull a train that would have taken 3 SD40-2’s to pull. The DC brother of the SD70MAC, the SD70M was primarily put to work hauling coal trains due to its high pulling capacity.
Model Information:
These models will be equipped with all-wheel electrical pick-up and blackened metal wheels in trucks that replicate the HTCR Phase II trucks.
Model Features:
- Powerful five-pole KATO motor with dual brass flywheels
- Directional Headlight and illuminated, preprinted numberboards
- Kato magnetic knuckle coupler
- DCC fitted by Kato USA with the Digitrax DN163K1C
Prototype Information:
Introduced in 1992, EMD SD70M was a 4000 horsepower locomotive that ran on EMD’s new steerable truck design, known as the HTCR-II radial truck. This new truck allowed the locomotive to transfer its power to the rails more efficiently, which in turn enabled two SD70M locomotives to pull a train that would have taken 3 SD40-2’s to pull. The DC brother of the SD70MAC, the SD70M was primarily put to work hauling coal trains due to its high pulling capacity.
Model Information:
These models will be equipped with all-wheel electrical pick-up and blackened metal wheels in trucks that replicate the HTCR Phase II trucks.
Model Features:
- Powerful five-pole KATO motor with dual brass flywheels
- Directional Headlight and illuminated, preprinted numberboards
- Kato magnetic knuckle coupler
- DCC Friendly mechanism ready for drop-in decoder installation
- Drop in DCC compatible with the Digitrax DN163K1C or Train Control Systems K1D4-NC
176-7613-DCC N EMD SD70M Flat Radiator Norfolk Southern #2581
(Note that currently the image shown is of same livery with a different road number)
Prototype Information:
Introduced in 1992, EMD SD70M was a 4000 horsepower locomotive that ran on EMD’s new steerable truck design, known as the HTCR-II radial truck. This new truck allowed the locomotive to transfer its power to the rails more efficiently, which in turn enabled two SD70M locomotives to pull a train that would have taken 3 SD40-2’s to pull. The DC brother of the SD70MAC, the SD70M was primarily put to work hauling coal trains due to its high pulling capacity.
Model Information:
These models will be equipped with all-wheel electrical pick-up and blackened metal wheels in trucks that replicate the HTCR Phase II trucks.
Model Features:
- Powerful five-pole KATO motor with dual brass flywheels
- Directional Headlight and illuminated, preprinted numberboards
- Kato magnetic knuckle coupler
- DCC fitted by Kato USA with the Digitrax DN163K1C
176-4015-DCC
N EMD SD70M Flat Radiator Union Pacific "Excursion Version" #4015
Silver Trucks, Green anti-glare panel on nose
Prototype Information:
Introduced in 1992, EMD SD70M was a 4000 horsepower locomotive that ran on EMD’s new steerable truck design, known as the HTCR-II radial truck. This new truck allowed the locomotive to transfer its power to the rails more efficiently, which in turn enabled two SD70M locomotives to pull a train that would have taken 3 SD40-2’s to pull. The DC brother of the SD70MAC, the SD70M was primarily put to work hauling coal trains due to its high pulling capacity.
Model Information:
These models will be equipped with all-wheel electrical pick-up and blackened metal wheels in trucks that replicate the HTCR Phase II trucks.
Model Features:
- Powerful five-pole KATO motor with dual brass flywheels
- Directional Headlight and illuminated, preprinted numberboards
- Kato magnetic knuckle coupler
- DCC fitted by Kato USA with the Digitrax DN163K1C
176-7614-DCC N EMD SD70M Flat Radiator Norfolk Southern #2586
(Note that currently the image shown is of same livery with a different road number)
Prototype Information:
Introduced in 1992, EMD SD70M was a 4000 horsepower locomotive that ran on EMD’s new steerable truck design, known as the HTCR-II radial truck. This new truck allowed the locomotive to transfer its power to the rails more efficiently, which in turn enabled two SD70M locomotives to pull a train that would have taken 3 SD40-2’s to pull. The DC brother of the SD70MAC, the SD70M was primarily put to work hauling coal trains due to its high pulling capacity.
Model Information:
These models will be equipped with all-wheel electrical pick-up and blackened metal wheels in trucks that replicate the HTCR Phase II trucks.
Model Features:
- Powerful five-pole KATO motor with dual brass flywheels
- Directional Headlight and illuminated, preprinted numberboards
- Kato magnetic knuckle coupler
- DCC fitted by Kato USA with a Sound decoder
176-7613-DCC N EMD SD70M Flat Radiator Norfolk Southern #2581
(Note that currently the image shown is of same livery with a different road number)
A
Prototype Information:
Introduced in 1992, EMD SD70M was a 4000 horsepower locomotive that ran on EMD’s new steerable truck design, known as the HTCR-II radial truck. This new truck allowed the locomotive to transfer its power to the rails more efficiently, which in turn enabled two SD70M locomotives to pull a train that would have taken 3 SD40-2’s to pull. The DC brother of the SD70MAC, the SD70M was primarily put to work hauling coal trains due to its high pulling capacity.
Model Information:
These models will be equipped with all-wheel electrical pick-up and blackened metal wheels in trucks that replicate the HTCR Phase II trucks.
Model Features:
- Powerful five-pole KATO motor with dual brass flywheels
- Directional Headlight and illuminated, preprinted numberboards
- Kato magnetic knuckle coupler
- DCC fitted by Kato USA with a Sound decoder
