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ljudice
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 Posted - 06/23/2009 : 20:40:51
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The experiment was not really about jet powered trains, but how fast you could go safely on existing rails - supporting possible high speed rail projects in urban corridors.
The RDc/Jet combo was just an easy way to get a really fast train in a hurry...
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Edited by - ljudice on 06/23/2009 20:45:50 |
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Country: USA
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sd90ns
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Posted - 06/23/2009 : 21:00:48
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What we really need is a G Scales version of this so we could power it with Estes rocket engines.
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up1950s
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Posted - 06/23/2009 : 21:31:57
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I had sent Kato a note and link about the B-36 pods , they thanked me and included the B-36 in the description the other day .
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Richie Dost
Photos http://picasaweb.google.com/up1950s
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Country: Madagascar
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Fred Moehrle
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Posted - 06/24/2009 : 09:11:19
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The B-36's were being broken up at this time, but the B-47's were still being held in reserves.
That being said, if I had $300 (or even $200) to spare, I'd probably pick one up.
Now if Kato's got the engine pod, what are the chances of a "Aluminum Overcast" in N scale!?! (oh man, six turning & four burning!)
That'd give them transition modelers something to hang over the layout!
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Modern loco's!?! We don't need no modern Loco's.
We need Alco's! |
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up1950s
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Posted - 06/24/2009 : 10:06:52
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quote:
Originally posted by Fred Moehrle
The B-36's were being broken up at this time, but the B-47's were still being held in reserves.
That being said, if I had $300 (or even $200) to spare, I'd probably pick one up.
Now if Kato's got the engine pod, what are the chances of a "Aluminum Overcast" in N scale!?! (oh man, six turning & four burning!)
That'd give them transition modelers something to hang over the layout!
When I was stationed at NAS Barbars Point in Hi 1965-1968 , we used to get all sorts of USAF transient aircraft . Sometimes B-52's would be held there with nukes at the Red Label area , F-104's 106's , I could go on forever . One day I saw a B-47 doing TAG's ( Touch And Go's ) . So they still were flying then , if for no other reason than pilot flight time . NAS Barbers Point was closed in 1999 as a Navy base , so no ships sunk on the loose lips here .
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Richie Dost
Photos http://picasaweb.google.com/up1950s
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Edited by - up1950s on 06/24/2009 10:07:21 |
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lashedup
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Posted - 06/24/2009 : 11:35:21
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Also if you haven't seen the video of the NYC jet-powered RDC on Kato's website you should check it out:
http://www.katousa.com/Kobo/E-NRDC-Jet.html
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Edited by - lashedup on 06/24/2009 11:36:45 |
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Mike Kmetz
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Posted - 06/24/2009 : 11:50:48
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quote:
Originally posted by ljudice
The experiment was not really about jet powered trains, but how fast you could go safely on existing rails - supporting possible high speed rail projects in urban corridors.
The RDC/Jet combo was just an easy way to get a really fast train in a hurry...
Lou has it right. The demonstration was done in a rural area on a long and absolutely straight and level stretch of track with grade crossings blocked. In spite of that, the RDC actually lifted off the rails. It is a miracle they pulled this off without a major mishap. The jet powered RDC was in itself impractical. The noise alone would prevent its use.
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Modeling the  of the early 1950s. |
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Country: Slovakia
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turbineman
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Posted - 06/24/2009 : 16:56:49
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Concerning the RDC, it is a DIFFERENT model, my first thought was that KATO must have a large inventory of unsold RDC's and was looking at a way to move them. They could sell these to Con Cor, and that way could get a SP, UP, and a ATSF version of the unit..  But wait....just checking that $300 price tag.....maybe they are coming from Con Cor after all...
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atsf_arizona
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Posted - 06/24/2009 : 18:52:02
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quote:
Originally posted by Spookshow
Just curious.... how do we know that Kato is sitting on tons of "surplus" RDC's? Not saying it's not the case... just wondering where this information is coming from.
Thanks.
-Mark
Mark,
Over the past several years, it's been posted on various forums at various different times by various industry-connected folks, that Kato USA in Schaumberg, IL, has a very large stock of N scale RDCs in their warehouse - far more than they would like to have had.
I don't have the specific dates/posts handy, but as the RDCs were
produced way back in late 2001, there's been posts to this effect sprinkled through the past almost 8 years, on various forums, including this one, the N scale Yahoo Group, and other places.
Part of the story goes that Kato planned to produce Boston & Maine
in the never-done 2nd run of RDCs. The idea behind holding back
B&M was to offer highly attractive roadnames in the 2nd run so as
to incent the 2nd run to better sales numbers.
Unfortunately, while self-propelled cars sell very very very very well in Kato's Japan marketplace..... as we've seen, that
didn't happen in the USA with the RDCs (with the exception of the Santa Fe RDCs......). Hence, the 2nd run of RDCs never happened. I suppose the stock 'jackrabbit speed' of the Kato RDCs didn't help the sales attainment any, and IMHO in fact may have depressed the sales noticeably.
Perhaps folks such as Charlie Vlk and othes may weigh in on the story of the Kato RDCs at some point, if they're moved to do so.
Just my 2 cents worth. I've no connection with Kato, in fact I very much like my 2 Kato Santa Fe RDCs........ and wish them much success in their sales of the NYC M-497 RDC.
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John Sing
San Mateo, Calif
http://home.comcast.net/~j.sing
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Modeling the Santa Fe's Peavine Line (Ash Fork->Phoenix, Arizona) in the 50s and 60s |
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twister
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Posted - 06/24/2009 : 18:57:42
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I now see a followup "story" to the super Train Master....
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atsf_arizona
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Posted - 06/24/2009 : 19:05:47
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Here's a closeup photo of that custom N scale NYC RDC-3, by "Phil" (I don't have
his last name), taken at Ken's Trains in Sudbury, Massachusetts, in August 2005:
I hope this is OK with the original owner, I don't have his contact info, but
I think he would be proud that his custom model stands up as a superbly crafted model of NYC M-497; I don't
think it was DCC'd or sound equipped in 2005, obviously,
however, I think Phil deserves recognition for his fine model,
and Ken's Trains for hosting it on display:
If the original owner wishes that I pull this photo and delete this post,
please just let me know! Hopefully, this is just a nice sharing
of modeling for us all.
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John Sing
San Mateo, Calif
http://home.comcast.net/~j.sing
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Modeling the Santa Fe's Peavine Line (Ash Fork->Phoenix, Arizona) in the 50s and 60s |
Edited by - atsf_arizona on 06/24/2009 19:15:57 |
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Spookshow
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Posted - 06/24/2009 : 19:14:45
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Thanks for the info, John. That all sounds pretty plausible, especially since etailers do seem to have plenty of the first-run RDC's still available for purchase.
Anyway, I'm doing my part to ameliorate Kato's inventory problems. I just finished reserving my own personal jet powered wonder 
Cheers,
-Mark
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| http://www.spookshow.net/trainstuff.html |
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Country: USA
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asarge
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Posted - 06/24/2009 : 23:16:48
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They were nice models, quite nice, but real stinkers sales wise. I ttook us a couple of years to get rid of them. I don't know why they didn't just go ahead and do additional runs to at least get something out of it.
I can attest to the fact that they had boxes in Schaumburg. Also had a ton of HO NW2 shells for many of the roads they did. Their strategy for the N scale versions is much different.
Funny thing though the P1K HO RDC's actually sold pretty well....at least in our shop. They were heavy buggers. We pulled 60 coal hoppers on the old shop layout with one.
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An AS616 would be appreciated. |
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nkalanaga
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Posted - 06/25/2009 : 00:12:23
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Another oddity about the jet-powered RDC is that the driveshafts were disconnected, so it couldn't back up. After each run it had to be towed back to the starting point by a diesel.
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N. Kalanaga
Be well. |
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Country: USA
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SkipFranandFun
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Posted - 06/25/2009 : 13:19:39
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quote:
Originally posted by nkalanaga
Another oddity about the jet-powered RDC is that the driveshafts were disconnected, so it couldn't back up. After each run it had to be towed back to the starting point by a diesel.
Probably a necessity to disconnect those driveshafts;
...imagine how fast they would have to spin with the RDC going 180+.... !!!
Skip 
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SKIP and FRAN of the SF&F Railroad |
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Country: USA
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