FYI, don't know if I mentioned this before, so pardon being repetitive, if I did! You can order direct from Japan in 20 packs (so for 10 cars or locos!) the Kato 11-702 (black) and Kato 11-707 (light grey) knuckle couplers for about 3 dollars a pack! They fit all standard Arnold-Rapido N-Scale pockets, so just about everything made for the USA market since N-Scale came out. Delivery from Japan to the West Coast over several years has always been a max of 2 or 3 days, plus USPS crawl time from LA to Tacoma, with any delays caused by USPS, like with any domestic mail! They do not have magnetic decoupling, but they do auto-couple and stay together VERY reliably, far more so than MicroTrains' over-priced and very fidgety to install MagneMatic couplers! I have never lost a Kato 11-70x coupled car, but other couplers have caused many small scale catastrophes. There is simply no coupler I have seen, that really looks 100% prototypical, and these Katos are really OK. I think they actually look better than the V-shaped MT couplers for sure, as they have more of a wide fist appearance (which is what makes them so reliable), than the odd V-shape of MT's couplers. That wider profile also makes them more reliable in catching and staying coupled! The 2 primary dealers are "Plaza Japan" at www.plazajapan.com/model-train/ and "Hobby Search" at www.1999.co.jp/eng/rail/ Shipping runs well over 20 bucks, but if you get several packs, just the coupler price by itself more than makes up the shipping, and if you browse for other accessories or trains and make it a 50 or 100 dollar purchase or more, the savings are insane! Want to buy just one pack? That would be silly, but even then, you convert 10 cars for 3 bucks + 30 shipping, so 33 bucks, meaning $3.30 per car, compared to roughly 10 bucks for ONE coupler pair from MT, PLUS shipping. Kato magnetic couplers are also available, are much less than MT, but more than 11-702/707. I have found no need for magnetic couplers so far :) For trains I do not want to play shunting and decoupling with all the time, especially since I do mostly passenger trains, the savings are well worth it. I frankly have noooo justification for any other couplers :)
Oh a classic Video! Love this my Friend. The SP red and gray is a classic! Atlas and Kato are good companies and the drives are excellent. The older font looks so much better than the speed lettering. The speed lettering came from DRGW due to the DRGW Owned the SP. The speed lettering looked better on the SP GEs but the Roman numeral font looked the best on the EMDs. Glad to see this unit is riding the rails again!
I’ve always liked the bloody nose better. I’m not a fan of BLACK locomotives in general and don’t like the NS scheme for that reason. I like the gray and red. Never really understood why people don’t. I’ve always been of mixed mind on the speed lettering. Today, I think I’m with you. 😊
I don't dislike the mostly black locomotives. Especially Norfolk Southern because there's usually a lot going on with the lettering to break it up, etc. especially with the horse heads, etc. But for some reason I just don't like the Black Widow SP scheme as much.
Hi Steve, just curious what decoder you used for this non-drop in frame? One of the wired DZ versions? Was there much frame modification involved? I’ve wanted to try a dcc install in an older kato/atlas. 😊
@@Trains-With-ShaneShane, it’s totally there now. The ESU sound decoders are game changers too. I just got an LIRR Alco C420 from atlas (ESU preinstalled) and it is remarkable. But pricey to install after purchase. I wouldn’t buy any NEW locomotives without ESU sound now. They are actually worth the extra money. I’ve done A LOT of non sound (and some sound) decoder installation in USED DC locos I’ve bought. And so I have way too many that I’m unlikely to run given how much I NOW like the sound. I was never a sound guy because of the drop outs and stalls and terrible speakers, and LOUSY prototype sound. Those days are over with ESU. It’s truly amazing. But I worry that at some point soon dead rail running with battery powered locos will become real and make the much higher investment in these sound decoders worthless. Battery tech is shrinking and getting more powerful every day, and dead rail running would be so so so so so much better. 😊 🤷🏻♂️ Enjoy your work. And thanks!
Perhaps mine was newer than Shane’s since the box said decoder ready. Dropped in DN163AO. Locomotive was probably purchased in the mid 1990’s.@@aceadman
I've always liked the color scheme but hadn't really dove into it as a focus until recently as things have been somewhat stagnant in releases of MKT or KCS.
Kato tends to take liberties with prototypically accurate paint I have found. lol. But they reward us with smooth and reliable mechanisms so I'm willing to give them a pass as long as it's good enough.
@@Trains-With-Shane thanks brother got to get this monkey off my back LOL looking for Switcher like you have and also some rolling stalk along with an engine want to get a switching layout going that will be my retirement gift to myself
Shane, is there any material difference between the Kato and the Atlas SD?? I'm one of those semi-humans who should never be allowed near a screwdriver (at least I don't use them as a chisel; never hit a screwdriver with a hammer!). My mind always runs away to what might be built. Now SP had a number of Krauss Maffei hydraulics, and you probably know how to design a 3d print (rightly called 'additive technology', I believe). Worth a thought Hmm? A good idea to interest Gold Medal or someone to etch in 8 thou a set of windscreens, rear cab windows, and cab sides as 3d printing does not do well with windows. That I know of, the first time this loco was modelled was by Rivarossi in the sixties, and the body shell was a corker. The hydraulics in England were 'shoe it all in to a tiny loading gauge' applications of German designs. As with the SP units, the engineering seems to have been a straight lift. Have a look at the British Rail Western Region Western locos, with an eye to using the mechanism. There is a scale difference. I"m not sure what is available on the German front at the moment that might go under a KM. If there is anything it would probably break the bank. I think the Germans did have a six axle unit which probably formed the base of the SP units and the BR Westerns. th-cam.com/video/BkCnln7RgsM/w-d-xo.html gives some idea of twin Maybach engines, I believe sounding as did the SP units. Try the 5 min mark for idling and notching up. For a better idea see the Hymek (Maybach engine; Mekhydro transmission) . The 38: 50 mark of th-cam.com/video/s79rwKRvYgA/w-d-xo.html has some idling and a climb-out. There are better videos on TH-cam but that's all I have time to find. The Maybachs were a high speed, smallish, 4 stroke cycle engine. A beautiful sound. There is a challenge for someone into SP. How about it SP modellers.
I am certainly aware of the Krauss Maffei units. Now that being said, Even though I am an I.T. professional by trade I have zero CAD experience, lol. So I wouldn't be a very good person to attempt to create any kind of 3d print. Although I'll be they are out there. I'd like to see somebody like Scaletrains or Intermountain do a release.
Thanks for that Shane. Normally I would encourage you to have a go at CAD and 3 D printing, but your work involves too much screen time already. I made the comment to encourage grass-roots model building and interest in general. Maybe one of the viewers might take up the challenge and that's how you might score your model. Trends I have witnessed as a teacher have fired me up to encourage active modelling at every opportunity; hence my comment. Either way, enjoy the links. Another worth following is th-cam.com/video/-vV-YaKsIGk/w-d-xo.html which details another interesting engine. The development of the ‘Flexicoil Bogie’ as under the SD-7/9 is interesting. I believe its design team were influenced by the Australian end of the those involved with the first, and then second, loco in this clip: th-cam.com/video/5nHesKAxnpM/w-d-xo.html Here is a quote: “Further toil at the locomotive ‘drawing board’ produced the required twin ended streamlined cab unit configuration. By this time the new three axle , three motor bogie (a design strongly urged by Herbert Mclean) was complete and ready for testing. The equipment which had been had been especially designed for the overseas export market, was dubbed by E.M.D. as the new ‘Flexicoil Bogie’ This title selected in lieu of the typical U.S terminolology of 'truck' was intended to symbolise and pay tributre to the influence of Austalian ingenuity on U.S engineering in its design.' (Peter L Bermingham; 'The ML2 Story', page 25.. Railway Traction Research Group,1982. ISBN 0 9598392 9 1). (couldn't indent that, nor change the link to blue. Don't know why) See also www.victorianrailways.net/motive%20power/bdiesel/bdie.html Still wondering about Kato/Atlas. We cannot get new Kato SD-7/9's Hope this is of interest to you and at least someone among your viewers. Had a hard time writing this; hope it reads OK. When time allows I enjoy your content. Cheers. Thanks Shane. @Trains-With-Shane @@Trains-With-Shane
Thats beautiful ❤🥰👍
Thanks Dave! I appreciate you taking the time to stop by!
FYI, don't know if I mentioned this before, so pardon being repetitive, if I did!
You can order direct from Japan in 20 packs (so for 10 cars or locos!) the Kato 11-702 (black) and Kato 11-707 (light grey) knuckle couplers for about 3 dollars a pack! They fit all standard Arnold-Rapido N-Scale pockets, so just about everything made for the USA market since N-Scale came out. Delivery from Japan to the West Coast over several years has always been a max of 2 or 3 days, plus USPS crawl time from LA to Tacoma, with any delays caused by USPS, like with any domestic mail!
They do not have magnetic decoupling, but they do auto-couple and stay together VERY reliably, far more so than MicroTrains' over-priced and very fidgety to install MagneMatic couplers! I have never lost a Kato 11-70x coupled car, but other couplers have caused many small scale catastrophes. There is simply no coupler I have seen, that really looks 100% prototypical, and these Katos are really OK. I think they actually look better than the V-shaped MT couplers for sure, as they have more of a wide fist appearance (which is what makes them so reliable), than the odd V-shape of MT's couplers. That wider profile also makes them more reliable in catching and staying coupled!
The 2 primary dealers are
"Plaza Japan" at www.plazajapan.com/model-train/ and
"Hobby Search" at www.1999.co.jp/eng/rail/
Shipping runs well over 20 bucks, but if you get several packs, just the coupler price by itself more than makes up the shipping, and if you browse for other accessories or trains and make it a 50 or 100 dollar purchase or more, the savings are insane!
Want to buy just one pack? That would be silly, but even then, you convert 10 cars for 3 bucks + 30 shipping, so 33 bucks, meaning $3.30 per car, compared to roughly 10 bucks for ONE coupler pair from MT, PLUS shipping.
Kato magnetic couplers are also available, are much less than MT, but more than 11-702/707. I have found no need for magnetic couplers so far :)
For trains I do not want to play shunting and decoupling with all the time, especially since I do mostly passenger trains, the savings are well worth it. I frankly have noooo justification for any other couplers :)
Oh a classic Video! Love this my Friend. The SP red and gray is a classic! Atlas and Kato are good companies and the drives are excellent. The older font looks so much better than the speed lettering. The speed lettering came from DRGW due to the DRGW Owned the SP. The speed lettering looked better on the SP GEs but the Roman numeral font looked the best on the EMDs. Glad to see this unit is riding the rails again!
Thanks Pat! Interestingly my younger brother has started collecting DRGW, lol. Hence the previous video with the Con-Cor Alco.
@@Trains-With-Shane sweet!
Very nice review of this sd7 from atlas.
Thanks Matt!
I’ve always liked the bloody nose better. I’m not a fan of BLACK locomotives in general and don’t like the NS scheme for that reason. I like the gray and red. Never really understood why people don’t. I’ve always been of mixed mind on the speed lettering. Today, I think I’m with you. 😊
I don't dislike the mostly black locomotives. Especially Norfolk Southern because there's usually a lot going on with the lettering to break it up, etc. especially with the horse heads, etc. But for some reason I just don't like the Black Widow SP scheme as much.
I probably have the same locomotive, with a different number. Runs great and was a simple DCC decoder installation from Digitrax.
I'm just not 100% sold on DCC in N scale yet.
Hi Steve, just curious what decoder you used for this non-drop in frame? One of the wired DZ versions? Was there much frame modification involved? I’ve wanted to try a dcc install in an older kato/atlas. 😊
@@Trains-With-ShaneShane, it’s totally there now. The ESU sound decoders are game changers too. I just got an LIRR Alco C420 from atlas (ESU preinstalled) and it is remarkable. But pricey to install after purchase. I wouldn’t buy any NEW locomotives without ESU sound now. They are actually worth the extra money.
I’ve done A LOT of non sound (and some sound) decoder installation in USED DC locos I’ve bought. And so I have way too many that I’m unlikely to run given how much I NOW like the sound.
I was never a sound guy because of the drop outs and stalls and terrible speakers, and LOUSY prototype sound.
Those days are over with ESU. It’s truly amazing.
But I worry that at some point soon dead rail running with battery powered locos will become real and make the much higher investment in these sound decoders worthless. Battery tech is shrinking and getting more powerful every day, and dead rail running would be so so so so so much better. 😊
🤷🏻♂️
Enjoy your work. And thanks!
Perhaps mine was newer than Shane’s since the box said decoder ready. Dropped in DN163AO. Locomotive was probably purchased in the mid 1990’s.@@aceadman
Read my comment below
@@aceadman
Bloody nose Southern Pacific locomotives are hard to beat. My father worked for SP so I'm always a fan.
I've always liked the color scheme but hadn't really dove into it as a focus until recently as things have been somewhat stagnant in releases of MKT or KCS.
The only thing that I see, appearance wise, the SOUTHERN PACIFIC on the long hood be above the louvers.
Kato tends to take liberties with prototypically accurate paint I have found. lol. But they reward us with smooth and reliable mechanisms so I'm willing to give them a pass as long as it's good enough.
hey Brother need a new video fix LOL
LOL don't worry Shane has what ya need. Well.. I will. I'll be recording tomorrow. lol.
@@Trains-With-Shane thanks brother got to get this monkey off my back LOL looking for Switcher like you have and also some rolling stalk along with an engine want to get a switching layout going that will be my retirement gift to myself
Shane, is there any material difference between the Kato and the Atlas SD??
I'm one of those semi-humans who should never be allowed near a screwdriver (at least I don't use them as a chisel; never hit a screwdriver with a hammer!). My mind always runs away to what might be built.
Now SP had a number of Krauss Maffei hydraulics, and you probably know how to design a 3d print (rightly called 'additive technology', I believe). Worth a thought Hmm? A good idea to interest Gold Medal or someone to etch in 8 thou a set of windscreens, rear cab windows, and cab sides as 3d printing does not do well with windows. That I know of, the first time this loco was modelled was by Rivarossi in the sixties, and the body shell was a corker. The hydraulics in England were 'shoe it all in to a tiny loading gauge' applications of German designs. As with the SP units, the engineering seems to have been a straight lift. Have a look at the British Rail Western Region Western locos, with an eye to using the mechanism. There is a scale difference. I"m not sure what is available on the German front at the moment that might go under a KM. If there is anything it would probably break the bank. I think the Germans did have a six axle unit which probably formed the base of the SP units and the BR Westerns.
th-cam.com/video/BkCnln7RgsM/w-d-xo.html gives some idea of twin Maybach engines, I believe sounding as did the SP units. Try the 5 min mark for idling and notching up. For a better idea see the Hymek (Maybach engine; Mekhydro transmission) . The 38: 50 mark of th-cam.com/video/s79rwKRvYgA/w-d-xo.html has some idling and a climb-out. There are better videos on TH-cam but that's all I have time to find. The Maybachs were a high speed, smallish, 4 stroke cycle engine. A beautiful sound.
There is a challenge for someone into SP. How about it SP modellers.
I am certainly aware of the Krauss Maffei units. Now that being said, Even though I am an I.T. professional by trade I have zero CAD experience, lol. So I wouldn't be a very good person to attempt to create any kind of 3d print. Although I'll be they are out there. I'd like to see somebody like Scaletrains or Intermountain do a release.
Thanks for that Shane. Normally I would encourage you to have a go at CAD and 3 D printing, but your work involves too much screen time already. I made the comment to encourage grass-roots model building and interest in general. Maybe one of the viewers might take up the challenge and that's how you might score your model. Trends I have witnessed as a teacher have fired me up to encourage active modelling at every opportunity; hence my comment. Either way, enjoy the links. Another worth following is th-cam.com/video/-vV-YaKsIGk/w-d-xo.html which details another interesting engine. The development of the ‘Flexicoil Bogie’ as under the SD-7/9 is interesting. I believe its design team were influenced by the Australian end of the those involved with the first, and then second, loco in this clip: th-cam.com/video/5nHesKAxnpM/w-d-xo.html Here is a quote:
“Further toil at the locomotive ‘drawing board’ produced the required twin ended streamlined cab unit configuration. By this time the new three axle , three motor bogie (a design strongly urged by Herbert Mclean) was complete and ready for testing. The equipment which had been had been especially designed for the overseas export market, was dubbed by E.M.D. as the new ‘Flexicoil Bogie’ This title selected in lieu of the typical U.S terminolology of 'truck' was intended to symbolise and pay tributre to the influence of Austalian ingenuity on U.S engineering in its design.' (Peter L Bermingham; 'The ML2 Story', page 25.. Railway Traction Research Group,1982. ISBN 0 9598392 9 1).
(couldn't indent that, nor change the link to blue. Don't know why)
See also www.victorianrailways.net/motive%20power/bdiesel/bdie.html
Still wondering about Kato/Atlas. We cannot get new Kato SD-7/9's Hope this is of interest to you and at least someone among your viewers.
Had a hard time writing this; hope it reads OK.
When time allows I enjoy your content. Cheers. Thanks Shane.
@Trains-With-Shane
@@Trains-With-Shane
Go vegan 🥑 please..🙏
I'm sorry we don't do that in Texas
@@Trains-With-Shane