Atlas v Kato n scale locomotives

[west willow and laurel]

Hi All:

I've always been a Kato buyer when it comes to N scale but the new Atlas GP 38 looks very good. How do the two brands compare for performance.

 

iAN

[Burlington Northern #24]

Kato- fast generally, smooth performance and easy DCC installs. The most recent American models are limited to F units in ATSF or UP, modern locos like GE P42/AC/ES/Dash 9's or EMD SD40-2's/SD70MAC/SD70ACes. The Kinectimatic couplers they have are awful in my opinion so I swap them out with MTL's 

Atlas- slower more to scale speed(Kato's can be too, just don't notch 'em all the way up) produces Alcos, EMD's, and GE's in N scale. the come with Accumate coupelrs which are easier to use with MTLs than Kato's proprietary coupler system. DCC is a bugger depending upon loco type and the age of the loco.

Like both, I have more atlas' units simply because atlas does produce SP&S models where as Kato has not since the RS1 SP&S #50 released in the late 80's/early 90's. 

[BRAKIE]

When I was in N Scale I perfered Atlas locomotives due to the smooth scale speed motor Atlas uses..

 

[retsignalmtr]

I just bought a pair of Katos ES44AC's. Nice locos. Quiet. But the couplers suck. Can't get them to work with MT's or Accumates. Most of my locos are Atlas GP-38's, GP-38-2's, GP-40's, B23-7's, U23-B's, C420, SD35's, MP15's, GP15's, U25B's. Atlas locos look and run great.

[rgengineoiler]

I own both Atlas and Kato and no complaints with either.  For me, the decoder installs are not a problem in either brand.  My Atlas RS3's were a split board and did require some wiring.  I always switch couplers too Micro Trains.  Both brands are an excellent buying decision for me.   Doug

[CascadeBob]

I also own both Kato and Atlas N-scale locos and have found them to have comparable performance characteristic, although I think the Kato's run slightly quieter.  The couplers on the Atlas locos work well with MT couplers, however, I woulg agree that the Kato couplers do not work well with the MT couplers.  Any Kato loco that I have that is involved in switching operations that require a lot of coupling and uncoupling I change the couplers to MT's.  I have left the Kato couplers on locos that are part of a passenger consist, but have found these couplers sometimes uncouple spontaneously, especially when backing up.  Kato should use MT couplers on their locos and cars.  I'd gladly pay the extra cost to have these as the original equipment.

The only question I would have about buying additional Atlas locos is their time for service work on their locos at Atlas.  Earlier this year I sent three of my older Atlas locos back to them for routine service such as cleaning and lubing.  It took them nearly six months to clean, lube and "tune-up" three locos.  The question in my mind is how long would it take them to perform warranty service on one of their locos if you found it to be defective?  Fortunately, I found a person in California who could do the same work with a turn-around time of 7-10 days.  For this reason I would think twice before buying any more Atlas locos.

Kato's service time for the same type of work on Kato locos is 7-10 days.  Kato continues to be my first choice for any future locos.

I'd be interested to hear about other people's experience with service work at Atlas.  Perhaps my experience was just a fluke.

[EMD.Don]

I run mainly modern six axle locomotives and have many Kato's. Never had a problem with them, smooth runners, quiet, reliable, strong, fairly easy to maintain. I agree on the points about their couplers. If you run Kato locomotives with Kato passenger cars then it's not an issue (my Son has the Super Chief from Kato and it runs perfectly). But, add rolling stock from other manufacturers with different couplers and it can be a right pain. 

Now, I just...as in two days ago...picked up an Atlas RS-3 and GP40-2 and I am very impressed. The RS-3 runs fairly smooth, I love the scale speed affect, but seems a bit noisy. The GP40-2 is sweet! Both locomotives have exceptional detail and the paint/markings are awesome. 

I really don't think you could go wrong with either Atlas or Kato. 

[Burlington Northern #24]

I back EMD's last sentence, both manufacturers have been serving N scale for years. it falls on you the modeler to decide what you want. 

[west willow and laurel]

Thanks everybody. Good info.

 

Ian

[Mikec6201]

There is a person that reviews EVERY N scale locomotive EVER built . The reviews are fair and unbiased . His site is http://spookshow.net/trainstuff.html 

[toby1000]

I have older Atlas locomotives that were built by Kato. The box says Atlas and the Locomotive says built in Japan by Kato I bought these locomotive new in the early 1990s.

At onetime Atlas and Kato worked together to create the chaise both companies use today. Common Parts are still interchangeable. Even the Motors used in the Chinese made Atlas locomotive will use the same brush as the Japanese made Kato locomotives. Atlas does not sell brushes for its locomotive electric motors but Kato USA does.

 

Both Companies build excellent Locomotives and Cars only surpassed by MTL. I like MTL because it is built in my home state of Oregon.

Jeff 

[Paul Schulze]

[quote user="CascadeBob"]

I also own both Kato and Atlas N-scale locos and have found them to have comparable performance characteristic, although I think the Kato's run slightly quieter.  The couplers on the Atlas locos work well with MT couplers, however, I woulg agree that the Kato couplers do not work well with the MT couplers.  Any Kato loco that I have that is involved in switching operations that require a lot of coupling and uncoupling I change the couplers to MT's.  I have left the Kato couplers on locos that are part of a passenger consist, but have found these couplers sometimes uncouple spontaneously, especially when backing up.  Kato should use MT couplers on their locos and cars.  I'd gladly pay the extra cost to have these as the original equipment.

The only question I would have about buying additional Atlas locos is their time for service work on their locos at Atlas.  Earlier this year I sent three of my older Atlas locos back to them for routine service such as cleaning and lubing.  It took them nearly six months to clean, lube and "tune-up" three locos.  The question in my mind is how long would it take them to perform warranty service on one of their locos if you found it to be defective?  Fortunately, I found a person in California who could do the same work with a turn-around time of 7-10 days.  For this reason I would think twice before buying any more Atlas locos.

Kato's service time for the same type of work on Kato locos is 7-10 days.  Kato continues to be my first choice for any future locos.

I'd be interested to hear about other people's experience with service work at Atlas.  Perhaps my experience was just a fluke.

[\quote]

If you are able, doing the service work is easy and I find it rather fun to do