Nice work! I fulfilled my "gotta-have" itch at a recent train show, so can feel good about spending money for what that. Knowing the fair-market value is critical.
I'll agree to that as well. The Kato drives are the best. I have some that are 20-25 years old.
hornblowerIf these are really 30 years old, I'm even more impressed!
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I have many locomotives with 30 year old Kato drives, and they all run great to this day.
Great finds.
-Kevin
Living the dream.
I guess it is a GP7, not a GP9. Yes, both locos have a small Kato label on the underside of the fuel tanks. If these are really 30 years old, I'm even more impressed!
Hornblower
riogrande5761IIRC, the Atlas GP7's used to have had KATO molded in on the underside - trucks I think it was. Probaby a GP7 as you noted, not GP9.
I had to go look.. You are correct. The bottom of the tank has Kato on it as does the RS11s. Even today those are still among the best drives made. To bad the Atlas/Kato partnership disslove.
Larry
Conductor.
Summerset Ry.
"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt Safety First!"
BRAKIE When did Kato make a GP9? I know Atlas/Kato did the GP7 You got a good deal on that Atlas/Kato GP7 and RS11.
When did Kato make a GP9? I know Atlas/Kato did the GP7
You got a good deal on that Atlas/Kato GP7 and RS11.
IIRC, the Atlas GP7's used to have had KATO molded in on the underside - trucks I think it was. Probaby a GP7 as you noted, not GP9.
Hornblower is just blowing his horn. You pays your money and takes your chances; looks like he got lucky.
Rio Grande. The Action Road - Focus 1977-1983
When did Kato make a GP9? I know Atlas/Kato did the GP7 and RS11 among other Atlas yellow box locomotives around 30 years ago.
I know Kato makes the RS2 and RSC2 under their name.
Sounds like some great finds. Congrats!
Have fun,
Richard
I attended the Great Train Show in Costa Mesa this past Sunday and found one vendor offering great deals on locos and rolling stock. He was selling loose (out of box) used locos for $20 each. I bought a Kato GP9 in Santa Fe zebra stripes and a Kato RS11 in Southern Pacific black widow scheme. I also bought a three pack of Athearn wood reefers in Southern Pacific livery for $7.
When I got home, I inspected the two locos and found them a little dusty and with grungy wheels, but after dusting them off and cleaning the wheels they ran very smoothly on my little test track. I next opened them up and installed NCE D13SRJ decoders in each. I took them out to the layout and, all I can say is, "Wow!" I've never owned locos that run as smoothly, slowly and quietly as these Kato's and I have several very good performers. Both locos were able to pull 8-car trains around my entire layout at under 10 scale miles per hour (it took 27.5 minutes) without any kind of hesitation, even on grades.
As usual, the Athearn kits went together easily and I upgraded them with NMRA weighting, plus Kadee couplers and wheelsets before using Pan Pastels to weather them. They look great and behave quite well on track.
Best $47 I've ever spent at a train show!