Is Kato done with HO locomotives?

[CNJ831]

One must appreciate as well that Kato largest market, by far, is their domestic one and in Japan N-gauge is definitely king. Kato is totally dominant in Japan and, as outlined by some others here, would undoubtedly consider it very foolish to attempt to compete in a major way in the American HO market that is so heavily influenced at the moment by the almost monthly releases of new locomotives by MTH and BLI.

For Kato, it's good business sense to pretty much stay out of the American HO market, especially with conditions being what they are in the hobby and economically currently and they probably will.

CNJ831

 

[blownout cylinder]

Bdewoody

Yes but all of these have been out for years and probably stock piled, Active to me means producing something new occasionally.

What with everyone going the pre-order route this may be the reason you're not seeing any new ones coming out in  HO scale. The stockpile must've been pretty large for them to out this long.

Sheldon: My guess is if there are any new locomotives coming out it will be through a pre-order as well.

[Bdewoody]

Pathfinder

 From Kato's web site http://www.katousa.com/HO/locomotive.html

Current Models:

            North American Locomotives

            EMD F40PH

            EMD SD38-2

            EMD SD40-2 Mid Production

            EMD SD45

            EMD SD70MAC

            EMD SD90/43MAC

            GE AC4400CW

            GE C44-9W

 

  So it looks like they are still active to me.

 

Yes but all of these have been out for years and probably stock piled, Active to me means producing something new occasionally.

[rjake4454]

ATLANTIC CENTRAL

I don't know, but I'll offer a few thoughts:

First, Kato has always been an N scale company that has just dabbled in HO or manufactured HO for others.

Given the state of the economy, the number of other players in HO, and with MTH and BLI busy playing "my loco is better than yours", who in their right mind would expand their HO line when they are already well established in N scale?

They are a diesel manufacturer, what has not been done, several times, that there is a known market for? My railroad has all the diesels it needs and if I wanted more there are plenty good ones out there of every size, shape, era and prototype.

If there are two or more living brain cells at Kato, they will say goodbye to HO, at least for a while.

But what do I know......

Sheldon

I think your analysis of this situation is spot on. I couldn't agree more.

[Pathfinder]

 From Kato's web site http://www.katousa.com/HO/locomotive.html

Current Models:

            North American Locomotives

            EMD F40PH

            EMD SD38-2

            EMD SD40-2 Mid Production

            EMD SD45

            EMD SD70MAC

            EMD SD90/43MAC

            GE AC4400CW

            GE C44-9W

 

  So it looks like they are still active to me.

 

[ATLANTIC CENTRAL]

I don't know, but I'll offer a few thoughts:

First, Kato has always been an N scale company that has just dabbled in HO or manufactured HO for others.

Given the state of the economy, the number of other players in HO, and with MTH and BLI busy playing "my loco is better than yours", who in their right mind would expand their HO line when they are already well established in N scale?

They are a diesel manufacturer, what has not been done, several times, that there is a known market for? My railroad has all the diesels it needs and if I wanted more there are plenty good ones out there of every size, shape, era and prototype.

If there are two or more living brain cells at Kato, they will say goodbye to HO, at least for a while.

But what do I know......

Sheldon

[Bdewoody]

It's been a long while since Kato has released a new HO diesel locomotive and I'm wondering if they are still active in HO.