Kato vs Atlas

[Anonymous]

Which is better quality.
Kato Santa Fe (Blue/Yellow #5058 SD40-2 Locomotive

OR

Atlas Santa Fe #6350 GE B23-7 Locomotive??

My husband and I like the looks of the Kato.

I just want an opinion.

[Paul3]

Ok...

Drives: The Kato drive is still considered the best, but Atlas drives are also very good. So when I rank them, it's more like Kato #1 and Atlas #1A. It's really that close.

Paint: The Kato paint jobs are sometimes suspect. They've had accuracy problems in the past, as well as quality problems with paint not getting into every crevice, etc. Atlas, however, has an excellent reputation for "getting it right" with paint (especially over the last 10 years).

Detail: The Kato locos are kits, so one must add most of the detail yourself. It can be frustrating as there are many, many small pieces that sometimes need a little help to get in the holes. A finished Kato looks good, don't get me wrong, but it can take a while to add the detail. Atlas B23-7's, OTOH, have all the detail on them...and quite frankly, their detail is even better than Kato.

If I had to choose based on quality, I'd pick the B23-7 for looks, the SD40-2 for pulling performance (as a bigger loco with more weight on a slightly better drive, so it should pull more). My advice if you and your husband are new to the hobby is to buy the Atlas. You can start running it as a finished model immediately without having to add a couple dozen parts like you would with the Kato.

Also, the Atlas B23-7's are available with sound...and while some will tell you that it's no big deal, sound to me adds a lot of "playability" with the model. However, sound usually adds a $100, so be aware of that. Put it this way, I'd rather have one loco with sound than two identical locos without sound, because that's about the difference.

Paul A. Cutler III
*****************
Weather Or No Go New Haven
*****************

[Anonymous]

When ordering locomotives online, how do I know which ones are kits???

[Anonymous]

Just thought of another question.
Are Model Power steam locomotives a kit or are they already built??

[zgardner18]

Okay, All I can say is what I personally know: 1) kato is a great engine and I have about 5 of them, but I don't think that their details are all that. Athearn RTR have better detail but they lack in the motor dept. 2) my 4 Atlas are far more superior with detail and performance than anything out there (remember, just my personal experience). I've said it before and I'll say it again: if Atlas made one of everything, I would only by Atlas. But they don't. Plus Atlas comes RTR and Kato doesn't.

As far as your other questions; I don't know.

[jeffrey-wimberly]

Considering that my first and last encounter with Atlas was a disaster, the first loco I got didn't run well, even on the LHS's layout and the replacement loco the company sent had a bad motor. I haven't done business with Atlas since and that was in 1984. I have to go with Kato. I've seen them run and they pull good.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Pelham Manor Cats

Which is better quality.
Kato Santa Fe (Blue/Yellow #5058 SD40-2 Locomotive

OR

Atlas Santa Fe #6350 GE B23-7 Locomotive??

My husband and I like the looks of the Kato.

I just want an opinion.

While I haven't had direct experience with an Atlas B23-7, I've had MANY Atlas locomotives in the past. You CAN'T BEAT Atlas at HO Scale locomotives. Period.

My Kato SD40-2 is a bit noisy, and lacks detail that Atlas's have. My pick would be the B23-7.

Just my [2c].

Matt

[Darth Santa Fe]

Are you talking HO scale or N scale?

I own both Kato and Atlas in HO, and the Atlas has much better detailing, runs just as smooth, and is quieter. The only parts that had to be installed on the Atlas were the two end railings and the two sunshades. 10 minute job at the most.[:D]

I don't have experience with either brands in N, but it looks like the detail is about the same. The Katos are supposed to be the best runners, but their top speed (N scale only) is pretty unrealistic. Atlas uses a slow speed motor that gives their engines a realistic speed.

[SOU Fan]

I have a Atlas Ge Dash 8-40C in Ho and it runs well and the detail is amazing. I also have some N scale atlas and it also has good detail and runs well. I can't really say anything about kato since I don't own one......yet

[jeffers_mz]

All my Model Powers (5) came RTR.

Kato sells locomotives as RTR, but you still have to add details, same as Atlas, but Atlas installs more of them at the factory.

You won't be dissatisfied with either locomotive, Atlas or Kato, unless you get a rare bad one. Bad ones exist, I recommend buying from a brick and mortar store so you can test it before buying.

The decision comes down to which loco you like better. Or better yet, buy them both. Buy a pair of each, with different road numbers, and pull long trains with reliable smooth quiet power. Ignore the MP's, buy the best and don't look back.

[Nataraj]

Kato is great in the motor area. I don't know about atlas, but my kato's are the BEST!!

[Anonymous]

As I recall the Kato SD40-2 is the one loco from them that had some sort of electrical pickup problem. Having said that I think Atlas and Kato are on equal standing when it comes to performance and like the others said Atlas' attention to detail is superior. The amount of assembly required on Kato loco's isn't difficult and is limited to detail parts such as handrails, grab irons and possibly couplers.

My choice would be Atlas though as long as they make the loco I want.

[sfrailfan]

QUOTE: Originally posted by jeffrey-wimberly

Considering that my first and last encounter with Atlas was a disaster, the first loco I got didn't run well, even on the LHS's layout and the replacement loco the company sent had a bad motor. I haven't done business with Atlas since and that was in 1984. I have to go with Kato. I've seen them run and they pull good.

1984!!!????

ok my friend, just thought I'd let ya in on this, Atlas has completely redone it's line since then/had just redone it's line. The Atlas of even 10-15 years ago is shall we say in the same ball park as Kato. They have been in a sort of one up each other game for a while and the newest Atlas have windshield wipers ect. details not seen before on Atlas. They run very smooth too. You might like what they have and there are a few (sure you're aware) sites Trainworld ect. you can try em less expensive.

[bogp40]

QUOTE: Originally posted by jeffrey-wimberly

Considering that my first and last encounter with Atlas was a disaster, the first loco I got didn't run well, even on the LHS's layout and the replacement loco the company sent had a bad motor. I haven't done business with Atlas since and that was in 1984. I have to go with Kato. I've seen them run and they pull good.

Jeff,
Atlas has come light years in overall quality of the drive and "prototypical detail. There were some issues w/ the older Roco, but even for the time they were very good runners. It's too bad that you have had such disasters with these, but you really need to check out a new Atlas to see just how great they are. They are one of the best locos available in drive quality, paint and lettering and overall detail. 90% of my roster is Atlas and haven't had one problem as yet. You should reconsider your position on them.
Bob K.

[sfrailfan]

one more thing, Atlas is in New Jersey, -might have some foreign parts but

GO USA!

[Paul3]

To find out if locos are kits or not (if it doesn't say so) is to ask here online. We'll tell you, because chances are someone here has already bought that loco. However, here's a list:

Kato - it runs out of the box, but it has many details to add...like all handrails, etc.
Atlas - runs out of the box, but only has a few minor details to add (I forgot about the end railings...that's pretty much the only thing that one has to add).
Athearn "Blue Box" - Kits that run...You have to add and paint handrails, but that's about it.
Athearn RTR - runs out of the box, no details to add.
Athearn Genesis - Most these days will run out of the box, but the older SD70's are kits...and those are worse than Katos to build.
Life-Like Proto 2000 and 1000 - Runs out of the box, only a few optional details to add. Sometimes you do have to put the shell on the chassis, but that's pretty simple.

Model Power, as a rule, are always ready to run in my experience, but are of so-so quality. Back in the 1970's, their diesels had decent drives from Roco, but for the last several decades, they've been questionable at best for quality. I'd spend the extra few bucks and stay away from them if possible.

jeffrey-wimberly,
You are aware that 20 years ago, Kato was making some of the drives for Atlas locos? The RS-3/4/5, RS-11, & C-424/5 for example were all Katos. Roco made the drives for the RS-1, and S-1/2...both were excellent. Now the 1970's model you are correct as many of these were dogs. But by the 1980's, the models were excellent runners.

Paul A. Cutler III
*****************
Weather Or No Go New Haven
*****************

[james saunders]

I have three Atlas Locos An S-2 an 8-40B and an 8-40BW they all run silent, if you weren't looking at them move, you wouldn't know they were there!!! I have also seen Katos in Action and they are just as good, but IMO Get the Atlas, All you have to add are the end handrails, Kato's take a good half a day to add all their details.


Just my 2c

-James-

[Anonymous]

Both are good in both HO and N scale. I have 3 CNW C40-8s in HO. I have run atlas SD60Ms in N scale, and just recently i purchased an Atlas Conrail B40-8 off ebay. I own several Katos in HO. All of them great! I also have a Kato AC4400CW and an SD70M in N scale.

[Adelie]

QUOTE: Originally posted by sfrailfan

one more thing, Atlas is in New Jersey, -might have some foreign parts but

GO USA!

The corporate offices are in New Jersey. The locomotives are made in China.

[sfrailfan]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Adelie

QUOTE: Originally posted by sfrailfan

one more thing, Atlas is in New Jersey, -might have some foreign parts but

GO USA!

The corporate offices are in New Jersey. The locomotives are made in China.

well, you can't blame a guy for tying, guess the newer paint/mold painting should have tipped me off. -someone told me thats how they get better detail in the paint, the paint is applied by a sort of molded form then silk screened... can't remember how it goes but looks better these days.

oh yeah, forgot to mention I can also confirm that some former Atlas were made by who is now Kato, former Atlas made in Japan now sell (at 20 yrs. + old) $100 or more at trainshows and LHSs alike.