Kato USA - 106-2016-B - Passenger Car, Commuter, Nippon Sharyo Gallery - Operation North Pole - Lifesource

Specific Item Information: Operated by Metra and Union Pacific

Prototype History: The 85 foot Bi-Level "Gallery" commuter car continues to be a favorite design of many commuter rail agencies throughout the United States and Canada. The design made its debut on the Chicago & North Western railroad for their Chicago area commuter service in the 1950s.

The big and beautiful looking gallery-type passenger cars were developed to enforce the commuter transportation rules of Caltrans, a 50 mile railroad from San Francisco to San Jose. These modern Bi-level coaches carry a large number of riders in comfort. Their universal design of cab car/passenger car offers easy maintenance, cost reduction, and compatibility with AMTRAK coaches. In order to make US officials happy. these cars adopt a large portion of their parts from US manufacturers. Furthermore, final assembly takes place in the U.S. Hence they satisfy the provisions of the 'Buy America' act.

The cab cars can carry 139 passengers and the coaches 149. They weigh (empty) about 120,000 lbs. They can travel up to 100 mph (160km/h).

Road Name History: Operation North Pole (ONP) is a volunteer-based public charity. ONP works with Chicago's major children's hospitals, providing a day of fun and fantasy for families who have a child battling a life threatening illness by hosting a fantasy trip to the North Pole. With the emotional and financial stresses a family with a child battling a life-threatening or a terminal illness may face, ONP makes every effort to ensure that the entire family participates and shares in the day's festivities. The magical experience includes breakfast, a festive train ride to the North Pole, a visit with Santa, winter wonderland fun, entertainment, treats, personal wish list gifts, and much more! It's ONP's goal to provide these families an unforgettable experience amidst very challenging times.

While Operation North Pole will continue to host this cornerstone holiday event, we are expanding to a 'Twelve Months of Christmas' schedule. The plan is to provide events and service opportunities all year round. ONP has already distributed 1,500 winter coats in the 2014- 2015 winter season, hosted emergency blood drives, performed service opportunities at the Ronald McDonald House, and hosted numerous charitable events.

Brand/Importer Information: KATO U.S.A. was established in 1986, with the first U.S. locomotive model (the GP38-2, in N-Scale) released in 1987. Since that time, KATO has come to be known as one of the leading manufacturers of precision railroad products for the modeling community. KATO's parent company, Sekisui Kinzoku Co., Ltd., is headquartered in Tokyo, Japan.

In addition to producing ready-to-run HO and N scale models that are universally hailed for their high level of detail, craftsmanship and operation, KATO also manufactures UNITRACK. UNITRACK is the finest rail & roadbed modular track system available to modelers today. With the track and roadbed integrated into a single piece, UNITRACK features a nickel-silver rail and a realistic-looking roadbed. Patented UNIJOINERS allow sections to be snapped together quickly and securely, time after time if necessary.

The Kato U.S.A. office and warehouse facility is located in Schaumburg, Illinois, approximately 30 miles northwest of Chicago. All research & development of new North American products is performed here, in addition to the sales and distribution of merchandise to a vast network of wholesale representatives and retail dealers. Models requiring service sent in by hobbyists are usually attended to at this location as well. The manufacturing of all KATO products is performed in Japan.

Supporters of KATO should note that there is currently no showroom or operating exhibit of models at the Schaumburg facility. Furthermore, model parts are the only merchandise sold directly to consumers. (Please view the Parts Catalog of this website for more specific information.)