Kato USA - 106-0008 - F7A and Mixed Freight Train - Rio Grande

Specific Item Information: The F3A ph2 and Mixed Freight starter set includes Kato USA's powerful four-axle freight locomotive and an assortment of four specially decorated mixed freight cars (two tanks cars, one hopper, and one transfer caboose), along with a complete 2'x4' Oval of Kato UNITRACK with re-railing track, and a starter guide. Everything you need to begin building an N gauge train layout at home!

Set contains:

• N F7A Locomotive in Rio Grande Livery
• N Mixed Freight Train Set containing four free-rolling, plastic wheeled freight cars
• Tank Car
• 2x Covered Hoppers
• Transfer Service Caboose

Complete 4 ft x 2 ft of track (11" radius)

• 4 K20-000 (248mm Straight Track)
• 1 K20-020 (124mm Straight Track)
• 1 K20-021 (124mm Road Crossing Track)
• 1 K20-040 ( 62mm Straight Track)
• 1 K20-041 ( 62mm Single Feeder Track)
• 8 K20-120 (Radius 315mm Curved Track 45 Deg.)
• 1 K24-000 (Rerailer)

Model Information: Kato boxed sets for North American Prototypes come in various shapes and sizes. These may contain complete train sets with track and power pack or may be as simple as a pair of passenger coaches. Many of the sets use "bookshelf" boxes with cardboard sleeves and carefully cut foam inserts.

Road Name History: The Denver & Rio Grande Western Railroad (reporting mark DRGW), often shortened to Rio Grande, D&RG or D&RGW, formerly the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad, was an American Class I railroad company. The railroad started as a 3 ft (914 mm) narrow gauge line running south from Denver, Colorado in 1870. It served mainly as a transcontinental bridge line between Denver, and Salt Lake City, Utah.

In 1988, the Rio Grande's parent corporation, Rio Grande Industries, purchased Southern Pacific Transportation Company, and as the result of a merger, the larger Southern Pacific Railroad name was chosen for identity. The Rio Grande operated as a separate division of the Southern Pacific, until that company was acquired by the Union Pacific Railroad. Today, most former D&RGW main lines are owned and operated by the Union Pacific while several branch lines are now operated as heritage railways by various companies.

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.)