Kato - 10-1519 - Passenger Train, Diesel, Japan - Japan Railways Kyushu

Specific Item Information: Seven Cars - Seven Stars. Scheduled for release in Japan in December 2018, Kato will be producing an N Gauge replica of the famous Luxury Train the "Seven Stars in Kyushu!" This train, like the Train-Suite Shikishima released last year, is a special cruise train boasting premium accomodations for its 30 maxium passengers. The train consists of seven custom-built cars; five sleeping cars, a lounge car, and a dining car, pulled by DF200-7000 locomotive, all painted in a high-gloss maroon finish accented with gold lettering and logos.

The Cruise Train "Seven Stars in Kyushu" was the first luxury cruise train to operate on Japanese railroads, debuting on October 15th, 2013. The concept of the train was to tour the famous tourist spots in Kyushu Island (the southernmost of the four main islands of Japan) with the idea of "Finding new life experience through travel." With an 8 unit consist made up of the brilliantly finished DF200-7000 diesel locomotive and 7 #77-7000 passenger cars, this train promises a gorgeous, elegant, and unforgettable travel experience to its 30 passengers.

This special limited release from Kato will contain all 7 cars and the locomotive in a specially decorated double-bookcase set with a slipcover, and will fully capture all of the carefully crafted details of this luxury train, both inside and out.

Consist:
DF200-7000 Locomotive
Mai 77-7001 Lounge Car with Piano, Bar, and illuminated table lamps
MaiShiFu 77-2002 Dining Car with illuminated table lamps
MaiNe 77-7003 Suite Car
MaiNe 77-7004 Suite Car
MaiNe 77-7005 Suite Car
MaiNe 77-7006 Suite Car
MaiNeFe 77-7007 Deluxe Suite Car with Illuminated Taillights and Backup lights

Model Information: Kato boxed sets for Japanese 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.

Prototype History: In 1987, the national railroad system of Japan was broken up. Japan National Railways became six independent regional private companies. The provide passenger rail transportation in most parts of Hokkaido, Honshu, Shikoku, and Kyushu.

There are 27,268 km of rail crisscrossing the country. The most prominent trains are the Shinkansen, also known as "bullet trains". However, there are many different commuter services that use less impressive electric motive power as well as a number of routes that cross less densely populated areas that use diesel electric locomotives. The major usage is of urban and intercity lines, and around the time of the privatisation of JNR, many unprofitable local and rural lines were closed, especially in Hokkaido and Kyushu.

Road Name History: The Kyushu Railway Company (九州旅客鉄道株式会社 Kyūshū Ryokaku Tetsudō Kabushiki-gaisha), also referred to as JR Kyushu (JR九州 Jeiāru Kyūshū), is one of the constituent companies of Japan Railways Group (JR Group). It operates intercity rail services in Kyushu, Japan and the JR Kyushu Jet Ferry Beetle hydrofoil service across the Tsushima Strait between Fukuoka and Busan, South Korea. It also operates hotels, restaurants, and drugstores across its service region. JR Kyushu's headquarters are in Hakata-ku, Fukuoka.

JR Kyushu was found on April 1, 1987, when Japanese National Railways was divided. Kyushu Railway Company inherited JNR's assets and operations on the island of Kyushu. The new company also inherited losses of around 28.8 billion yen, exacerbated by a growing highway network in Kyushu and a large number of lightly-used rural lines. After privatization, JR Kyushu diversified its business into new ventures such as fish and mushroom farming and car sales. Two of its more successful side ventures were the Beetle ferry, started in 1991, and the Trandor bakery chain, started in 1992. JR Kyushu also built up its premium rail services through the development of the Kyushu Shinkansen high-speed rail line and the Seven Stars in Kyushu luxury excursion train.

From Wikipedia

Brand/Importer Information: Kato Precision Railroad Models (関水金属株式会社 Sekisui Kinzoku Kabushikigaisha) is a Japanese manufacturer of model railroad equipment in N and HO scales. The Tokyo-based company manufactures models based on Japanese prototypes (such as the Shinkansen bullet train) for the Japanese market, North American prototypes for the North American market and European high-speed trains for European market.
The Kato (pronounced kah-toe) model railroad companies were founded by Yuji Kato, father of current president Hiroshi Kato, of the parent company Sekisui Kinzoku Co., Ltd.

The design and distribution of models for the North American market are handled by their U.S. subsidiary, Kato USA, located in Schaumburg, Illinois.
The design of special models for the European market is handled for some of them by their partner, Lemke, whereas the general distribution of Kato products in Europe is handled by NOCH; both companies are located in Germany.
As a result, some Kato European models are sold as Kato Lemke and others as Kato (alone).