Kato - 10-821 - Passenger Train, Electric, Series E259 - Japan Railways East - E259

Specific Item Information: 6 car set with motorized car.rn
#11-211 LED Interior Lighting Kit, Ver.2 (DCC Optional: FR11) (1ea)rn
#11-212 LED Interior Lighting Kit, Ver.2 (DCC Optional: FR11) (6ea)rn
#11-209 Interior Light Kit with White LED (I1ea)rn
#11-210 Interior Light Kit with White LED (6ea)

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: The E259 series (E259系) is a DC electric multiple unit (EMU) train type operated by East Japan Railway Company (JR East) in Japan since October 2009 on Narita Express limited express services to and from Narita International Airport.

The design of the trains was overseen by industrial designer Kenji Ekuan. Retracting gangway connections on the end cars allow two sets to be coupled together to form 12-car formations. Electrical and safety equipment is duplicated, as on the E233 series commuter trains, to improve safety and reliability. Active suspension on end cars and yaw dampers between all cars for improved ride comfort. The MoHa E259-500 car is equipped with two pantographs, but one is for emergency use.

The E259 series trains are used almost exclusively on Narita Express limited express services linking Narita International Airport in Chiba Prefecture with Tokyo and other stations in the Greater Tokyo area. E259 series trains are also used occasionally on seasonal Marine Express Odoriko services between Tokyo and Izukyū-Shimoda. One set, Ne002, is assigned to these services, and carries a logo sticker on the front and sides.

Road Name History: JR East was incorporated on 1 April 1987 after being spun off from the government-run Japanese National Railways (JNR). The spin-off was nominally "privatization", as the company was actually a wholly owned subsidiary of the government-owned JNR Settlement Corporation for several years, and was not completely sold to the public until 2002.

Following the breakup, JR East ran the operations on former JNR lines in the Greater Tokyo Area, the Tohoku region, and surrounding areas. Its railway lines primarily serve Kanto and Tohoku regions, along with adjacent areas in Koshin'etsu region (Niigata, Nagano, Yamanashi) and Shizuoka prefectures.

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).