Kato - 8040-1 - Tank Car, 40-Ton, Cement, Taki 1900 - Hitachi Rail - 2-Car Set

Specific Item Information: Taki 1900 made its debut in 1964 as a tank car capable of transporting heavy cement. By having its frame and tank in one body, the tank car was made lighter but strong enough to carry 40 tons. It became a standard tank car in Japan.

Following the model owned by Mitsubishi Cement Mining (Current Mitsubishi Material), Kato is now making the model owned by Nihon Cement with the unfolded fan shaped company logo painted on the sides of body.

Road Name History: Hitachi Rail is the rolling stock manufacturing and rail signaling division of Hitachi.
It finds its roots in Japan (1921), Italy (Ansaldo, founded 1853) and the USA (Union Switch & Signals, founded 1881).

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).