Kato California Zephyr

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California Zephyr

Now In Stock

Illustrations, technical information courtesy of Katousa.com

CB&Q EMD F-3's
Wearing the Chicago Burlington & Quincy passenger service paint scheme of silver with black nose stripes, these F3 units were on the point when the very first run of the California Zephyr pulled out of Chicago on its inaugural westbound run, March 21, 1949. Road #'s 9961A plus matching B unit will be offered--please see below Kato will offer a new version of the EMD F-3 -- no dynamic brakes and fitted with a new Passenger Pilot.

California Zephyr Train Set
The California Zephyr is one of the most famous and widely recognized transcontinental trains in the history of North American railroading. Kato will recreate and offer the complete original consist of eleven cars that initiated the service on March 20th, 1949. Said to be "a pretty train from any angle" the CZ was jointly operated by three railroads. The Chicago Burlington & Quincy handled the train between Chicago and Denver. The Denver & Rio Grande Western operated the middle portion of the route, between Denver and Salt Lake City, and the Western Pacific carried the train between Salt Lake City and San Francisco. Each of these railroads contributed specifically lettered cars for the make-up of the train. Because of its silver stainless-steel body, all of the cars of the CZ were given a name characteristic to the western territory it traversed with a "silver" preface. EMD F3 locomotives from all three railroads, as well as by AlCo PA and PB locomotives on the D&RGW, supplied the power for the CZ. The CB&Q operated their F3’s in an A-B-A lash-up. Kato will offer this as a complete 11 car train which will feature extensive new tooling to better match CZ prototype on Kato's well received passenger cars.
With newly tooled cars, this set recreates the first-year consist of the CZ with eight different car types. The exact specification of car type and car name for each of the cars in the set is below. Each car will feature a silver corrugated-side body, accurate CALIFORNIA ZEPHYR lettering, blackened metal wheels and Kato semi-automatic knuckle couplers. The Observation car will feature lighted tail lights, marker lights, tail sign. The interior of each of the cars can be dramatically lighted with the optional installation of our #11-204 1-car/11-206 6-car Light Kit or LED lights 11-209 single / 11-210 6-car LED Light set (sold separately).
Because of the recognition and history of the California Zephyr, this unprecedented set is sure to be coveted by railfans, rail enthusiasts and railroad historians around the world, not to mention the hobbyists modeling the CB&Q, D&RGW and WP.

As an added bonus, this 11-car set will include enough N scale Unitrack at no additional cost for a first-class presentation of the set on a desk or shelf when not in operation on a layout. Important: rd #'s shown below are from Original set ... new set will have new names/numbers on all cars. BLW will post as available.

Information shown is from previous CZ set. BLW will update when new car names/#'s are available from Kato.

Stock #	Railroad	Car Type	Car Name	Car #
106-055	CB&Q	Baggage	Silver Bear	1105
	D&RGW	Dome Coach	Silver Bronco
	CB&Q	Dome Coach w/Conductor's Room	Silver Ranch	4719
	WP	Dome Coach	Silver Feather	812
	CB&Q	Dome-Buffet	Silver Club	250
	CB&Q	10-6 Sleeper	Silver Valley	428
	D&RGW	10-6 Sleeper	Silver Glacier	1134
	CB&Q	Diner	Silver Diner	194
	D&RGW	16-Sec Sleeper	Silver Aspen	1120
	WP	10-6 Sleeper	Silver Canyon	862
	D&RGW	Dome Observation	Silver Sky	1145

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California Zephyr 11 Car Passenger Set

Now in stock with new car names/numbers.

California Zephyr 11 Car Train Set
ITEM # KA-106056 - 4th Run

LIST: $249.98

New Kato LED Lighting Kits are now available. Not only do the LED's illuminate better, they are recommended because they do not create heat. In some cases, particularly with the use of DCC, there have been reports of the standard lights (11204/11206) damaging cars by melting plastic. Though more expensive, we strongly recommend the new LED light kits.

Important Note Regarding Lighting Kits
Kato is temporarily out. You can reserve now for future delivery. A $5.75 shipping/handling charge will apply.

Lighting Kit , single car w/white LED
ITEM # KA-11209 - Immediate shipment

$6.95
LIST: $9.98

White LED Lighting Kit, 6 car set
ITEM # KA-11210 - Reserve now for future delivery

$34.95
LIST: $49.95

CB&Q F3's -- Motive Power for California Zephyr

Kato's CB&Q F3's back in stock ... A Units have new rd #'s, B unit, no rd #'s.

Kato has adopted a MAP pricing policy so that prices of new releases may not be advertised. You can click on the "Map Pricing" logo above for an explanaton of what this means. To find BLW's price on these items, please click on the "Add" or "Reserv" button below right. It will disply the BLW sale price.

CB&Q EMD F-3A, Road #9961C
ITEM # KA-1761302 - Duplicate # Board Included!

$57.49
LIST: $84.95

CB&Q EMD F-3A, Road #9962A
ITEM # KA-1761311 - New Road #

LIST: $84.95

CB&Q EMD F-3A, Road #9962C
ITEM # KA-1761312 - New Road #

LIST: $84.95

CB&Q EMD F-3B, no rd #
ITEM # KA-1761307 - No Road # / Re-issue

LIST: $84.95

The Western Pacific Railroad operated the westernmost leg of the California Zephyr's route. At the head-end of the CZ for the WP was an A-B-B consist of EMD F3 diesels. New rd # on F3A. No rd # on B unit.

Western Pacific EMD F-3A, Rd #801A
ITEM # KA-1761204 - New Road #

LIST: $84.95

Western Pacific EMD F-3B
ITEM # KA-1761208 - No Rd #

LIST: $84.95