Kato Amtrak 13002 (Seibu E851?)
So, I was browsing eBay and saw advertised a Kato Amtrak 4+4+4 Electric Locomotive... For all I'd known Amtrak America had never had any such an engine and therefore clicked the item to investigate... In front of me appeared (what looked like) an EF81 in Amtrak livery!It seems that, back in the day, Kato didn't want to put money in to actually designing the models for America and therefore just repainted a (very slightly) remodeled EF81. Of course, it could be an exact copy of another Japanese electric locomotive, but I haven't had the time yet to do further research.
Update:
Toni Babelony of the JNS Forum posted a message in the thread I created on this locomotive that indicated that this is much closer to a Seibu E851. Thanks for pointing this out! Here is the Kato page on the Seibu E851. You'll notice that the Seibu has port holes, and other differences, but is obviously what Kato used as a base for this Amtrak locomotive.
Meanwhile, here are some photos I've taken of EF81s in Japan:
And, of course, if this locomotive really does exist, then please comment and tell me!
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April 24th, 2010 - 14:22
I saw one of these gathering dust at a hobby shop several months ago, so thanks for sharing it as I was somewhat fascinated with the combination! I think the Amtrak scheme looks quite good on this locomotive actually!
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April 24th, 2010 - 18:03
Yeah, Amtrak EF81 is spiffy. If I ever see one I’ll prolly buy it.
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April 24th, 2010 - 22:55
I’m pretty sure that’s not an EF81. The roof equipment and side vents are of a different pattern than the EF81. The roof equipment looks more like that of an EF65, but again the side vents aren’t right. But neither is it, just having checked, an EF60, 61, 62, 63, or 64. Obviously, it can’t be an EF66. I’m out of guesses. Maybe one of the EF7x series? I can’t find photos of anything but the EF71 (of which this is not). Or a Seibu loco? (The Seibu version of the EF65 has portholes on the side, though).
It’s a mystery to me…interesting, though.
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April 28th, 2010 - 12:21
So, how does it run, I’m curious to know? What’s the inside look like? A tricky DCC conversion in the works for the blog?
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stevenh Reply:
May 4th, 2010 at 10:42 am
It runs like a champ, as any good Kato does… the swivelling front/rear bogies look cool on my Tomix Finetrack too!
As for DCC… I’ve no decoders with me here in Melbourne and, honeslty, little motivation to DCC this current hack of a layout.
I’m currently playing with occupancy/distance detection _again_ and I’ll include a video with the Amtrak as the test unit… it might even happen tonight… depending on how charged-up my cordless drill is
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August 8th, 2010 - 08:39
I have found an Amtrak model also. But the numbers on the front are EF65505 with Kato markings on the bottom and No. 301. What do you think it is?
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stevenh Reply:
August 8th, 2010 at 5:40 pm
Have you got a picture of it anywhere? Google is turning up nothing.
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Mike Reply:
August 12th, 2010 at 11:39 am
I will try to download it. Is there a site where I can send the picture? It is an ef81 and is missing the center wheels. The paint is a little faded on it affecting the Amtrak logo mostly.
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