Kato Sound Box

Kato is about to release one of its new products by the end of this month in January (hopefully) so I can added to my N Scale locomotives. Who doesn't love the sounds of a steam/diesel locomotive in miniature version? The purpose of this sound box is to make sounds, that is very similar to DCC but its much easier to do and fun to use as well. When I look at the pictures and the video demonstration, I love the design of it. It works for BOTH HO/N Scale! I heard that you can use your own pair of ear buds, even speakers! When you purchase the sound box, it comes with a sound chip that is an EMD 1st Generation locomotive such as an E unit or F unit locomotive. I think there will be other sound chips that will go along with other types of locomotives such as steam or freight train locomotives. My plan is to purchase the sound box when I get my Silver Streak starter set. I'll keep you all posted along the way. I can't wait to test it out on my locomotives! Check out the brand new Kato Sound Box for more information. There is a video demonstration in this post as well.

Union Pacific FEF-3/Excursion Train Feedback

I apologize for not posting lately. I've been working on the N Scale trains lately. I've done lots of different things such as using different locomotives in doubleheaders in the N Scale steam layout. First thing I tried out was using one of my Amtrak P42DC Genesis locomotive to the Union Pacific FEF-3 844. It looks good. But I plan on get a couple Union Pacific diesel locomotives. Specifically I plan to get a Union Pacific ES44AC locomotive and two Union Pacific SD70ACe locomotives. Why? I saw a YouTube video that looks really cool. I saw UP 844 in a special excursion train: Union Pacific 150th Anniversary Train I have to admit. I wasn't unsure of this until I tested it. I used three of my Amtrak P42DC Genesis locomotives and ran it a few times. It seems to work out great. No derailments or problems with this test. It worked out better than I expected. One last thing. I tried a steam doubleheader with my Southern Pacific GS-4 4450 locomotive. It turned out a little different. Unfortunately, I wanted the GS-4 as the leading locomotive. But SP 4450 needs more power in comparison to UP 844. But this steam doubleheader wasn't a complete failure. I tried having UP 844 lead SP 4450 and it worked fine. On the other hand, I tried a doubleheader with my SP 4450 and an Amtrak P42DC Genesis locomotive. It honestly worked. All I had to do was match up the power. Meaning that I gave power at a specific spot on the power pack for the train to move. It looked exactly like the SP 4449 consist had when it went to TrainFest in 2009. After owning the UP 844 for a while, I'm still proud to own this incredible steam locomotive. I'm just waiting on the money I need to get a UP ES44AC and the two UP SD70ACe locomotives to add to UP 844. UP FEF-3 still runs great and again, I'm glad I got myself this locomotive.

PROJECT COMPLETE: Union Pacific FEF-3 and Excursion Train

I'm proud to say that I completed my Union Pacific FEF-3 and Excursion Train project COMPLETE! I got the locomotive, tender cars, and excursion train cars yesterday and just ran them on my N Scale steam layout. Since I do have extra passenger cars from my "Morning Daylight" train set, I added to the excursion train and it looked even better! What really impressed me the most was the details overall, especially with the front of the locomotive. I loved the bell on top and the mars light, which is on the real FEF-3 locomotive. I also loved the doubleheader coupler that came with the FEF-3 locomotive. I haven't tried a doubleheader my Southern Pacific GS-4 locomotive yet but I'll update that later on when I have a chance. I want to thank Kato for all the tremendous hard work for creating this beautiful locomotive. I can tell this is a "must have" for model railroaders because whenever Kato does steam locomotives, they do it right. Also according to my friend who works at my local hobby shop, he tells me that he is already running out of stock on the FEF-3 locomotive, water tenders, and the excursion train cars. I was lucky enough to get mine preordered and I got what I wanted with no problems. I can't wait to see what Kato has next. With this project being complete, I have two more model railroading projects to complete. With this project being complete, I never completed two model railroading projects in the same year. Comment down below if you would like to see videos of my Union Pacific FEF-3 844 with my Excursion Train cars/Morning Daylight cars. My next project will be the CB&Q Silver Streak. Once again, thank you, Kato for creating a beautifully detailed steam locomotive. I wish you could do more steam locomotives because the details on steam locomotives on the GS-4 and FEF-3 are fantastic to have on my N Scale model railroading layout.

UP FEF-3 Project Preview

The FEF-3 Project 

Welcome to my N Scale Model Railroading blog. This is a preview of my current ongoing project: Union Pacific FEF-3 and Excursion Train. I'm excited to get the project done because I've seen videos on Kato USA Inc. YouTube Channel and I think this is one of the best products I have ever seen. The locomotive is very detailed. When I compare the N Scale model to the real deal locomotive, I don't see any difference... other than the size. Kato hardly does steam locomotives. My recent completed project was the Southern Pacific GS-4 and "Morning Daylight" train set. The N Scale model of the Southern Pacific GS-4 locomotive is my favorite locomotive I currently own on my layout. I love the flashing light on the locomotive which acts as the mars light on the real GS-4 locomotive. However, the road number is NOT 4449. The current surviving GS-4 locomotive's road number is 4449. However, the road number is 4450, which is pretty close to 4449. But it's still better than nothing. Anyway, the Union Pacific FEF-3 is one of my favorite steam locomotives because it was considered "cousins" to the Southern Pacific GS-4 locomotive because of the same wheel arrangement: 4-8-4. Also, the FEF-3 is the most recent built steam locomotive in December of 1944. The locomotive is called FEF-3 because it's a acronym that stands for "Four-Eight-Four" in Class 3 since there were two other classes of FEF locomotives. This locomotive has never been retired and continues to run excursions. I can't wait to post my review of my Union Pacific FEF-3 Excursion Train project once it's finally completed.