Everything you need to start your own N scale model railroad!
The Unitrack Advantage:
When it was first introduced to the Japanese model train market in 1957, Kato UNITRACK was revolutionary because it provided the convenience of a snap track with none of the drawbacks - the patented Unijoiner clips hold rails tightly together but are easily disconnected, allowing modelers to reliably assemble and disassemble their track sections over and over and over again, without worrying about loosening joints, breaking clips, or lessening the electrical conductivity between track segments!
While much in the hobby in the last 50 years has changed, Kato UNITRACK has remained THE ideal track system in both N and HO scales for modelers looking for reliability and ease of use; whether building fully detailed scenic layouts or temporary setups that can be operated around a Christmas tree or a dining room table!
Track:
Each Kato N Scale Starter Set Contains a 3’ x 4’ oval of N gauge Unitrack, including a track feeder, a road crossing and rerailing track, and a book of directions for additional layout plans.
Kato UNITRACK uses a special alloy of nickel silver to prevent tarnishing and reduces the frequency of cleaning that is required. If you’re an occasional modeler who only pulls out the train set on holidays, that means you don’t need to worry about your rails rusting away in the package! Likewise, if you operate your trains on a daily basis, you’ll have to clean your track less often and have fewer instances of lost conductivity!
Power:
Kato’s included Power Pack SX is powerful but simple to use, with keyed & color coded connectors and an easy to understand control system, making it suitable for modelers of all ages. The Power Pack SX can also be upgraded with optional alternative power supplies for modelers looking to expand their train operations and run bigger and larger trains in either HO or N scale, so you don't have to worry about it becoming obsolete as you expand your layout!
Trains:
Kato’s Starter Sets include one of a number of either modern or classic freight or passenger locomotives and associated cars! Whether you’re looking to build a Classic Santa Fe “mini-Chief” with a Super Chief starter set, get going with a modern freight line with our ES44AC "GEVO" freight starter sets, or even model Amtrak’s premier passenger services with a P42 or ACS-64 Amtrak starter set, Kato can put you on the right track!
Prototype Information:
The Superliner I fleet was built in 1979 by Pullman Standard and were based on the famous Budd built Hi-Levels operated by the Santa Fe railroad for their "El Capitan" all-coach train. 102 Superliner I coaches were built, and 48 Superliner I coach-baggage combination cars with a secure baggage hold instead of lower-level seating. For transportation of bulk items, trains would run with cars known as "Material Handling Cars" cargo carrying freight cars which would run either on the nose or tail of a consist.
The Superliner II fleet was introduced in 1990 as Amtrak's next generation of its now ubiquitous Superliners. Visually very similar to their older cousins, the Superliner II's have a host of mechanical and electrical improvements to their design as well as construction. One of the new styles of car introduced with this new generation of cars was the "Transition Sleeper", or "Transition Dormitory" car. Intended to replace the aging High-Level Step Down cars, the Transition Sleeper fulfills a similar role by having high and low level diaphragms on either end of the car as well as having on-board crew accommodations.
Budd Hi-Level Cars: The Budd-built Hi-Level cars had a great influence on Amtrak's passenger service, revolutionizing economy coach travel with their double-decker design. Even after the advent of the Superliner car, many of these Budd cars remained in service, in particular the "Step-Down" coach originally used to transition between single level and hi-level cars on the "El Capitan". These cars, along with de-skirted (for easier maintenance) Santa Fe Baggage cars, were a staple on all Superliner trains up to the introduction of the Superliner II car in 1990.
Car Types:
Today, the Phase VI (also known as Phase IVb) is the most common paint variation seen of Amtrak's equipment, and it can be seen on Amtrak Equipment of all types.
Set Contents:
Instruction booklet/Starter Guide
4 x 248mm (9 3/4") Straight Track
1 x 124mm (4 7/8") Straight Track
1 x 124mm (4 7/8") Rerailing Track
1 x 62mm (2 7/16") Straight Track
1 x 62mm (2 7/16") Electrical Feeder Track
8 x 315mm (12 3/8") Radius 45 degree curves
Road crossing accessories
Kato Power Pack SX
Kato Railing Ramp + Unijoiner Remover bundle
Phase Vb P42 Locomotive #161
Superliner Sleeper Phase IVb #32054,
Coach Phase IVb #34039,
Lounge Phase IVb #33003
Grade crossing/rerailing track
Storage Drawer for locomotives/accessories
Kato Power Pack SX