Volume 14, Issue 8 • August 2008

Kato’s N-scale Daylight Brightens the Rails

0 74470 24091 4

0 8 >$5.50 US/CANADA

A Better Big Boy Experience?Blueline’s HO-scale Goliath takes on older Precision Craft model

Familiarizing Yourself with DCC SystemsProject DCC part 3

MTH 19th Century Wood Coaches

Bachmann’s new Dynamis DCC System

Using Silflor’s Landscaping Material for All Scales

Aristo Revives old 1:24-scale C-16 with Winning Results

Also inside:

Kato has just released the famous Southern Pacific Daylight GS-4. Based on a Northern wheel arrangement (4-8-4), the streamlined GS-4 included skyline casings and running board skirting concealing much of the typical steam locomotive plumbing. Decorated in Southern Pacific’s signature red, orange, and black paint scheme, the Daylight GS-4s were instantly recognized wherever they went.

The All-Scale NewsMonthly — Model Railroad News — August 2008 25

Review and Photos by Phil Scandura

4-8-4 Southern Pacific GS-4 Steam Locomotive, MSRP: $198.00Southern Pacific Morning Daylight 10-Car Passenger Set, MSRP: $250.00Add-On Articulated Car Chair Set, MSRP: $50.00EM13 Motor Function Decoder, MSRP: $22.00

Kato USA, Inc.100 Remington RoadSchaumburg, IL 60173847-781-9500 • Fax: 847-781-9570www.katousa.com

Kato N-scale Daylight set brings beauty to the rails

Southern Pacific’s Daylight trains never ran the Sunset Line between Los Angeles and New

Orleans, although in 1984 it seemed that way. The Louisiana World’s Fair Daylight featured 4449 leading a batch of Daylight-painted cars running from Portland to Southern California to New Orleans and back. The train is shown here, in our opening scene, as it rounds the high desert ridge of Red Mountain and passes ancient cliff dwellings built by the local Sinagua Indians of Northern Arizona. The rich and vibrant colors of the high desert rocks are ref lected in the red, orange, and black paint scheme of the Daylight. This scene appears on The Peaks Route of the Flagstaff Model Railroad Club layout, founded over 50 years ago. The new Kato Daylight set in N scale is a sight to behold in any setting, whether on a home or club layout.

It has been said that beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder. While I’m not privy to what the corporate officers of the Southern Pacific were thinking back in 1936, I suspect launching a passenger train that would capture the hearts and imagination of the American public was on their minds. Just one look at the Daylight trains sporting their stunning red, orange, and black paint scheme had to make an impression on everyone. It’s no wonder the Daylight would be called the world’s most beauti-ful passenger train.

Originally called the Coast Daylight, it was the first in a series of Southern Pacific passenger trains that would carry the colors from 1937 into the 1950s. Other Daylight trains included the San Joaquin Daylight, the Shasta Daylight, the Sacramento Daylight, and the Sunset Limited. Assigned to run between Los Angeles and San Francisco along the California coast, the Coast Daylight would later became affectionately known as the Morning Daylight after a second train (the Noon Daylight) was added to the route between 1940 and 1949.

By-The-Numbers4-8-4 Northern GS-4

Kato N Scale 1:160 • Type: Steam

Traction Tires? YesPull Power (Ozs @ Full Slip)

Pull ÷ Loco Wt = Efficiency

1.75 5.375 32.6%

Volts Amps

10.0 0.21

Analog DCStart Volts = 2.6

Volts Amps Scale MPH

2.6 0.06 9.6

5.0 0.08 49.1

10.0 0.10 130.7

DCCUser Installed EM13 Decoder

Stall Amps: 0.33

Speed Step (of 128) Scale MPH

Min 1 4.6

Mid 64 122.6

Top 128 156.8

Keeping safety at the forefront of railroad operations, the GS-4 equipped a Mars l ight above and a standard headlight below. The Mars light provides an eye-catching “figure-eight” pattern of light, the effect of which helps to increase visibility of the oncoming train at crossings. Named for Frank Mars, owner of the Mars Candy Company and financial backer of the Mars light, it was invented by former fireman Jerry Kennelly, friend of Frank Mars. In keeping with prototype practice, Kato has equipped the GS-4 model with a simulated Mars light that operates on both DC and DCC.

August 2008 — Model Railroad News — www.ModelRailroadNews.com26

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Thanks to our friends at Kato, the N-scale community can now enjoy operating their own Morning Daylight train on whatever route they please. Kato has released both the GS-4 locomo-tive and 10-car passenger set. In addition, four add-on articulated chair car sets are available to allow the modeler to expand the train to its full consist length of 18 passenger cars.

The locomotive is offered as a DC unit that is easily upgraded to DCC using the Kato EM13 decoder. The locomotive features traction tires for maximized pulling power; drive wheels operated by functional side rods; electri-cal pickup from both locomotive and

tender for constant electrical connec-tion; operating Mars light and headlight, both directional; illuminated No. 98 numberboards (including extra boards for No. 99 and X4449); front and rear Kato magnetic knuckle couplers; and all detail parts installed. Roadnumbers 4449 and 4453 are available.

The locomotive has been specially designed to pull the full 18-car consist up a four-percent grade without assistance, as videos on Kato’s web site demonstrate.

The 10-car base passenger set features all-new tooling for each specific car type, with appropriate exterior details installed, and the articulated cars use a movable exterior diaphragm to create the accurate, smoothly connected ap-pearance of the prototype. The single cars can be upgraded from Kato knuckle couplers to optional kinematic cou-plers (item 923505) that provide closer coupling to create the impression of connected cars; the observation car has a lighted taillight, drumhead, and marker lights; and the fully detailed interiors

can be lit with optional interior lighting kits (items 11-209 or 11-210). Included with the set is just over seven feet of Kato Unitrack for use as display track.

The PrototypesThe Southern Pacific’s Coast Line

route consisted of 470 miles of straight-and-level track from Los Angeles and San Francisco, interrupted by twist-ing and turning steep grades in several places. Northbound trains had to be double-headed just beyond the halfway point (San Luis Obispo) in order to tackle the 2.2 percent grade around the horseshoe curve at Cuesta Pass. Various locomotives were used on the route, most notably 4-6-2 Pacifics and 4-8-2 Mountains, but as trains got longer and heavier these locomotives just couldn’t handle the load.

Built especially for the Southern Pacific for use on the Coast Line, the 4-8-4 Northern steam locomotives were built in six classes, starting with the GS-1 class from Baldwin Locomotive Works in 1930. Fourteen Northerns were delivered, none of them stream-lined, with 4400 – 4409 going to the Southern Pacific and 700 – 703 going to the Texas & New Orleans subsidiary. The Northern proved worthy of the Coast Line, prompting the Southern

Roadnumber 4449 was built by Lima Locomotive Works in May 1941 for service on the Daylight where it would remain until the mid-1950s when it was repainted black and used for occasional freight service. After its retirement in October of 1957, it would eventually be donated to the City of Portland and placed on display at a park. There it stood for many years rusting away, until being restored for use pulling the Bicentennial American Freedom Train in 1976. Serving in that capacity, 4449 would eventual ly become the most t raveled steam locomotive in the United States. To learn more about the surviving 4449, visit the “Friends of SP 4449” web site at www.sp4449.com.

The All-Scale NewsMonthly — Model Railroad News — August 2008 27

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Pacific to order more. Subsequent classes (GS-2 through GS-6) were built by Lima Locomotive Works; all were streamlined with skyline casings and all but the GS-6s had running board skirting to give the impression of speed. While the stream-lining did improve the aerodynamics slightly, the real reason behind the ad-dition was to visually compete with the up-and-coming diesel locomotives.

Focusing on the GS-4 class (4430 – 4459), these locomotives ran on 80-inch drivers and developed 300 PSI boiler pressure, resulting in 5,500 horsepower

at 55 MPH, with a maximum speed of 110 MPH. They featured an oscillating Mars light located above the standard headlight, and an all-weather cab. Their popularity with the Southern Pacific would result in their eventual use on other routes besides the Coast Line. Decorated in the signature red, orange, and black paint scheme, the Daylight GS-4s were instantly recognized wher-ever they went.

“GS” originally stood for “Golden State” (referring to California), but that would eventually be changed to

“General Service” with the introduction of the GS-6 class (4460 – 4469). These locomotives were painted basic black and classified as freight locomotives due to restrictions imposed during World War II.

Between 1939 and 1941 Pullman-Standard built the original Daylight passenger cars specifically for service as the Daylight consist; there were no refurbished cars in this train. All were of lightweight design, sporting f luted sides. Daylight cars consisted of both individual and articulated types; the latter designed to remain permanently coupled. The articulated design en-joyed several advantages over individu-ally coupled cars. From an operations point of view, their design reduced the total number of wheels and trucks, reducing initial cost, weight, noise, vibration, and maintenance expenses. For the passengers, movement between cars was much safer, easier, and more comfortable since the elimination of vestibules between cars helped to bet-ter control the temperature variations throughout the train. As many riders know, during the extremes of winter and summer, walking between cars can be an uncomfortable experience.

In an attempt to make the Daylight the most comfortable and inviting train of the time, Southern Pacific included freshly prepared hot meals, liquid spirits, and air-conditioning. External radio antennae allowed live music and news to be piped aboard the train.

The ModelsWhen compared with available proto-

type scale drawings and photos, the Kato GS-4 model matches all major dimen-sions and spotting features. The same is true of the Kato passenger cars.

Kato has designed the GS-4 to accept their EM13 drop-in decoder in the tender (seen here in the foreground) converting it from DC to DCC. This decoder controls only the motor functions; all lighting is independently controlled by other circuitry in the locomotive.

August 2008 — Model Railroad News — www.ModelRailroadNews.com28

The time period modeled by Kato seems to be the late 1940s, based on various spotting features. In 1946, the word “Lines” was dropped from

“Southern Pacific” on the letterboards, for both locomotives and passenger cars. Beginning around1943, the GS-4 train

boards were moved from the front of the locomotive to a point midway along the boiler. In 1948, the passenger car type (for example, chair car, tavern car, parlor car, etc.) was applied to the ends of the letterboards to make the cars more easily identified by the passengers.

Looking at the Kato models, they have dropped the “Lines” and moved the numberboards, but have not added the passenger car type, suggesting the time period is between 1946 and 1948.

The GS-4 was smooth running, exhibiting Kato’s typical quiet drive at all speeds, with only the added sound of siderods in motion. As noted in the “By-The-Numbers” box, the GS-4 model does a remarkable job of matching the speeds of the prototype under DC. The top-end is somewhat above the prototype 110 MPH, but not by much. When running under DCC, however, the model runs way too fast. Fortunately the EM13 decoder sup-ports basic speed curves so you can ad-just the speed response to better match the prototype.

The wheels on the locomotive and all passenger cars were in gauge, when measured with the NMR A Mark IV standards gauge. In addition, the Kato models negotiated all popular brands of code 80 and code 55 track. Bear in mind, however, that due to the fixed wheelbase of the GS-4, Kato recom-mends a minimum operating radius of 11 inches for normal curves, and an even larger 12-3/8 inch radius curve for reverse or “S” curves, typically experienced when traveling through turnouts.

Kato’s operating knuckle couplers matched the Micro-Trains coupler height gauge perfectly and performed well. Be

Here we see the GS-4 and 10 car Daylight base set operating on a temporary test track. In case you’re wondering, the overall length is approximately six feet of train. If you decide to expand it to full consist length by adding the four articulated coach sets (not shown), you’ll end up with nearly nine feet of N-scale passenger train! To preserve the look and feel of the prototype you’ll want to operate the Daylight on broad,

sweeping curves whenever possible. I’m sure you’ll agree that even the 13-3/4 inch radius curves shown here are too tight to be visually convincing. Electrical pickup is provided by the locomotive driver and tender wheels. The locomotive (shown center) includes traction tires on the third axle, giving it that extra pulling power needed to pull a full 18-car Daylight consist up a four percent grade.

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The All-Scale NewsMonthly — Model Railroad News — August 2008 29

advised that the modeler is tasked with installing the coupler trip pins on the locomotive and lead passenger car, a practice no other ready-to-run N-scale manufacturer seems to require. Be sure to use a Micro-Trains trip pin height gauge to ensure the pins are adjusted properly and won’t snag on turnout frogs and track crossings.

The locomotive includes disassembly instructions, mainly for the purpose of installing the DCC decoder in the tender. It does not, however, include an exploded parts view or parts listing. The

same can be said for the passenger cars; no exploded parts view or parts listing. At the current time a limited amount of

“maintenance” information is available on the Kato web site; perhaps more will be posted over time. The Kato warranty covers defects for a period of 60 days from date of purchase.

DCC ConversionThe Kato GS-4 is advertised as

DCC-Ready, designed to support an easy conversion to DCC using their EM13 decoder. Although the installa-

tion instructions packaged with the de-coder are in Japanese, the GS-4 includes an English version. Unfortunately, the English version does not explain the supported Configuration Variables and I was unable to obtain any further in-formation from Kato customer service. Shown in Table 1 are the descriptions I was able to decipher.

The EM13 supports two and four-digit addressing; basic speed curves using starting/mid-point/maximum voltage settings; simulated momen-tum using acceleration/deceleration

Shown here is the train consist information included on the back of the Kato package. By including the add-on articulated chair car sets to the base set you can recreate the full 18-car consist of Train #98 eastbound (San Francisco

to Los Angeles) and Train #99 westbound (Los Angeles to San Francisco) which operated in the mid 1940s. The passenger cars will also be available with the future PA/PB E8 Daylight release.

August 2008 — Model Railroad News — www.ModelRailroadNews.com30

settings; and Back EMF. According to the supported values for CV29, you can control base direction (deciding whether to run short or long hood for-ward); only 28/128 speed steps are sup-ported; and analog/DC mode is always enabled. Of these settings, the ability to control base direction doesn’t make much sense for a steam locomotive since I’m not aware of any Daylight

down, speed up and slow down, and so it appears the analog/DC mode does not operate very well.

Decoder installation is very simple thanks to clear instructions and thoughtful design by Kato. Unfortunately, a f law was discovered while testing under DCC. It seems that during locomotive backing an intermit-tent short occurs between the locomo-tive drivers and the frame, eventually causing the EM13 decoder to overheat and burn up. As shown in the photos, Kato devised a simple fix and has made it available to the N-scale community. See the Kato web site for more information. The second production run of the loco-motive, which was just released, includes the necessary fix and does not require the modification kit.

It is not often that Kato models have difficulties such as this, and I’m sure frustrations ran high in Japan when it was discovered. Regardless, in true Kato fashion they quickly identified the problem, made a fix freely available, and exchanged the damaged decoders at no charge. I applaud Kato for their response.

Closing ThoughtsAs many of you know, I am an

avid Southern Pacific fan. While my favorite SP paint scheme is the Black Window, I cannot deny that the Daylight is truly the world ’s most beau-tiful passenger train. Makers of quality N scale for many years, it comes as no surprise to this reviewer that Kato has successfully captured the essence of the Southern Pacific Daylight passenger train in a prototypically-correct and smooth-running model. Whether you’re a Southern Pacific fan or just like passenger trains, the Kato Daylight is a must have!

After installing the EM13 decoder it was noticed that the locomotive exhibited an intermittent short circuit when backing up, eventually damaging the decoder. Upon discussions with Kato, a motor isolation problem was discovered in the initial production run; the locomotive drivers were touching the frame causing the short. Kato quickly devised a modification kit (shown here) and made it freely available to hobby shops and modelers. They also replaced any damaged decoders free of charge. The modification kit consists of plastic inserts that slip behind the drivers, and instructions (also available on Kato’s web site). While only two inserts are needed to perform the modification, four are included in case one is damaged during the repair process. I have colored one of them with a marker so you can see it better here.

GS-4s configured as cab forwards. This feature may have been included in case the EM13 is used in a future Kato diesel locomotive release.

During testing I confirmed that analog/DC mode can in fact be dis-abled, something I recommend you do. Running the decoder-equipped locomo-tive under DC showed a regular surg-ing motion; it would speed up and slow