Prototype. The El Capitan was an all-chair-car train that ran on the Santa Fe main line from Chicago to Los Angeles. Launched in 1938, the El Capitan provided passengers a less expensive option to the railroad’s all-Pullman Super Chief.
In 1956 the Santa Fe re-equipped the El Capitan with Hi-Level cars, including coaches, diners, and lounges, built by the Budd Co. With floors eight feet above the rails, the Hi-Level cars gave passengers a better view and a quieter ride.
The two-level coaches were the same length as a standard height coach, but could carry 68 or 72 passengers. (A standard height car carried 48.) While the top level of the coaches was dedicated to passenger seating (or dining room or lounge compartments in those car types), the lower level was used for baggage, air conditioning, and other equipment. A kitchen occupied most of the diner’s lower level.
The Santa Fe combined El Capitan and the Super Chief trains beginning in 1958, although the two trains continued to run as separate consists during the summer and Christmas seasons. The trains ran until the advent of Amtrak in 1971. The Hi-Level cars inspired the Amtrak Superliner cars that still serve in long-distance trains today.
The 10-car and 2-car sets provide enough cars to model a typical El Capitan consist from 1956 or 1957. Kato also sells an N scale Super Chief passenger set and F7A and B units in Santa Fe’s red warbonnet scheme (See the April 2006 Model Railroader for a review of the Kato N scale Super Chief set and F7 diesels), so you could also model a later combined Super Chief/El Capitan consist from 1958 through the 1960s.
All the window arrangements, fluting, vent placement, and other molded detail on the N scale cars match prototype photos. Kato equipped the diner with the correct six-wheel trucks. As on the prototype, all the other cars have four-wheel trucks. The injection-molded truck sideframes are crisply detailed and painted silver.
The silver paint on the models’ body shells is especially well done. The finish is metallic enough to do a convincing job of simulating stainless steel. All lettering and car numbers match prototype photos. All the window gaskets are correctly painted black.
In each car there’s a metal weight between the interior floor and the chassis. Most of the cars are 1/4 ounce too light according to National Model Railroad Association RP-20.1. The baggage-dormitory car is 1/2 ounce too light.
All the cars are equipped with Kato magnetic knuckle couplers, but the trip pins must be installed by the modeler. The cars couple with .060″ between the diaphragms. The N scale El Capitan ran smoothly around the 11″ radius curves of our Salt Lake Route layout.
The factory-installed lighted drumhead tail sign and marker light are two of my favorite features. The tail sign is colorful and well-rendered and the marker light is a red light-emitting diode (LED). All the cars have metal contacts on the trucks, and Kato sells interior lighting kits that use white LEDs. The manufacturer’s suggested retail price for the kits is $10 for one or $50 for a set of six. The tail sign, marker light, and interior lights work on DC and Digital Command Control layouts.
Enough Kato Unitrack sections are included with the 10-car set to display all those cars, the 2-car add-on set, and a pair of F7 diesels. Detailed inside and out, El Capitan in N scale is a great-looking model of its famous prototype.
Price: $250 (10-car set), $50 (2-car add-on set)
Manufacturer
Kato U.S.A. Inc.
100 Remington Rd.
Schaumburg, IL 60173
www.katousa.com
Features
Illuminated tail sign and marker light on observation car
Kato magnetic knuckle couplers at correct height
Low-profile metal wheels in gauge
Minimum radius: 11″
Nine Unitrack 93/4″ straight
sections and one 2″ straight
section with bumping post
Weight: 11/4 ounces (Hi-Level cars), 1 ounce (baggage and dormitory cars)
True to form' Kato is a premium molded plastic model builder and these passenger sets are no exception. I own sets from past runs that are still as fine as I have ever seen. I would like to see Kato include interior lighting and Kadee couplers on there passenger sets for the price of the product, but that is my opinion. I did not see that interior lighting was included on this set, but I could be mistaken. This was an add on with my older sets. All of my Kato engines and cars have very sharp molded in detail often rivaling photo etched parts when compared using magnification. Quality has never been an issue with Kato in my experience. Buy them while you can get them!!
The silver paint on the models' body shells is especially well done. The finish is metallic enough to do a convincing job of simulating stainless steel. All lettering and car numbers match prototype photos. All the window gaskets are correctly painted black.
this is on of the best sets I have ever seen do you know were I can bye it in Australia
Wish Kato would do the same in HO
These cars look even better than the Super Chief if that's possible, they are next on my list.
I can't use the complete train (or the track), but I would REALLY like Kato to release the baggage cars separately.
I love these cars, my only complaint with Kato is that I feel they should include working diaphrams with these cars. I hate seeing gaps between cars and engines on layouts.
Like one of your previous readers commented, I rode this train in 1966. I was 16 and it was a fantastic three day experience that I will never forget. I boarded in Pasadena, California, and transferred in Kansas City to another railroad to Memphis. I'm an HO guy, but I will purchaes this N set for display. Might even convert. Thanks
keep them coming
Kato did a bang up job on the El Capitan set. The cars are well detailed and very smooth running. I run the 12 car train on our N scale club layout, and when we do a train show, the public really likes to see that long silver train, snaking between the curves.
Have yet to get my set, but have got to have a close look at a set, as well as the add-on……between these cars and a pair of Athearn FP45's, a gorgeous pre-Amtrak streamliner!!!!
I know IMR makes some of the cars in HO but not at total set, this would be nice.
how much is it because that would look great going around my new layout im making
My mom took me on a trip to California in July 1966. We rode the Pennsylvania RR to Chicago and then the El Capitan from Chicago to Pasedena and back. A big adventure for a ten year old! The train was beautiful and so clean compared to the Pennsylvania's passenger trains. I remember the delicious hamburgers that were my favorite in the dining car, and having orange juice and coissants for breakfast in the Kachina Coffee shop on the lower level of the lounge car. I still have the info literature from the train. I don't have an n guage layout, but I'm getting one of these for display until I do!!!
Yes, Kato has done it again. Even though I don't model in N scale (my layout is HO), I had to have the set, if just for display.
For those who are yearning for an HO version, InterMountain has produced a ready-to-run version of Train Station Products kits. These cars are very well done, and include separately attached wire handrails. However, the diaphragms are not working and the couplers are truck mounted (to allow these very long cars to negotiate sharp curves). So far the Step Up Coach, Hi-Level Coach, and Diner in appropriate numbers have been available. What is lacking are the Lounge and Baggage-Dormitory Transition cars.
Very nice, really top-of the line You can get to N-scale today. I have the other Santa Fe-set (Super Chief) and they are great together. Kato has made it agian!
Owning both the El Capitan and the Super Chief trains allows me to run the 1967 version pulled by two Athearn FP45s in War Bonnet Super Fleet scheme. Makes for an outstanding looking passenger train. Running this for the first time during the Madison Trainshow this last weekend on our Capital City NGineers NTRAK layout, the silver (and stimulated stainless steel) really stood out, especially when passing another train… The colors reflected off of the sides.
Smooth running, superior finish, and just… Kato!
Has Kato forgotten about the HO scale people? If they did this set in HO I would buy one in a heartbeat!!! Great looking set.
Just received my set on 2/11/10. It looks great right out of the box. The set will be a nice addition to my Santa Fe passenger fleet.
Kato has done it again! I "received" mine for Christmas along with the extra cars, and have to say the paint characteristics are fantastic – the closest I've seen to a metal finish in N Scale.
I haven't noticed any tracking issues with the cars being slightly under recommended weights. In fact, they are so free rolling, I've had them uncouple from the F7s after running downhill.
The Amtrak train can do the same thing and I've even had the F7 A and B units uncouple when there is slack between them, so I'm sure the Kato coupler is the culprit.
Still though, Kato has put together the best looking passenger sets I've seen. Even with a modern era setting, I think it is feasible these trains could be run again as "excursion specials".
Well done Kato!
Outstanding, but I am more of Southern Pacific man, like the Sunset Limited.
Kato continue to raise the bar with their N scale passenger equipment. I had to stare at the models under magnification to confirm that the vents on the sides of the cars were not etched metal. Excellent work, Kato.
Looks excellent yet again – Well done Kato – I have a lot of their models and they are always well made and superior running against other manufacturers – need to do some saving for this
I like everything about KATO N-scale. Particularly its plug-and-play electrical connections.
I have the SP Morning Daylight set, the Japanese Bullitt train set and a trolly.
On the way are ElCapitan and PRR Broadway Limited.
On order is the California Zephyr.
Lets have more Kato!
I am really downsizing from space hungry O-guage.
Muy Good!!! Can't wait to run behind my 4 unit ABBA F-7s. Kato did a fantastic job, and hope they keep them coming…
I may have to add a northern extension to my planned Surf Line layout (don't think I could explain El Capitan at Oceanside as a result of a washout somewhere further north!).
A club member at the Arizona Model Railroading Society was running the new Kato cars – 14 cars total – pulled by matched A-B-B-A Warbonnet locos. Looked like the real thing and he is working on the sound. Can't wait to hear that. Almost wish I was not modeling a short-line in the woods.