N Scale North American Passenger Cars

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Pullman & Nippon Sharyo Bi-Level Commuter cars and train sets

Prototype Information

Nippon Sharyo Gallery Bi-Level Cars:
The modern Nippon Sharyo-built Gallery Bi-Level is based off of the same concept as the original Santa Fe �El Capitan� Bi-level design concept, whose success went on to inspire such double decker cars as Amtrak�s Superliners and the Bombardier Bi-Level car which is also used in commuter service. Today, gallery Bi-Level cars such as those used by the Chicago Metra commuter service can be seen operating in several states across the United States, such as Virginia and California.

Pullman Gallery Bi-Level Cars:
The Bi-Level "Gallery" commuter car continues to be a favorite design of many commuter rail agencies throughout the United States and Canada, and is still in use today on the Chicago Metra in many of their commuter operations, seen running alongside the more modern Nippon Sharyo cars. The design made its debut on the Chicago & North Western railroad for their Chicago area commuter service in the 1950s.

Model Features:

  • Designed to be pulled by either MPI MP36PH or EMD F40PH locomotives.
  • All cars are DCC friendly, with FR11 decoders available for optional 11-211/212 Version 2 Interior Lighting Kits with LED.
  • Bi-Level cab coaches feature directional lighting for push-pull operation, with alternate illuminating headlight and taillights with an on/off switch for mid-train operation. An optional FL12 decoder can be installed in the place of the slider switch to provide DCC control over the directional lighting.
  • Smooth rolling blackened metal wheels on all Bi-level cars with all-wheel electrical pickup.
  • DCC compatible with the use of the Kato FL12 Tail Light DCC Decoder installed into the Cab-Coach.

Videos:

Watch the Chicago Metra MP36PH and Nippon Sharyo Bi-Levels in action in this feature video on youtube - click the image to the left to open the video in a new window!

Following the release of the Metra MP36PH and Bi-Levels, Kato USA announces the Virginia Railway Express (which offers commuter service in and out of Washington D.C. to the Virginia suburbs), with fully remolded shell details to match the prototype specifications of the VRE. To see the feature video for these VRE sets on youtube, click the image to the left to open the video in a new window!

Detail Photos; click for higher resolution images


Pre-Production Sample of Pullman 4-Window Coach

Pre-Production Sample of Pullman 4-Window Coach

Pre-Production Sample of Pullman Cab-Coach

Pre-Production Sample of Pullman Cab-Coach

Nippon Sharyo Chicago Metra Cab-Coach

Nippon Sharyo Chicago Metra Coach

Front views of both the Metra Locomotive and Nippon Sharyo Cab-Coach

Cab Coach comparison between the Metra and VRE, showing the VRE's printed numberboards.

Nippon Sharyo VRE Bi-Level Cab Coach

Nippon Sharyo VRE Bi-Level Coach

Front views of both the VRE Locomotive and Nippon Sharyo Cab-Coach

Coach comparison between the Metra and VRE, showing the unique signboard arrangements.

Available Releases

Item #
 Description MSRP
106-8701 N MP36PH Chicago METRA Gallery Bi-Level Commuter Train "Starter Series" 4-Car Set*
Includes:
  1 x MP36PH Locomotive Chicago Metra #427
  1 x Gallery Bi-Level Coach Chicago Metra #6070
  1 x Gallery Bi-Level Coach Chicago Metra #6153
  1 x Gallery Bi-Level Cab-Coach Chicago Metra #8507 		$200
106-8701-DCC N MP36PH Chicago METRA Gallery Bi-Level Commuter Train "Starter Series" 4-Car Set* w/ Pre-Installed DCC
 $305

106-8703		 N Chicago METRA Gallery Bi-Level Commuter Train 3-Car Set (2021 Release)*
Includes:
  1 x Nippon Sharyo Gallery Bi-Level Coach Chicago Metra #6078
  1 x Nippon Sharyo Gallery Bi-Level Coach Chicago Metra #6189
  1 x Nippon Sharyo Gallery Bi-Level Cab-Coach Chicago Metra #8524
  Bookcase style packaging that can hold a total of 5 Bi-Levels and 2 locomotives, either the MP36PH or F40PH 		$100
106-8705
 N MP36PH Virginia Railway Express Gallery Bi-Level Commuter Train "Starter Series" 4-Car Set**
Includes:
  1 x MP36PH Locomotive Virginia Railway Express #V53
  1 x Nippon Sharyo Gallery Bi-Level Coach Virginia Railway Express #V808
  1 x Nippon Sharyo Gallery Bi-Level Coach Virginia Railway Express #V819
  1 x Nippon Sharyo Gallery Bi-Level Cab-Coach Virginia Railway Express #V712 		$185
106-8706 N Virginia Railway Express Gallery Bi-Level Commuter Train 3-Car Set**
Includes:
  1 x Nippon Sharyo Gallery Bi-Level Coach Virginia Railway Express #V807
  1 x Nippon Sharyo Gallery Bi-Level Coach Virginia Railway Express #V800
  1 x Nippon Sharyo Gallery Bi-Level Cab-Coach Virginia Railway Express #V710
  Bookcase style packaging that can hold a total of 5 Bi-Levels and 2 locomotives, either the MP36PH or F40PH 		$100
156-0945
 N Nippon Sharyo Gallery Bi-Level Coach Virginia Railway Express #V812** $30
156-0946
 N Nippon Sharyo Gallery Bi-Level Coach Virginia Railway Express #V818** $30
156-0947
 N Nippon Sharyo Gallery Bi-Level Cab-Coach Virginia Railway Express #V716** $40
156-0962
 N Nippon Sharyo Gallery Bi-Level Coach Chicago Metra #6192* $30
156-0963
 N Nippon Sharyo Gallery Bi-Level Cab-Coach Chicago Metra #8593* $40
156-0970
 N Pullman Bi-Level 4-Window Coach Chicago Metra #7836* $35
156-0971
 N Pullman Bi-Level 4-Window Coach Chicago Metra #7848* $35
156-0972
 N Pullman Bi-Level Cab-Coach Chicago Metra #8750* $40
*Chicago RTA Licensed Products. **VRE Licensed Products
*** Pricing is estimated and subject to change upon release

 

Kato USA, Inc. 100 Remington Road Schaumburg, IL 60173