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N Operation North Pole Christmas Trains

Spreading the Spirit of the Holidays to Children in Need

 

Operation North Pole (ONP) is a volunteer-based public charity. ONP works with Chicagos major childrens hospitals, providing a day of fun and fantasy for families who have a child battling a life threatening illness by hosting a fantasy trip to the North Pole. The magical experience includes, breakfast, a festive train ride to the North Pole, a visit with Santa, winter wonderland fun, entertainment, treats, personal wish list gifts, and much more! It’s ONP’s goal to provide these families an unforgettable experience amidst very challenging times.

 

Kato USA has partnered with Operation North Pole to bring these special Christmas Trains – replicas of the real life Christmas Trains that are operated each year – to life as a means to support ONP’s goal of spreading the magic of the holidays. To that end a portion of the proceeds from every sale of an Operation North Pole Christmas Train Set goes towards this charitable venture to help fund the chartering of this yearly train!

 

Learn more about Operation North Pole and their amazing efforts by visiting www.operationnorthpole.org

About the Train

Each year ONP charters a special Metra train, designing special vinyl wraps that adorn both the outside and the insides of the cars. Each years’ design is unique, making each train a festive and colorful display. This train runs on the Union Pacific Northwest Line of the Chicago Metra commuter service, operating not only as a special charter train but remaining in service for a period after the Christmas Train event as rolling billboard to spread awareness of ONP and their goals.

 

Gallery Bi-Level Coaches and Cab Coaches

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 Amtraks 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.

Model Features:

  • The F40PH locomotive uses a sophisticated lightpiping and LED system to give it directional headlight and taillight functions on the front of the locomotive for push/pull operation.
  • 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.
  • Drop in DCC compatible with the Train Control Systems K5D7

2015 Version Photos; click for higher resolution images

Chicago Metra F40PH

Rosemont Coach

Donald E. Stephens Coach

Operation North Pole Cab-Coach

2016 Version Photos; click for higher resolution images

Chicago Metra F40PH

Lifesource Coach

Rosemont Coach

Allstate Arena Cab-Coach

Operation North Pole Coach

Donald E. Stephens Cab-Coach

2017 Version Photos; click for higher resolution images

Chicago Metra F40PH

Rosemont Coach

Allstate Arena Coach

Donald E. Stephens Coach

Lifesource Coach

Chicago Dogs Cab-Coach

Videos:

Learn more about the real 2015 Operation North Pole Train by checking out this youtube video – click the image to the left to open the video in a new window!

Past Releases:

item #

Description

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N 2015 Operation North Pole Christmas Train 4-Unit Set

 

Includes:

F40PH Locomotive Chicago Metra #125 w/ ONP Wrapping

Gallery Bi-Level Coach Chicago Metra #6054 w/ "Rosemont" wrapping

Gallery Bi-Level Coach Chicago Metra #6131 w/ "Donald E. Stephens Convention Center" wrapping

Gallery Bi-Level Cab-Coach Chicago Metra #8472 w/ ONP Wrapping

Msrp

$195

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Description

N 2015 Operation North Pole Christmas Train 4-Unit Set w/ Pre-Installed DCC

 

Includes:

F40PH Locomotive Chicago Metra #125 w/ ONP Wrapping w/ TCS DCC Installed

Gallery Bi-Level Coach Chicago Metra #6054 w/ "Rosemont" wrapping

Gallery Bi-Level Coach Chicago Metra #6131 w/ "Donald E. Stephens Convention Center" wrapping

Gallery Bi-Level Cab-Coach Chicago Metra #8472 w/ ONP Wrapping with FL12 DCC Decoder

Msrp

$315

item #

Description

N 2016 Operation North Pole Christmas Train 4-Unit Set

 

Includes:

F40PH Locomotive Chicago Metra #133 w/ ONP Wrapping

Gallery Bi-Level Coach Chicago Metra #6054 w/ "Lifesource" wrapping

Gallery Bi-Level Coach Chicago Metra #6050 w/ "Rosemont" wrapping

Gallery Bi-Level Cab-Coach Chicago Metra #8515 w/ "Allstate Arena" Wrapping

Msrp

$195

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Description

N 2016 Operation North Pole Christmas Train 2-Unit Add-On Set

 

Includes:

Gallery Bi-Level Coach Chicago Metra #6158 w/ "Operation North Pole" wrapping

Gallery Bi-Level Cab-Coach Chicago Metra #8415 w/ "Donald E. Stephens Convention Center" Wrapping

Bookcase style packaging with space for the full 6-Unit consist.

Msrp

$65

item #

Description

N 2016 Operation North Pole Christmas Train 6-Unit Set w/ Pre-Installed DCC

 

Includes:

F40PH Locomotive Chicago Metra #133 w/ ONP Wrapping w/ TCS DCC Installed

Gallery Bi-Level Coach Chicago Metra #6158 w/ "Operation North Pole" wrapping

Gallery Bi-Level Coach Chicago Metra #6054 w/ "Lifesource" wrapping

Gallery Bi-Level Coach Chicago Metra #6050 w/ "Rosemont" wrapping

Gallery Bi-Level Cab-Coach Chicago Metra #8415 w/ "Donald E. Stephens Convention Center" Wrapping

Gallery Bi-Level Cab-Coach Chicago Metra #8515 w/ "Allstate Arena" Wrapping w/ FL12 DCC Decoder

Bookcase style packaging with specially decorated slipcover.

Msrp

$380

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Description

N 2017 Operation North Pole Christmas Train 6-Unit Book Case Collector’s Set

 

Includes:

F40PH Locomotive Chicago Metra #166 w/ ONP Wrapping

Gallery Bi-Level Coach Chicago Metra #6019 w/ "Rosemont" wrapping

Gallery Bi-Level Coach Chicago Metra #6181 w/ "Allstate Arena" wrapping

Gallery Bi-Level Coach Chicago Metra #6017 w/ "Donald E. Stephens Convention Center" wrapping

Gallery Bi-Level Coach Chicago Metra #6018 w/ "Lifesource" wrapping

Gallery Bi-Level Cab-Coach Chicago Metra #8436 w/ "Chicago Dogs" Wrapping

Bookcase style packaging with a specially decorated slipcover.

Msrp

$260

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Description

N 2017 Operation North Pole Christmas Train 6-Unit Set w/ Pre-Installed DCC

 

Includes:

F40PH Locomotive Chicago Metra #166 w/ ONP Wrapping w/ TCS DCC Installed

Gallery Bi-Level Coach Chicago Metra #6019 w/ "Rosemont" wrapping

Gallery Bi-Level Coach Chicago Metra #6181 w/ "Allstate Arena" wrapping

Gallery Bi-Level Coach Chicago Metra #6017 w/ "Donald E. Stephens Convention Center" wrapping

Gallery Bi-Level Coach Chicago Metra #6018 w/ "Lifesource" wrapping

Gallery Bi-Level Cab-Coach Chicago Metra #8436 w/ "Chicago Dogs" Wrapping w/ FL12 DCC Decoder

Bookcase style packaging with specially decorated slipcover.

Msrp

$380

item #

Description

N 2018 Operation North Pole Christmas Train 6-Unit Book Case – Custom Paint Set

 

No Longer Available: Listed for reference only – Visit the site for this set here

Msrp

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N 2019 Operation North Pole Christmas Train 6-Unit Book Case – Custom Paint Set

 

Taking orders through end of September 2020 for November 2020 delivery: Visit the site for this set here

Msrp

A portion of the sales of these sets shall be donated to Operation North Pole to subsidize the wrapping of future ONP holiday trains.