KATO USA
Precision Railroad Models
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.
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:
Available Releases
item #
Description
Msrp
item #
Description
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
item #
106-2015-DCC
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
item #
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 #
106-2016-DCC
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
item #
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
item #
106-2017-DCC
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 #
106-2018-KB
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
item #
106-2019-KB
Description
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.
