Im curious if any of you run Japanese Bullet trains on your layouts. Its a shame the USA does not have any of these running. Recently I fell head over heels for Kato's JR500 Series, I had such a difficult time deciding between the 4 and 8 car set. Well I broke down and got the 8 car set.
My layout is set in the transitional era, so any Bullet trains would be extremely out of place. But I'm still watching for an inexpensive set! Why? Because my young grandkids aren't impressed with a slow switcher dropping off and picking up freight cars. They ARE impressed by fast moving trains ("Make it go FASTER, Poppy!!). So if I had a Bullet train, I could run that when the kids are over for a visit. Other times, it'll just be a Shelf Queen! LOL Darrell, quiet...for now
Someone else at the forum who is also interested in Bullet trains! Here is a link to my layout that I have posted here: http://www.trainboard.com/grapevine/showthread.php?t=84650&highlight=bullet+track The 500 Shinkensen is a beautiful set and the prototype is actually 16 cars. (I run it with 8) Japan has a vast number of different designs for their prototypes, it's mind boggling.
Very impressive collection. We have one young member that runs bullet trains on our N Trak. I think some of the older members are not so pleased, but it looks good running and the crowd likes it.
Traindork - You have a very nice roster! Between the 800 and the Thunderbird is that the N700? Also all the way to the left of the photo next to the 700, what Shinkansen is that? Bamboozledguy - Welcome to the forum, I like your first post.
I dont blame you, there;s a 0% chance of me running steam on my modern layout but hey you never know lol. Bernard thats a killer trackplan, Id love to see more. Thanks for the welcome, us New Yawkers gotta be civil once in a while right. All I can say is WOW traindork!!!. I cant wait till my stuff makes it through Customs and finally home to me.
Very nice roster. I only have a Spanish Ave' by Kato (similar design to the bullet trains) and it occasionally runs on the Santa Fe :tb-hissyfit:wink:
Thanks. Yes, that's the N700. And at the far left of the picture is the E4 Max. The club I belong to is in the middle of building their layout. I can already tell that there's a few members who frown down upon anything outside of their interests. Oh well, their tough luck.
Is the N700 you have the Tomix model with the 2 motor cars? I've heard it is quite impressive especially the pick up?
I run my Shinkansens occasionally on the club's ntrak layout where I've got the room to open the throttle as God and Kato intended. They are also a big hit at shows. My favorite is a 16 car '0' series that I picked up second hand at a convention in 1989 and started my interest in Japanese railways. To me the '0' series is the train that says "Bullet Train". Here's a link to the Southside Club's old website before we merged with the Ipswich club showing a lineup of Japanse trains my brother and I got together at a show a few years ago. Southside N Scale
Hopefully California will have a true "bullet train" in my lifetime. I have a separate layout section (actually a shelf layout) around my train room and office. There are two "villages" at opposite ends...one is British and one is Japanese. I run Eurostar, Ave, Thalys, Voyager, Super Voyager, Series 0, E1, E2, E3, E4, 500, 700, 800, Cassiopea, Sunrise Express, and Some EMU/DMU units. I really enjoy these as much as I do my regular layout! I have been on the Eurostar under the Channel, but would love to get to Japan to ride the real. original, bullet trains. I have an N scale model of the Maglev...something completely different to dream about running. Regards, Steve:thumbs_up: :thumbs_up:
Westfalen - I really like the photo on the link to your club, I know you have an impressive roster but to see them lined up like that, wow. I'm sending you a PM.
I started collecting the Japanese trains I rode while in Japan (Chuo Line 201 Series, E2 bullet train, etc. I'm sorry I didn't pay more attention to the RDC I once rode). Then I got a D51 Steam Locomotive and a 0 Series Shinkansen because that is what my wife remembers. Then I started on what looked cool (Odakyu 10000 HiSE, 500 Series Nozomi ["Hope"], Imperial Train with EF58, etc.) I think some foreign models are worth collecting (and running) because they are beautiful models. I also have a soft spot for Swiss "Crocodiles" and have models in N & Z scale. It's my layout and I get to choose the trains and I run what I like. As for the clubs, I know people running Cal Zephyrs and Pioneer Zephyrs on club layouts at east coast shows. The models are sharp and sometimes they deserve a chance to get up and show their stuff. Why should that matter if it gives someone a chance to have some fun?
I have a E1 Max that I picked up while living in japan that I've sent around a few times but the layout I have isn't big enough to really open it up. I also bought a couple of the locals but one has a broken frame that I need to replace. Once i get busy with a module I guess I'll be "frowned on" since I'm modelling the WP's Feather River Canyon and Oakland/Stockton areas while out here on the East coast and will definately run the Zephyr and a Amtrak CA Surfliner, maybe the E1 too.
I totally agree with you, the object is to have fun and if you make others happy in the process, all the better. It's good to see other members that also collect Japanese trains, as I've said before their designs are quite revolutionary and interesting. It's hard to believe that the first Japanese Bullet train came out in 1964 and the Acela first went into service in 2000.
The really funny thing is that the original Shinkansen is just an EMU suburban train on steroids. In the early 60s, the Japanese couldn't build traction motors big enough so they just put more of them under the train. In the US, we insist on giant, high HP locomotives for HSTs. Also, the Japanese (and French) high speed trains run on dedicated lines engineered for speed. A really interesting book on the creation of the Shinkansen is, Old Man Thunder: Father of the Bullet Train by Bill Hosokawa. I find Japanese prototypes to be fun to run an interesting to study. While it won't replace Zephyrs and S4 Hudsons for me, it is cool to learn something new and to see something I can ride for myself (someday).
I think that's part of the key to the Shinkansen's success, they didn't try to reinvent the wheel as most western countries think needs to be done whenever high speed rail is suggested. When I first rode a Shinkansen one of my thoughts was that it was not much different from any other train I'd ridden, apart from the speed of course.
Yes I do. I don't model any era, or line, I just run what I like to look at. This is my small collection of high speed Japanese and European trains. The first 2 are recognisable. The third pic is the Odoriko by Kato and the fourth is the Furano Express by Tomix.
Vicky - I also have the Furano Express by Tomix, do you have any problems with it? It is the loudest runner in my fleet and I'm sure it's because of that spring worm.
