Wow, I'm surprised to see this thread resurface. Tony - Then by what you're stating about catenary poles on a layout, aren't you then including the North American "GG1" train as well?
As a modeller with a new interest in Japanese trains, where does one learn about them? I see a lot of very cool sites from Japan, but I can't read Japanese yet (but, I'm working on it!).
Japanese Railway Society Japanese Railway Society Japanese Railway & Transport Review http://www.jrtr.net/start.html For JR trains these web sites will help: JR's Rolling Stock Guide http://tekkenweb.sakura.ne.jp/loco/lsl001.html Gareth Bayer's Japan railway images [April-May 2001] HOME http://tekkenweb.sakura.ne.jp/tokyorail/index.html Electric-Multiple Units http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Japanese_electric_multiple_units Stations and Maps http://bae.se/kitayama/index.htm http://stationworld.web.fc2.com/index.html#jp Some of these web pages will give you links to Japanese railway web pages or Japanese Wikipedia. These are very good sources of information. Virtually all railway equipment plans are published in Japan and have been for years. The Japanese are encouraged to purchase their own technology. "Rail fans" are very important to Japanese railways. There open house days at shops and commemorative runs when equipment is retired. In the last year there have been four major retirements ( Meitetsu Panorama car 7000, the Kyushu Blue (sleeper) trains, the Series O Shinkansen and the 1936 JR Moomin locomotive each with numerous railway sponsored commemorative runs. Each time these trains are run thousands of platform tickets are sold. Everybody seems to have a camera, video camera or cell phone in hand. If you want to get into Japanese web sites you can translate the pages with Google Translate. Text and Web - Google Translate
These were taken by an Australian rail fan on various trips and show a wide range of Japanese trains. Japan 2008 Japan 2008 :: Fotopic.Net Japan 2007 Japan 2008 :: Fotopic.Net Japan 2006 Japan 2006 :: Fotopic.Net You can look up individual stations by coping or typing in the name in Google. Usually Wikipedia will have at least basic information. If you add the city and Japan to the search and click on Maps in Google you should be able to find a map of the area around the station and perhaps street views too.
Thanks, Bill! I think it was you who replied to a thread I started about Japanese trains with a link to your club. One of the members had been to Japan and posted some very cool photos of his trip. I've used some of those for my desktop. They're just beautiful. I don't have the space for a Bullet Train, but I'd love to have one or two of the diesel or electric passenger trains for my planned layout. You, Bernard and TetsuUma have been a big help in stoking the fire! I appreciate it.
John - Thanks for the compliment. I agree with you, the designs of some of the Japanese trains are beautiful. Bill is a whiz when it comes to the Japanese RR, he always finds these fascinating photos, videos and articles about these trains.
That's an amazing layout, it really captures the look of the Japanese countryside. He takes the meticulous approach to modelling that the Japanese seem to apply to everything. He uses the same weathering powder as I do, but that's where the comparison to my modelling skills end.:tb-biggrin: We don't have catenary either but you've gotta have some fun sometimes. I think the Acela was a disaster because Amtrak investigated and sampled different already successful high speed trains like the ICE and Swedish tilt train then decided to forget all they learned and tried to reinvent the wheel. Rail management in this country suffer from the same affliction. On the contrary, the Shinkansen and other Japanese trains, reminds me, and shows others what a sucess high speed rail, and passenger rail in general, can be if its done right.
This is a good example of the variety in Japan, when you browse the albums practically every photo is of a different type of train.
Which reminds me that the FRA imposes standards on trains that don't apply to cars or planes. Big oil has/had Washington in its pocket. How the FRA is Regulating Passenger Rail Out of Existence | East Bay Bicycle Coalition
Without railroads, many argue, the British Empire was not possible, nor the United States. Changing from an agrarian culture, where produce was brought to market by horse carts, to an industrial economy, where goods of all types are shipped great distances, required railroads (and ships). Those who scoff at bullet trains are just showing ignorance at how societies develop for their own good. A true bullet train between Boston and Washington would be very popular, as other bullet trains would be in other corridors of about 500 miles, or perhaps longer.
I don't dis-like bullet trains. I'm with most of the guys here in saying while they may not be for me, if you like them, run them till the wheels fall off. I don't understand the operations and I don't even run passenger trains, so they just don't appeal to me. I like mixed freights and switching the most, with running a big grain train on a show layout after that. It might be fun to use one as a switcher sometime and freak some of the "hardcore modellers" out just for giggles. I also like the idea of throwing some type of herritage paitnscheme on one and running it around a show layout. I'm sure you'd get quite a few comments. More power to you for modelling something that's a little more "fringe" than most. It's no more different to me than the guys that do N scale narrow gauge. I think it's cool, but it's just not for me.
Simple......Because we North Americans suffer from severe and unabashed "rail envy"......we got wheels baby and no one gonna take my wheels away..... We wallow in 40 mph freight and late and crappy 60 mph passenger service while other, more advanced nations have figured out that there is no shame in loading 100's of business executive on a luxurious train that flies along at 150 mph plus while not rattling your wine glass...I've been on the ICE and Eurotrains......... they bear no resemblance to VIA and Amtrak whatsoever......... We don't relate to the bullet cause it don't come with a 357 Chev engine and chrome.... Ya, I know, cynical answer but think about it..............
Interesting topic Bernard, thank you for making TB all the more interesting. With overseas countries slowly taken over the US auto industry and oil prices going up, I think the US is at the crossroad to finally go into high speed rail. I mean which government in its right mind will continue building more roads and suburbs so that its citizens will send more money overseas to buy their cars and oil?
I don't model Japanese bullet trains only because I'm not modeling Japan But if I were a Japanese N-scaler, I'm sure I'd incorporate the Shinkansen into my layout. More as a background effect, not the main focus of the layout, traveling alongside more conventional trains. I'd probably have it DCC-controlled to go back-and-forth, in and out of a staging tunnel at various intervals, and maybe make a station stop. I've never been to Japan-yet, but I have ridden on Germany's ICE and the Eurostar that runs in the Chunnel between London and Paris. If I did model a high-speed train, I'd make sure to model the catenary. That's one pet peeve of mine whenever I see high-speed train models. The catenary is just as vital to the train as the track is! I don't care if it's powered or just a dummy line, it has to be strung up there!
Thanks SteamDonkey I do know they're not Taboo but is more about respect for for other modelers who choose to do something different like Bullet trains. I have read too many times when other modelers write about Bullet trains (or any modern day Japanese trains) with a lot of LOL references as they're writing. Take a look at the video of this Japanese modelers layout. You tell me his work doesn't deserve the same amount of respect as someone who models the steam era? [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R2zlyH2Q07Y"]YouTube - 鉄é“模型レイアウト走行動画　N Gauge[/ame] There have been a lot of interesting points made in this thread and also has a lot to do with the advances man has made with technology and the Japanese are one of the leaders in the world on this field, their Bullet trains are a prime example. Hey I love the steam era too, and through it you can see how trains have advanced to the stage where they are right now.
For me... its just out of my preferred era... 1940's to 1960's. Also... most of the older hi-speed rail is foreign and I prefer domestic (U.S.A) passenger service prior to Amtrak.
That video is impressive. The guy superelevated the curves, nice scenery, and the camera work is first rate. I took a look at some of the other videos as well and I must say theres some nice modelling there. Just as good as what's going on over here. I'd like to see a switching video with the Japanese style trains just to see how they do it.
Bernard, You won't get any laughing from me, at least not of the mocking variety. Now, if I see really good modeling, like on this video, I may laugh out of joy or something like that, but not mockery. There are all sorts of great eras and prototypes and fantasies and such to model. Good modeling is good modeling. Adam
