Possibilities and Prototypes...

In preparation for developing a Japanese themed layout, I've been researching Japanese railways for the last while. Japanese trains offer an amazing variety of paint schemes and appearancess. Also notwithstanding is the fact that alot of them just look incredibly cool. The basic premise of my layout design is a double track heavy electric mainline with a secondary branchline. The branchline is intended to represent a 'third sector' Railway, or private railway line. There are a number of these in Japan, essentially branchlines that have been spun off from the main trunk lines. Alot of these lines have colourful pasts, and some can be modeled almost in their entirety. The main layout will represnt an urban area, with the station based on Sanuki Station on JR East's Joban Line. This station interchanges with the 4.5km Ryugasaki Line, operated by Kanto Railways. Kanto also operates the 51km long Joso Line. The Ryugasaki line has several things going for it as a prototype. Scenically it runs through some nice country, is modelable, and has a small roster. Another small branchline that has alot of character and scenic beauty is the Kominato Railway, a 39km line about an hour from Tokyo. This line runs into the mountains and has alot of interesting scenery and tunnels. I plan to take elements from both of these lines, with a sprinkling of other lines to represent my freelanced branchline. This beanchline will initially be home to a KiHa 40 diesel railcar. A small yard may be added to my planned terminus as well with storage for a couple of cars. The urban station may also recieve a second track for the branch platform, allowing more than one car to be operated at a time.

As my plans for a layout are being refined, so are my plans for a roster. I was browsing the TrainAidsA website and I saw that they are offering alot more spare parts and kitbashing parts for all three of the current Eishindo chassis. Also available are single 103 powered and unpowered cars, and this opens up alot of possibilities for the kitbasher. The availability of these parts makes my mind work overtime and the creative juices flow. While my first priority is to get my end loops done to get a working layout, I do want to start building up some additional rolling stock as well. I've been slowly planning and refining my eventual roster, and the more I research and view images online of Japanese rolling stock, the more confident I become that I can do this. The 103 Series is the same length as a 20m long passenger coach. These can be used in both powered and unpowered combinations with a Hankyu 9000 powered electric locomotive. I may even power a 103 with a lengthened 9000 chassis, possibly do it as a mail/baggage car to sit behind the locomotive for extra pulling power. The planned addition of free-rolling 19m and 20m chassis also makes a locomotive-hauled passenger train an option.

Freight is another story, but still a definite option. The majority of Japanese freight cars were small 4-wheel cars, with a few exceptions - mainly flat cars. Most freight nowadays travels in containers - not really a "powerable" car, at least if one wants it to bea ble to run empty. Over on the Talking T-Gauge forum, member nug has developed a shortened chassis of 31.5mm mounted on a base of 3mm aluminum. He's also developing a chassis based around a 6mm pager motor that hopefully will pull 4-6 standard cars. This is hopeful, as a 6-car train would be perfectly acceptable on a small layout. There were some four-axle boxcars used in the past - The Waki 10000 for instance, that could be used as powered cars in a freight consist if need be. The Waki 10000, based on model lengths, works out to about 16.6m Long. This tranlates into a 37mm long car in T-gauge - entirely within the realm of possibility. The motive power would still have to be full body electric and diesel locomotives until a narrower gearbox gan be worked out for a hood style unit. Japanese diesel hood units offer their own set of challenges, as they are mid-cabbed with low front and back hoods. A lower profile gearbox would almost be needed before one of these locomotives (powered at least) is an option. That said, one could be pushed by a couple of powered freight cars (or passenger cars) as a dummy very easily.

For the first little bit, I plan to run my standard gauge Hankyu cars alongside the narrow gauge JR stock - the average Joe isn't going to know the difference. Eventually, the 9000 may morph its way into another style of multiple unit, either diesel or electric. When I get some 103's, they may also find themselves sitting on a modified 9000 chassis, the guts being used for other projects. The 103's actually make better fodder for certain kitbashes given their modular construction (versus the sealed Gen 2 chassis). Uwe Fenk from Germany has done some kitbashing of his own using the 103's. He's taken two mechanisms and combined them together in a long (58mm) chassis. This length chassis is standard for a North American passenger car and could be easily adapted for that as well.

More plans as they develop.

Progress on Layout Design

I've been thinking about layout plans ever since I first saw T-gauge. For me, part of the enjoyment of model railroading is sharing the experience with others. I've been to train shows with layouts in the past, and loved the interaction and answering questions from people. This said, portability and the option for continuous running are major factors in my layout designs. I knew I wanted a double track mainline to be able to run two trains. I also wanted a branchline to have limited operating possibilities.

Another factor in my layout plans as of late has been my location. My wife and I live in a two bedroom apartment. I've managed to secure the storage closet as my office/layout space but it measures only 4 feet by 8 feet. Seeing as it still needs to function as an office/computer room as well, that limited my size as well.

The third factor is ease and economy of construction. Hobby resources are limited, so the ability to build the layout in sections was also a concern. Given all of these factors, I developed the layout plan shown here.

This plan is pretty much the final. To cut back on costs and increase running in between building sections (and waiting for turnouts), I may split Section C into a 9" X 24" Front section and have the double track back section split in two to give me a 36" X 18" loop.



Thoughts on Prototype

The other big question I've been facing is "What to model". Being Canadian, a North American prototype is an option, but I'd like to model something different. I've also got an interest in the railways of Finland due to my work on an expansion for the game Transport Tycoon. I seriously thought of modeling some Finnish EMU's and DMU's in T. The other option, logically, is modeling a Japanese prototype. This, ultimately, is what I've decided to do. I enjoy researching and finding out new things, and seeing as I don't know alot about the railways of Japan, it's a perfect opportunity for me.

My first T purchase will be a Hankyu 9000, and I'll probably keep this set as is. The mainlines will be electrified and handle both 9000's and 103's to start. The branch will eventually be home to a KiHa40. Another deciding factor in the choice of Japan is that alot of Japanese trains are available online as paper models - a good source for overlays for new prototypes.

I'm thinking about purchasing a Hankyu chassis "kit" from TrainAidsA to turn into a heavy duty Japanese electric locomotive - An EF64-1000 series. The length matches the Hankyu almost exactly. I'm still trying to figure out what to do about the centre truck, whether it's going to be operational or static with the bottom flanges ground off, but that'll be documented when the project begins.

More to come.

Yet another T-Gauge Presence on the web

A bit about me. My name is Dan MacKellar and I'm soon going to be delving into the madness that is T-gauge. I've modeled in HO, N and Z Scale, so T seemed like a natural progression.

I've been following
Eishindo's T-Gauge since it first came out. I'm an avid follower of David K. Smith's T-gauge Blog as well. I'm always looking for something different and interesting, and T-gauge is definitely those things.

This blog is to be a showcase of my adventures in this new and exciting scale. It will contain musings, thoughts and general miscellany. I currently don't have any T-gauge equipment, but I've been preparing to get some within the next month. I've been mulling over prototypes and what to model, but that's the subject for another day.