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I think the brand new replacement motor for my DF200 might be bad already... I purchased it because the locomotive was jerking and stalling randomly on clean track that all my other locomotives were having no trouble at all on, and I had ruled out all other possible causes (dirty wheels/contacts, mechanical binding, etc…) Anyways, I ordered the motor from Hobbysearch, and after installation, the locomotive ran like new…for about 2 minutes, then it picked up the same problems where the old motor had left them off…and then proceeded to make them worse. So, thinking I had just put a new motor in for no reason, I checked and double checked everything else again: Trucks had no binding (in fact, they’re probably the smoothest rolling ones I’ve ever seen. I should also note I replaced the axles that had traction tires with new tire-less ones for better electrical pickup. I have no need for them because I don’t pull long trains, or have any gradients on my small layout) Worm gears and drive shafts seem to be in perfect shape as well. Then I got an idea from another problem. A few days before, I was running my Tomix EF66 and noticed it was stalling for a split second whenever it went over my single crossover. So I ran it over very slow, and it stalled completely. Not only that, but the tail lights on the last car wouldn’t light up either. What was happening, was this: http://my-miniature-worlds.blogspot.com/2015/04/kato-turnout-4-short-circuit.html So basically the wheel contacting the two rails at once was shorting out the whole track, causing even the rear lights to stay out. This got me thinking, if something in the DF200 is shorting out, then other things on the track will stall or dim as well. So, to check for this, I removed the motor, driveshafts, and worm gears so the unit would be a free rolling dummy with working headlights, hitched it up to one of my DE10’s, and towed it around every inch of my layout multiple times to see if the lights would flicker or dim. And they flickerlessly burned bright over every millimeter of it, even over the #4 crossovers, so no problems there. Then, I put the motor back into it, but not the driveshafts or worm gears, so it was still a free rolling dummy, and then pulled it around the layout with the same DE10. But this time, there was a problem. Not only did the DF200’s motor hesitate and stall, but when it did, the DE10’s would as well, just as the tail lights did with my EF66 on the crossover. So it would seem that something in the motor is shorting out. So, I got a bad motor, right? Has this happened to anyone else? I mean, I know it sounds improbable that the new part would be bad as well, but then again, the last time I tried to replace the alternator in my car, I had to buy 3 or 4 before I got a proper working one. Is there something in these motors that can internally short out? I found a motor on plazajapan for $13, but wanted to get some second opinions before ordering…again, lol. So any ideas or advise would be helpful, thanks!

Loose bolt causing a DF200 derailment. Another JR Hokkaido maintenance problem? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kmGePJGG8rg

Not entirely sure what the reason for this run on August 7 was, but it looks fun. Towed by the EH800 along the Kaikyo Line and Dōnan Isaribi Tetsudō Line (the former Esashi Line): Towed by the DF200 along the Muroran Main Line and Hakodate Main Line:

already discussed here: http://www.jnsforum.com/community/topic/3823-jr-kyushu-to-operate-luxury-cruise-train-services http://www.jnsforum.com/community/topic/6148-jr-kyushu-cruise-train-seven-stars http://www.jnsforum.com/community/topic/6132-new-jr-kyushu-excursion-train here are the first images I've seen: http://rail-uploader.khz-net.com/index.php?id=1102969 The artist's renderings show it in a maroon color, so I guess this is just a primer coat. As Bikkuri mentioned, it has to be lighter than a freight-use JRF DF200, I'll be interested to see where the weight savings come from. Or do these have cement weights that can just be removed?

Well, got some pics of the last run of this overnight train. Already an hour before the train was to depart, a scrum of fans and TV camera crews were at the end of platform 4 at Sapporo Station. Wanting to avoid the tyro carnival, I caught a local train and got off at one of my favorite photo spots in the Sapporo area, Kami Nopporo Station. I estimate about 25~30 railfans and a smattering of general public with cameras were there. Helpfully there were periodic annoucements for railway staff (gyoumu renraku) informing the location of the train- it departed Sapporo one minute late and also passed Shiroishi Station one minute behind schedule. Somewhat thankfully it clouded up a bit before it passed through Kami Nopporo, lessening the harsh shadows as it was late afternoon with somewhat oblique side sunlight. Two DD51 lead: Rear of train. Please excuse the balding bobble head on the right, it was out of my control: As a bonus, several minutes later, a container freight passed through, led by rather smoky DF200-104:

Last month testing occured with a DF200 diesel on the winter-season (and perennially threatened) Sekihoku Line onion trains. As JR Freight's public reason for discontinuance of this train was the life-expiration of the dd51 motive power, successful replacement with the DF200 may prolong this interesting service. At Engaru (movement begins at about 0:45): And for all you kiha 40 fans, a warm season scene on the Sekihoku Line, at Jomon. 4 car train 4653D, an Engaru-Abashiri service, reminiscent of JNR era express trains: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dihx7bMNNIg