Tokai Type EMU Trains

[serotta1972]

My Tokai Type EMU Trains Collection:  

 

Tomix 92390        Series 115-1000        JR Coca Cola

Tomix 98932        Series 115-1000        Yokosuka Color

Kato 10-583        Series 115-1000         Nigata Color

Kato 10-1200      Series 115-1000         Shonan Color

Tomix 98931        Series 115-2000        Minubo Line

Tomix 92492        Series 169                  Shinano Railway    

Tomix 92444        Series 169                 Nagano Area

Tomix 98938        Series 457                 Kanazawa Rail

Tomix 92552        Series 475                  Hokuriku Line

 

I love all the variety of liveries and utilization.  I'm going to try and find at least one model from the list that Mr. 200 provided.  So far I know Tomix has a 415 and 167 currently available and Kato has the 165.  Would be great to have a 153.

Edited November 8, 2015 by serotta1972

[Welshbloke]

I have:

 

Eight car Kato 165 Series Low Roof (the powered and dummy three car packs, plus a couple of SaRo 165s and a SaHaShi 165). Usually runs as a nine or ten car set with a KuMoNi/KuMoYuNi pair on one end.

 

Three coaches for a Kato Shonan 115-1000 set - KuMoHa, SaHa and KuHa. Missing the MoHa 114, and the KuHa turns out to be a -1100 type without a toilet so any passengers are advised to go before they go! I have an aim to track down a couple of KuHa 115-1000s, a couple of MoHa 114s (at least one powered) and a MoHa 115 with a view to assembling something more realistic, but it really depends on what pops up on ebay cheaply. Unfortunately someone else got to the initial listings before me, so I ended up with a bargain KuMoHa/KuHa pair but the MoHa had already gone.

 

A Kato dummy MoHa 152/153 pair. Again, waiting for any suitable additions to pop up on ebay. If I can lay hands on a pair of KuHa 153s then I can couple the whole lot to my KuMoYuNi and use that to tow them, despite not having traction tyres it's happy with four or five coaches.

[Welshbloke]

Kato list a few as diagrams on their site, sometimes the HobbySearch entry for a set will have a scan of the relevant page of the instruction book where boxed sets are concerned.

 

It's a good time to work on a 165 Series set at the moment as the basic set, add-on set and extra cars are easy to come by and not that expensive. I could do with one of the seven car storage cases for mine, as while the extra cars are fine in the plastic boxes the two three car sets come in the polystyrene tray/card wrapper type which don't stand up to repeated opening terribly well.

 

Hopefully Kato will resurrect the 153 Series in Shonan livery soonish, their diagrams for the 165 Series include one using a SaHa 153 which (as might be expected) is now impossible to find.

Edited November 9, 2015 by Welshbloke

[miyakoji]

Serotta, is Tomix 92444 a good runner?  I'm partial to JR West types/colors but I love this livery.

 

edit: just googled each of those sets, you have fine taste, sir :)

Edited November 10, 2015 by miyakoji

[serotta1972]

Thanks for the tip Mr. Welshbloke - I've actually been following your tread about the 165's.  

 

Mr. miyakoji - yes the Tomix 92444 is a good runner and I too really like the livery and it's one of the liveries that I might double up on as both Kato and Tomix 115's in the Nagano Area color are currently available.  And thank you for your kind remark.

[Ochanomizu]

Serotta, is Tomix 92444 a good runner?  I'm partial to JR West types/colors but I love this livery.

 

edit: just googled each of those sets, you have fine taste, sir :)

 

Hello miyakojisan,

 

I also have 92444/5 and mine is also running in excellent condition.  BTW, it is actually 169系 train.  If you are thinking of getting this model then I suggest you also consider 92995 EF63-18/19, which used to run coupled with this consist in Usui Pass.  98005 is also available, but I am unsure of the running numbers.

[serotta1972]

I've just added the following trains to my collections:

 

Tomix      92540       Series 167              School Excursion      

Kato        10-189      Series 455             Green Liner              

 

On the wish list at the moment and currently available:

 

Kato       10-332/3    Series 165              Shonan Color           

Tomix      92581        Series 415-100      Kyushu                      

[katoftw]

Been considering the 115-1000 Takasaki depot excursion train.  Allows the use of a Tokai type train in a modern era layout.

[serotta1972]

I think both are readily available in both Kato and Tomix and at about the same price point.  I thought having a focus and some parameters would decrease my buying - I chose the wrong type of train as it is so common.  And I don't think I can limit myself to a region or an era as some do.  At least right now I'm limiting myself to 2 brands for the most part.

[Welshbloke]

Just took delivery of a Kato 457 Series three car set (10-1154). Not tested yet, but looks good next to my 165 Series. I have a SaHaShi 455 on order and will probably buy the 10-1155 to bulk it out a bit, if I have any spare cash after buying presents in the next couple of weeks...

 

Also considering the 10-189 455 Series Green Liner, as it's silly cheap on Amazon UK at the moment.

[serotta1972]

Hello miyakojisan,

 

I also have 92444/5 and mine is also running in excellent condition.  BTW, it is actually 169系 train.  If you are thinking of getting this model then I suggest you also consider 92995 EF63-18/19, which used to run coupled with this consist in Usui Pass.  98005 is also available, but I am unsure of the running numbers.

Hello Mr. Ochanomizu,

Thanks for the info on the EF63's used as helpers in Usui Pass.  I was just watching some Youtube videos both of the prototype and an amazing layout depicting Usui Pass.  Now, I just gained some interest in those EF63's.

[serotta1972]

Recent additions: 

Kato 455 Green Liner

Tomix 415 Kyushu

Tomix 167 School Excursion

 

There are some future releases from both Tomix and Kato that I'm looking forward to:

Tomix 113

Kato 711

 

[katoftw]

I like the direction your collection is going Junior.  I've been considering the KYushu 415 for above explained reasons.  But the Shonan and Yokokusa Line varients also appeal.  And the Coke 115 also for brand recognition.

[Welshbloke]

It's definitely worth fitting the Kato Tightlock couplers (think they're part 11-703?) to the older models like the 455 Series Green Liner. Makes a huge difference. They're very easy to assemble and fit. Closes the gap a bit and they look more realistic than Rapidos.

 

I'm considering another 457 Series add-on pack, at the moment I have the basic set, one add-on, the SaHaShi 455 and SaRo 455. The diagrams suggest running two add-on packs with one powered and the two extra cars for a realistic formation...

[serotta1972]

That's on my to do list - replace Rapido couplers on all the Kato sets as well as a couple of Tomix sets.  Would love to see the 165 Series you have put together.  

[Welshbloke]

I'll fish some track out and take a few photos when I get a chance. Also have one of the seven car 111 Series sets now, which has the very welcome addition of switches for the cab lighting. Running a KuMoYuNi with older models involves dismantling one cab car to put a strip of paper between lighting PCB and pickups, and swapping the lead bogie to one with a coupler mount. The 111 Series has standard Tightlocks in close coupler mountings throughout, so you just switch the lights off and couple the two units together.

 

Now having a slight rethink on the 457 Series. Might buy one of the 113 Series packs in Yokosuka colours instead. Although it's behind a KuMoYuNi 82 on my acquisitions list as the latter looks as if it'll sell out sooner.

[serotta1972]

I like the direction your collection is going Junior. I've been considering the KYushu 415 for above explained reasons. But the Shonan and Yokokusa Line varients also appeal.

 

It feels good to have some direction and those 2 liveries - I will definitely be doubling up on those as Kato now have some new 115's with new tooling in the Yokokusa color.

[serotta1972]

I was contemplating getting the Kato 111's - nice looking set with new tooling and body mounted close coupling. HS had a set but is now sold out, if I find it in stock elsewhere I just might get it this time.

[Welshbloke]

I was lucky enough to see it listed by a UK-based online shop just before Christmas, with predictable results!

 

There were originally three sets - the seven car basic, an unpowered four car add-on (SaRo/MoHa/MoHa/KuHa) and a powered four car add-on (KuHa/MoHa/MoHa/KuHa). The latter lacks traction tyres so it won't fight the basic set when running in multiple.

 

That's before you get to the matching KuMoYuNi 74, which you'll need to add Tightlocks to but looks perfect on one end of the set. If you can find one that is - the powered ones are still available from a couple of places but the dummies seem harder to find.

 

Traintrax.co.uk are still listing the basic set, not sure if they'll ship to the USA but if all other possible sources are out of stock... There's a dealer advertising the add-on sets too but I'm not sure I really want to spend £75 on four unpowered coaches. That's only about £20 off the price of a 113 Series and the KuMoYuNi 82 together, both of which are motorised and types I don't have!

[serotta1972]

Bit the bullet and ordered the 111's from Train Trax and it's actually cheaper than HS after he deducted 16% VAT although shipping cost a little more. He is a single person operation and he's been very responsive to my enquiries. This will be my longest Tokai Type EMU and I see that it can be much longer. I had to add on another item to take advantage of the shipping - at least that's my excuse for getting another set.

[serotta1972]

New Addition:

 

Tomix 98905 Series 455 Ban-etsu West Line

 

 

 

I like the unique livery and headlights.  

[Welshbloke]

I don't know if this will work here, but I uploaded a video to the forum Facebook page of my 165 Series + KuMoYuNi and 457 Series passing at speed in the elevated station:

 

https://www.facebook.com/Disco.Matt/videos/o.118717184889213/10156455981080453/?type=2&theater&notif_t=video_processed

 

The red KuMoYuNi 143 is a Tomytec model, fitted with a working pantograph, Kato wheels, and Kato tightlock couplers in spare Tomytec mountings. The lack of directional lighting doesn't make much difference as it always runs in this location within the train.

[serotta1972]

Very nice! Wow, 10 car train and really like the 2 cars in front - nice mix, very colorful!

[Welshbloke]

Thanks - I might be ordering a powered Yokosuka KuMoYuNi 82-800 next week to replace the red unit, as I think the single motor in the 165 Series might be under a bit of strain. It handles the train fine but I don't like to put heavy loads on a single motor, as I worry how long it will last and spares aren't easy to come by.

 

The diagram I based it on had a pair of KuMoNi 83-800s (power and dummy) in Yokosuka blue/white but I'd rather have a different type, and the KuMoNis have sold out anyway. I'll swap the red one into my 111 Series + KuMoYuNi 74 set, as that already has two motors for eight cars so won't notice another.

[serotta1972]

Roster Update:

 

DC Local Suburban

 

Series 111-0 / Shonan Color / Kato 10-893

 

Series 113-2000 / Kansai Line Rapid Color / Tomix 98954 (Pre-Order)

 

Series 115-1000 / JR Coca Cola / Tomix 92390

Series 115-2000 / Minobu Color / Tomix 98931

Series 115-1000 / Yokosuka Color / Tomix 98932

Series 115-1000 / Nigata Color / Kato 10-583

Series 115-1000 / Shonan Color / Kato 10-1200

AC/DC Local Suburban

Series 415-100 / Kyushu / Tomix 92581

AC Local Suburban

Series 711-0 / Hokkaido / Kato 10-1238 (Pre-Order)

 

DC Ordinary Express

Series 167 / School Excursion / Tomix 92540

Series 169 / Nagano Area / Tomix 92444

Series 169 / Shinano Railway / Tomix 92492

AC/DC Ordinary Express

Series 455 / Green Liner / Kato 10-189

Series 455 / Ban-etsu West Line / Tomix 98905

Series 457 / Kanazawa Rail / Tomix 98938

Series 475 / Hokuriku Lines / Tomix 92552