Off track to Singapore

[Jensen]

Hi everyone, sorry haven't been around lately. I brought a train set in last trip still wrapped up and left in the suitcase!

 

This time I will be going to Singapore for a few days, well 2 whole days (Monday evening landing and Thursday morning take off! I was hoping anyone here got some insight? Any trains or metro to look? 

 

Although I am joining my family who are spending more time in Singapore, but since I'm there I would love to visit around and enjoy some train ride plus snapping some photos. No time to do random browsing.

 

Any model shop in Singapore? Hong Kong? (will be spending a weekend there before going back to home)

 

I will upload some photos and write about the trip from my last 2 trips while at the airport as I planned to sort out the photos on the plane in fact the photos are still in the camera. Sorry keep everyone waiting

 

During my last trip I stayed in Crowne Plaza Okayama, the hotel is well priced (11200 yen for twin room, weekdays) and really good place to stay! Good for taking pictures of incoming train from the room of incoming train to station from the south side! The photos are taken from the room, shame I should taken one for the eva 500!

Edited May 12, 2016 by Jensen

[JR 500系]

Welcome Jensen! Welcome to the land where trains are nice but break down so often ~

 

Well, for Sillypore, there isn't any model train shops that I know of, but there is one that is only opened on weekends. They carry a large amount of HO scale trains and have recently imported some Japanese Tomix stuff in.

 

As for Metro, there is the SMRT, or commonly known as the MRT here (Mass Rapid Transit). It crosses the island in several lines, and take around 1.5 hours to get across the island. Not much to see though, since it's around 60% underground... When it does go elevated, you do get to see the life here, work and work and 85

85% of the population stay in public housing flats known as the HDB.  

 

You should go to the Marina Gardens by the Bay, the Merlion at Fullerton and the Marina Integrated Casino and Resort though, it's great for photo-taking. These are accessible by MRT and a little walking.

 

Let me know your plan, perhaps we can link up for a chat ~  :)

[miyakoji]

Did you get to do anything in Okayama?  It's a great town :)

[Jensen]

JR 500系

 A really nice summary, I didn't know the rail system breaks down often. I always thought Singapore as an efficient and effective country.

 

Sure we can link up for a chat. I haven’t plan anything since I'm catching up with family members who will arrive ahead of me. 

 

Miyakoji

I love Okayama and find it rather convenient, part from the 4 hour coach to Kansai Airport! It’s my second time there so this time we didn't go back to the castle and garden. Its one of those places that is not too quiet or busy, got one of the largest Aeon Mall 10 minutes walk (there is a popondetta in there too), train station right next to the hotel. Will post more details later when I push myself to sort out the photos.

 

Nice to chat here again missed u guys!

[Das Steinkopf]

Welcome Jensen! Welcome to the land where trains are nice but break down so often ~

 

Well, for Sillypore, there isn't any model train shops that I know of, but there is one that is only opened on weekends. They carry a large amount of HO scale trains and have recently imported some Japanese Tomix stuff in.

 

Out of curiousity is that the store in Orchard Plaza.

[JR 500系]

Out of curiousity is that the store in Orchard Plaza.

 

Ahah ~ I guess you must have been here sometime ago ~ That shop is closed now, and so is the one in Adelphi. The one I was referring to is opened by a private owner and needs some co-ordination to visit his store, but he carries a large range of HO (which unfortunately I am unfamiliar with) and a range of N Japanese.

[Das Steinkopf]

Ahah ~ I guess you must have been here sometime ago ~ That shop is closed now, and so is the one in Adelphi.

I was in there April last year, I spoke with the lady who owned the store and she said that Model Railways were a difficult line of business in Singapore these days due to lack of space and lack of recreational time, she also mentioned how expensive it was to purchase stock and then be able to sell it which was a mix of Marklin and Hornby. She had thought about stocking N Gauge but wasn't quite sure which brand out of Kato or Tomix, I suggested Tomix to her as I said the large range of accessories such as premade buildings would be perfect for time poor Singaporean's, also based on the feeedback I had from a friend who is a very well known N scale modeller who highly recommended Tomix products.

 

I also noticed that private shop when I was in Singapore but unfortunately didn't get to organise time to go and meet him, we had a lot of other things planned to do as we were in Singapore to meet up with my wifes father and sisters.

Edited May 14, 2016 by Das Steinkopf