Train shed questions

[Hayashi]

As I am planning my layout I've had lots of questions for the forum recently. This is a great site with great forum members. Thank you all.

 

I have some questions regarding various train sheds. I'm contemplating using three different styles for artistic effect, but have six to chose from. I'm quite certain I'll use Kato 23-300, especially if I can stack them lengthwise. I will also probably use Tomytec 159 for a single shed on an industrial yard (if the building has a good appearance). Not sure which of the remaining to use. I'll switch between Unitrack and FineTrack, as needed, leading into the sheds to accommodate different track centers. Sorry for the long post and some of the redundant questions for each building below.

 

Kato 23-300: (1) Can these be stacked lengthwise or do they require a modification to make them look correctly? I want to have at least 2 or more in line to handle a few car lengths. I saw a posting that showed an awesome train yard with two in line, but couldn't tell any details. (2) What is the length of a typical train car building in Japan? How many passenger cars do they normally hold?

 

Greenmax 2148: (1) Any opinions on the appearance of this building kit? (2) Are the windows glazed, empty, or solid? (3) I want to confirm that it is 37mm Tomix track spacing. In my case I would use the Kato-to-Tomix adapter and run Tomix track to this building. (4) Is there enough clearance inside to place maintenance platforms such as Greenmax 2795-27998 or 2798-2802.

 

Greenmax 2123: (1) Any opinions on the appearance of this building kit? (2) Are the windows glazed, empty, or solid? (3) I want to confirm that it requires 30mm (flex track) track spacing. (4) Is there enough clearance inside to place maintenance platforms such as Greenmax 2795-27998 or 2798-2802. (5) Can these be stacked lengthwise?

 

Tomytec 159: (1) Any opinions on the appearance of this building kit? Are the windows glazed or empty? They appear to be empty. (2) Is there enough clearance inside to place maintenance platforms such as Greenmax 2795-27998 or 2798-2802.

 

Tomix 4012: (1) Any opinions on the appearance of this building? (2) Is there enough clearance inside to place maintenance platforms such as Greenmax 2795-27998 or 2798-2802. (3) Can these be stacked lengthwise?

 

Kato 23-225: Are any of these types of wooden engine houses still around in Japan? I don't want to have a building that is no longer in use nowadays.

[bill937ca]

Tomix 4012 has been replaced by Tomix 4212.  You can have doors on or off.

 

Tomix and Tomytec buildings use a 33mm track center like Tomix track 

Kato buildings use a 37mm track center as Kato Unitrack does.

 

Kato offers a 20-016 open pit track which uses the height of the rail bed to create a pit track.  Tomix has nothing similar.  https://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10426956

 

Greenmax can accommodate both, but sometimes Unitrack with its wider track center requires jacking up the train shed. Hide it with a landscaping berm at the edge  of the building?  http://www.gm-store.co.jp/blog/gmstore-staff/archives/22255

 

As to what the 2123 looks like inside check out these Google images:  https://www.google.ca/search?q=グリーンマックス2123&tbm=isch&tbs=rimg:CWyzGfey8TFIIjigmng_12msP0ovwZMogbTBadtkoToUntmHxrfNLMM4M9_1jE3aQ75A78yaYjY11QC4vB1AZCgI1rqSoSCaCaeD_1aaw_1SEQb4tjwnvwfNKhIJi_1BkyiBtMFoRBvi2PCe_1B80qEgl22ShOhSe2YRE7cFae1_1aeyyoSCfGt80swzgz3ETtwVp7X9p7LKhIJ-MTdpDvkDvwRl8_1Z5K8ViI0qEgnJpiNjXVALixFbKIVg3S3oiCoSCcHUBkKAjWupEZi9mMBQjEpM&tbo=u&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwj5rJvss-LSAhVl_4MKHRTYDeAQ9C8IGw&biw=1360&bih=638&dpr=1

 

A Greenmax 2123 assembly photo blog (by a Greenmax store)    http://www.gm-store.co.jp/blog/blog01/archives/55562

http://www.gm-store.co.jp/blog/gmstore-staff/archives/22061

http://www.gm-store.co.jp/blog/gmstore-staff/archives/22102

http://www.gm-store.co.jp/blog/gmstore-staff/archives/22167

http://www.gm-store.co.jp/blog/gmstore-staff/archives/22210

 

 

[bill937ca]

36 minutes ago, Hayashi said:

(2) What is the length of a typical train car building in Japan? How many passenger cars do they normally hold?

 

Here are a couple of Japanese Wikipedia pages for  prototype train shed locations (both Meitetsu).

 

https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/茶所検車区

 

https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/新川検車区

 

https://www.mapion.co.jp/m2/35.41176104,136.75986878,16/poi=ST24468

 

Try looking up the locations on Google Earth or similar map programs and compare the sheds to the nearby blocks.

[katoftw]

There is no typical length of train shed as there is no typical length of train.

[kvp]

A few bits of info:

 

Greenmax kits are glazable and usually include plastic films that could be cut to size. Kato, Tomix and even Tomytec kits are usually glazed. Tomytec requires assembly and sometimes also uses plastic film for glass.

 

Locomotive sheds are usually single car long, while car barns could usually fit the longest units on the line. Many smaller lines just have single car sheds for repairs requiring disassembly and do the rest (storage and basic maintenance) outside in the yard.

 

For track type conversion, it's usually a good idea to use the same type of turnouts for setting the right track distances. This means the track type conversion is often done when entering the yard or before the beginning of the turnout ladder.

 

The old time sheds are only in use on a few country lines, mostly 3rd sector or as preserved buildings. You do see them time to time and are usually a local tourist attraction and go well with old time dmus, diesel or steam locos.

[Hayashi]

Thank you everyone. Very helpful.