Milk by rail?

[wazzd]

The transport of milk by rail can be a feature of modelling however I've not seen mention of it relating to Japan.

Was there dedicated Milk traffic and rollingstock the same as many other countries and rail systems?

If the answer is yes, what about HO models?

Any information is appreciated

[Kamome]

There were small narrow gauge railways in Hokkaido that transported churns of milk on flat wagons or in small tankers.

 

https://kai-hokkaido.com/feature_vol45_lightrail/

 

This was very loosely modelled by some of the Tomytec HO Naro model range, although the majority of this range is fictional (other than the Seibu Yamaguchi Line), based on a number of narrow gauge railways combined. It used the general design of the prototypes, but used colours and logos different to the real thing. 

 

https://hs-tamtam.co.jp/product/detail/247249/

 

These Tomytec models are static and can be fitted with matching motor units and metal wheel kits to make them run. They are a bit top heavy and wobble when fitted from my experience. There are better kit options out there if you wanted to model narrow gauge. Adding lights to these would also need some kit bashing although Cedar model do some easy to fit light modules.

 

 

 

These days products like condensed milk is loaded into Isotank containers in some regions. 

 

https://tetsumaru.jp/user/C623/photo/14978/

 

Or processed product from the dairy company is loaded into refrigerated box containers with companies like Runtec.

 

Model wise, for modern stuff, plenty of HO Koki options available from Tomix with Runtec containers available from Model Icon. (they're not cheap) Most tank-tainers come in paper kit form from Iori Studio. There's only one RTR tank-tainer in HO so far from Tomix.

 

I'm not sure how common a shipment it was in JNR days but I would assume it was loaded into Re type refrigerated vans. There wasn't the nice milk tankers like the GWR region in the UK to my knowledge and the non milk-friendly climate would be a big factor in logistics.

[lighthouse]

So far, I have only heard of smaller narrow railway companies that collected mail, milk and other agricultural goods from stations in rural areas. To be honest, I only know a few rail networks on Hokkaido:

 

別海村営軌道 - Betsukai Village Railway
鶴居村営軌道 - Tsurui Village Railway
標茶町営軌道 - Shibecha Town Railway
当別町営軌道 - Tobetsu Town Railway
浜中町営軌道 - Hama-naka Town Railway

You can also find more information under the term "殖民軌道"

 

As an example, a link to the milk transport of the time:

 

http://tsushima-keibendo.a.la9.jp/hamanaka/hamanaka.html

 

In H0, I only know the Tomytec models from the "Tomibetsu Simple Orbit" series, which are based on these small railways on Hokkaido.

 

Link: https://www.1999.co.jp/eng/search?typ1_c=117&cat=&target=tag&sortid=6&searchkey=Tomibetsu+Simple+Orbit

 

EDIT:

 

Apparently raw milk is still transported today. There were and are special containers for this purpose

 

Link:

 

https://expechizen.exblog.jp/26990542/

https://expechizen.exblog.jp/23565667/ (Condensed milk)

 

Video:

 

Edited August 5 by lighthouse

[lighthouse]

33 minutes ago, Kamome said:

I'm not sure how common a shipment it was in JNR days but I would assume it was loaded into Re type refrigerated vans. There wasn't the nice milk tankers like the GWR region in the UK to my knowledge and the non milk-friendly climate would be a big factor in logistics.

 

There was one type in the past:

 

タ1100形 - Ta1100 (1930)

 

Edited August 5 by lighthouse

[marknewton]

I’ve got an article somewhere in J-Train or similar that talks about milk traffic. Apart from refrigerator cars, it mentions the use of Tsumu louvre/ventilated cars for short distance transport of milk in churns. I’ll see if I can find it.

 

Cheers,

 

Mark.

[Beaver]

8 hours ago, Kamome said:

There were small narrow gauge railways in Hokkaido that transported churns of milk on flat wagons or in small tankers.

 

Some mainland narrow gauge railways also carried milk, but generally in very tiny amounts, just a few churns riding as unaccompanied luggage on passenger trains. There are pictures from the Ogoya Railway for example showing churns being carried in the luggage baskets on the railcars and in the doorways of railcars that did not have baskets. I imagine similar less-than-carload milk traffic could also be seen on JNR rural branch lines and the like.

 

This could be simulated on a layout by having a handful of churns in a shady place on the passenger platform at a rural station waiting to be loaded into the luggage space of the next passenger train.

[wazzd]

Thank You all for your replies....some good information there!

It was mainly JR network I was wondering about, good to look into the narrow gauge though.