7 Potatoes Line

January 4

A bit of a change from what I had originally envisioned for my Japanese N gauge layout. I will still be doing a bit of T-Track, but I am finding it a bit more restrictive than I had hoped.

Welcome to the ジャガイモ7個 Line (7つのジャガイモのライン), otherwise known as the 7 Potatoes Line or maybe the Jagaimo 7-ko Line. I used Google translate for this so if I have it wrong, please let me know before I get too ~~embarrassed~~ embedded with the name 😳. 7 potatoes comes from a Japanese group my wife and I are members of.

The concept is simple. Size will be about 98” x 30” and split in the middle so it can be easily transported to shows. I still need to confirm the depth my Subaru can take and if I can will make it a bit longer. There will be a loop of what will represent a single track electrified mainline similar to the Nippou Line on Kyushu, or the Okhotsk-Taisetsu Line in Hokkaido. There will be a 2 or 3 track station (name TBD) from which a branch line will take off and climb in a lazy S up to a small 1 track station (name also TBD). This branch will be similar to the Semmo Line or Ibusukimakurazaki Line, ie 1 or 2 DMUs. This is not an original plan; I got the idea from Peter Sayers’ Ikuno Station layout shown in the August 2018 issue of Continental Modeller. Peter’s layout includes a 4 track station as well as a 2 stall engine house and some short sidings around the main station area as well as 2 tracks at the end station. I am not yet sure how much of that I will do, I am using AnyRail for track planning and when I tried to duplicate Peter’s with Kato Unitrack I could not get the same configuration. The article does not actually say what was used for track, but as he is in the UK maybe its Peco? Anyway I will make it work with Kato as I have a fair bit of it already.

Questions I am asking myself as I do the planning:

For the main station, how many tracks?
If 2, island or side platforms? First draft shows 2 tracks with an island platform.
What kind of station? The branch station is already decided as I have a Tomix 4002 wooden station.
How many extra tracks?
Town layout.

The mainline will be Kato 20-120 while the branch will be 20-100. All turnouts will be No. 6 unless I need a No. 4 for a tight spot, maybe for a short spur to hold a plow.

This will be slow process but I will update as I progress. My work situation changed last month and the time I thought I would have this winter into spring is not going to be there as planned. My goal is to have it ready enough for display for the 2026 spring show.

I have included the very first rough track plan so people can see what I am trying to explain.

Any thoughts would be appreciated.

Will

Edited January 7 by RS18U

January 4

So, I have to laugh at the name, Seven Potatoes: the name of Nanaimo, BC means "seven potatoes" in Japanese - "nana imo".

January 4

24 minutes ago, Pashina12 said:

So, I have to laugh at the name, Seven Potatoes: the name of Nanaimo, BC means "seven potatoes" in Japanese - "nana imo".

Well that is where I live, and we are part of the Central Vancouver Island Japanese Canadian Society, otherwise known as 7 Potatoes since they are based in Nana (7) Imo (potatoes). Thought it would be an interesting name with a local tie.

January 4

1 hour ago, RS18U said:

Well that is where I live, and we are part of the Central Vancouver Island Japanese Canadian Society, otherwise known as 7 Potatoes since they are based in Nana (7) Imo (potatoes). Thought it would be an interesting name with a local tie.

Ah, that makes sense then - I love it. 🙂

January 4

After the comments from @Pashina12 I am thinking now that maybe the Nana-imo Line may be a better name. Will add to the questions I am contemplating.

January 4

While I will try to help with some of the questions I will probably raise more by explaining how I would plan.

Putting aside the space restrictions for now let's first take a look at the very basic concept in the real world. I will even put aside the long talks for the book I read years ago on why a platform needs a specific width and other things like that.

From the operational point of view, you need tracks based on how the station/line (your layout) is operated. Simply put if trains need to pass each other you at least need two tracks and so on. As a result for track planning your wanted operation of the layout is the priority and the trackplan should reflect how you want to play on it.

With that in mind, the concept of a station with a branch line branching off the main line raises the following questions:

1.) Is the starting point of the branch line at the modeled main station or somewhere before that?

1.1) If the station is the starting point: Where do the trains from the branch line get serviced and additional rolling stock parked?

This has commonly 3 options:

a) At a centralized place somewhere else not being on the branch line or the modeled station.

b) At the modeled station.

c) At another station on the branch line.

For both b) and c) you will need tracks and facilities at one of your stations or both to take account of that. For things like steam engines, batterie trains, or other rolling stock that needs some kind of service in "shorter" intervals that service could be needed with all three options on one or both stations.

2.) In which order do the passenger trains arrive at the station?

This will determine how many platforms you will need. In case the branch line starts at the main station you will need to think about the passenger transfer because passengers from both directions (not just one) need to switch trains. So is it:
a) A branch line train arrives followed by a main line train from each direction which pass each other at a different station.
b) All three trains arrive at roughly the same time so that mainline trains pass each other at this station.

a) will just need two tracks with a platform while b) needs three.

3.) Which platform?

If you have just two tracks with a platform I would go with an island platform. The simple reason is that your passengers want to switch trains at your main station and it is a lot easier to just go "straight" from one door to another door than involving stairs, ramps, elevators, and so on in the process. It is faster as well.

4.) Extra tracks?

Besides the tracks that were added because of the first question do you have freight trains? If yes that will need more tracks besides just the place to load/unload the railcars.

5.) Town layout?

With limited space, I normally go the way of the station being somewhere on the outskirts of the town. That way you can start with some buildings you like and just say: "The town? Oh yeah, most of it is over there (pointing somewhere close but outside of the layout)." That solves most of the things regarding the town. Otherwise, buildings that or normally close to a station.

Junech

January 4

A few thoughts...

Since you are mentioning bringing the layout to shows I assume you are aiming for a certain level of scenery on this layout. Then for the best result I would plan the scenery at the same time as I plan the track. Although maybe there are already plans in your head.

Whether your idea so far will work well from a scenic standpoint is hard for me to tell at the moment. Obviously a large amount of track will have to be covered, but we don't quite see how much. A lot of covered track would point to mountainous terrain. However a large proportion of your presumably visible track goes along the backside of your layout plan and the view of them standing at the front of the layout would be blocked by mountains. Thus, my first thought is that I would probably want to try to bring the visible track at the back of the layout forwards to allow for the highest ground to be in the back.

Adding a couple of switchback tracks could potentially make the branch line longer and allow for more of a climb and at the same time allow for more flexibility of where to put visible track as it removes the need to fit a semicircle of track to turn the train arround. Maybe I'll get a sketch together to illustrate what I'm thinking about.

Junech made some good points about tracks at the station, so I won't say too much there. To me a three track station with a platform between the branchline and the mainline tracks makes a lot of sense. Consider how long trains you really want/need to run. A main station of the lenght you've drawn becomes very dominant visually, mainline trains only really spend time at the station itself, and when the branchline station is less than a platform's lenght away it might be be tricky to visually separate the locations. Maybe four car EMU:s are enough on the mainline? They would still be twice as long as a two-car EMU on the branchline.

The hidden staging also deserves thought as that will limit how traffic can flow through the station. Usually the more you can fit the merrier, because then you can store a freight train or express train that can occasionally go past the station, creating some extra interest.

As for a town, as Junech says it can be (mostly) outside the layout. However that doesn't mean it won't ever be built. You can plan and build town scenes later on some arbitarily small and easily portable and storable sections that you just place in front of the layout.

Finally I must say that as I hear the name Jagaimo Nanako Line I couldn't help start thinking about whether the Nanako I know of likes potatoes. 😆

January 5

@Junech @MeTheSwede Thank you both for your excellent comments, they have given me a lot to think about. I realised as I was reading Junech’s that I had not talked about what I was wanting out of the layout, and that impacts a lot of what will happen.

First an update. I have almost 60” for transportation so I have enlarged the overall layout to 110” x 30”, in 2 55 x 30 sections. I need to keep that split line in mind as I do the planning as well.

I am not much into operation, more into the modeling. What I am hoping to do with this is have a nice place to run my collection of trains, and of course show the value of Japanese model railroading at shows. For the locals, these are 1 and 2 car trains (eg KIHA 120-300 Hiroshima Carp, Series HB-E300 DMU Resort View Furusato, and KIHA 47-8000), and for the express these are 3 – 4 cars (eg KIHA 283 Okhotsk Taisetsu and Series 787 Around the Kyushu) but allowing for track geometry that can accommodate longer trains, of which I have several. I currently have no plans for freight trains although I can see a short 6 car train in the future being a possibility. As you can see, there is no real theme/era/local to the layout, its for the trains I find interesting. I have an HO scale western Canada themed logging layout to keep me honest 😉

Based on what Peter Sayers was able to do for scenery and some town area, I think I can give a feel for a small downtown area by the station, and as you both note, imply the rest of the town is off the layout somewhere.

I am now examining a 3 platform main station option, with the third track a stub end for the branch line; this is also what Peter did although he has 4 tracks (3 through and 1 stub). The upper end of the branch will be shown going off the end of the layout, therefore service facilities for those trains can be off somewhere else, out of sight.

MeTheSwede you bring up an interesting point re the scenery. The layout that inspired this one does have about 2/3 of the main hidden, but the terrain is not super steep. My first stab shows a 1.4% grade for the branch to get 6 cm clearance at the back. The left end will be the hilliest and both lines will be in tunnels there. Due to copyright issues I don’t think I can share Peter’s article or track plan and I can’t find it on-line to provide a link, but I think it will all work. Famous last words though. And yes I want to include the scenery as I do the planning. BTW doing the planning on a computer will be a first for me, and so far, so good.

I am trying to draw on my actual experiences in Japan, so maybe this layout is like an extension of those visits? Anyway sorry this rambled a bit tonight, and thanks again.

Will

January 5

On 1/3/2025 at 9:51 PM, Pashina12 said:

I have to laugh at the name

We used to ride the "Queen of Seven Potatoes" ferry between Tsawwassen and Long Harbour on Salt Spring Island. Alas, the laughs ended when the Queen of Nanaimo was retired from service a few years ago. I look forward to following the progress on this layout and hope to see it in person next year at the show.

@RS18U, Is there a T-Trak group based on Vancouver Island? I had no idea and would love to learn more about it.

January 5

Cool to see other BCers here! I've spent a lot of time standing at the TT display at Vancouver Train Expo wondering if there are others modelling Japanese railways in the crowd and whether there's enough interest out there to start a J-Rail group here...

Anyways this will give me incentive to go to the Nanaimo show - I have a friend who lives there so accomodation is sorted if I go, too.

January 5

I ended up drawing up a plan of sorts in Anyrail with the layout size specified in the initial post. This is me playing around for my own amusement and probably not much of any help. My outline of a branchline include two switchbacks as the branchline climbs up a mountain slope. As I only have the free version of Anyrail, as I hit the 50 track piece limit I just continued in a drawing application and sketched out the rest of the track. Here first with visible track only:

Then with all hidden track of the branchline shown:

I didn't bother drawing up all the hidden track and staging of the mainline as it looked complicated enough.

Obviously trying to make this come apart in two halves (in addition to atleast two vertical layers coming apart to allow access to hidden track) would be a major challange. As I said, this was more me playing around than anything else.

January 5

If you happen to have the 50 Track Plan book, you might want to check out layout Number 17. Designed for Kato track, 1800mm by 600mm, a two track station plus a bay siding and a branch line with a two track terminus. Nice scenic development including a river and town scene. I am thinking it could hold four trains for operation - two at the branch terminus and two at the main station. And someone more skilled than I could add on an extension to the branch line for additional staging.

Cheers,

Tony

January 5

The 50 plan book is always a great resource to keep flipping thru when thinking about layouts.

jeff

January 6

17 hours ago, Pashina12 said:

Cool to see other BCers here! I've spent a lot of time standing at the TT display at Vancouver Train Expo wondering if there are others modelling Japanese railways in the crowd and whether there's enough interest out there to start a J-Rail group here...

Anyways this will give me incentive to go to the Nanaimo show - I have a friend who lives there so accomodation is sorted if I go, too.

Not sure how many there are, but maybe a few? Unfortunately I will be out of the country on April 13th when the Nanaimo show is on so will miss it this year :sad10:

January 6

12 hours ago, Tony Galiani said:

If you happen to have the 50 Track Plan book, you might want to check out layout Number 17. Designed for Kato track, 1800mm by 600mm, a two track station plus a bay siding and a branch line with a two track terminus. Nice scenic development including a river and town scene. I am thinking it could hold four trains for operation - two at the branch terminus and two at the main station. And someone more skilled than I could add on an extension to the branch line for additional staging.

Cheers,

Tony

Thanks Tony, I have heard a lot about this book but do not have a copy. Seems I should break down and look it up.

January 6

@MeTheSwede thanks for doing that, it gives me a few more ideas to work with, and somewhat like the switchback's on the Hohi LIne that we rode in March 🤔

January 6

4 minutes ago, RS18U said:

Not sure how many there are, but maybe a few? Unfortunately I will be out of the country on April 13th when the Nanaimo show is on so will miss it this year

Next time, then! 🙂

January 6

6 minutes ago, Pashina12 said:

Next time, then! 🙂

There is also the Victoria show (in Sidney 😕 ) in September.

January 6

With its two switchbacks, MeTheSwede's layout proposal would have some pretty impressive topography and major (by n-scale standards) elevation gain. Would make for an interesting and unique layout. I've heard about a few switchback stations found across Japan and recently learned of a switchback feature on JR West's remote Kisuki Line, so it's more prototypical that one might expect.

@RS18U, There's a nice layout plan that meets some of your objectives on p. 14 of the attached Kato Stater Guide. It's the plan that combines the M2 and V11 sets but could probably be shrunk down with sharper curves.

https://katousa.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/V11-Guide.pdf

January 6

@Ekiben thanks! Lots of great ideas in the booklet too.

January 6

Once my mind started thinking about branch lines climbing mountains it didn't stop. 😀

I started thinking that if the branchline was operated with shorter rolling stock, curves could be tighter, switchbacks shorter, and a mountain smaller. Then the whole branchline could fit on it's own module that would simply be put on top of the rest of the layout. The branchline module would basically be it's own mini layout. The only places where the track would come apart at module boundaries would be the straights on the mainline and everything would thus be a lot easier to construct. Also there would be plenty of room for a lowland with a town scene and maybe some rice paddies.

As an illustration, The Hakome Tozan Line layout linked below occupies less than a third of the real estate of the layout plan you posted. 600x900mm

January 7

Thanks @MeTheSwede, that is impressive! And more food for ideas.

Will

Sunday at 03:12 AM

OK, done some more planning, and playing around with the AnyRail software. I took a long look at the suggestions everyone offered, thank you all very much, and refined what I want from the layout to come up with Version 3. Some points:

Trying to keep costs down, so going light on track and in particular turnouts, which I don't have any of yet. I have acquired a fair bit of buildings so will be using them and won't have to buy too many. Hopefully.
The 'roads' range from 20 to 35 mm in width, this seems to be a reasonable compromise to what seems to be the 40mm 'regular' width.
Buildings are from the objects available in AnyRail, with the main station being a Kato 23-200 that I modified for 3 tracks/2 islands platforms. And other that the 2 corner buildings the rest are just stand-ins to get a feel for what it could look like.
The treed area on the left will be either a shrine/temple or possibly a logging area if I can find a Tomytec Log Transporter Set.

Will

With all the track showing.

Just the visible track.

Edited Sunday at 03:13 AM by RS18U

7 Potatoes Line

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