Scenes you can replicate entirely with off-the-shelf train set parts

[Mudkip Orange]

The station scene at about 0:22 in consists entirely of Kato platforms, #4's, and various other Unitrack pieces

 

[richm1981]

Good video, what's the train in the opening shot and throughout?

[disturbman]

By the look of it, it's a Joyfull Train. A google translation gave me this: 211/213 Series Meji Riyu. This video is one of its last run. And those carriages look a lot like the previous Marine Liner.

[bikkuri bahn]

Kasaoka Station on the San-yo Main Line in Okayama Prefecture.  The platform layout is one of the most common in Japan- an island plus a platform adjacent to the station building.  This arrangement is iconic of railway stations in large towns and smaller cities.

 

I actually got a kick more from seeing the 113/115 unit departure, as you can see the departure signal (color light) and repeater signal (position light) change from green to red and from vertical to horizontal, respectively.

[richm1981]

Is Kasaoka Station the one in the video bikkuri?

 

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:JRW-KasaokaStation-2.jpg

[Mudkip Orange]

I actually got a kick more from seeing the 113/115 unit departure, as you can see the departure signal (color light) and repeater signal (position light) change from green to red and from vertical to horizontal, respectively.

 

I love how so many Japanese stations have PRR-type position light signals and NYC-type vertical color signals in such close proximity.

 

JR = Conrail.

[scott]

Is Kasaoka Station the one in the video bikkuri?

 

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:JRW-KasaokaStation-2.jpg

 

The weird thing is, it looks wrong in that photo compared to the online aerial photos, but if you flop the image horizontally, it matches.

 

So--why are there three platforms for a double line? Wikipedia says that local trains and the "Rapid Sun Liner" stop there. Is it two platforms for (presumably more frequent) locals and one for expresses in either direction?

[ToniBabelony]

I love how so many Japanese stations have PRR-type position light signals and NYC-type vertical color signals in such close proximity.

 

True true. It really adds on to the diversity of Japanses lineside decoration. However, the PRR types are pre-signals to the vertical colour signals. As I see the Japanese signalling system, it's a mixture of Dutch signalling, mainly three-phase (green, orange, red), and the German pre-signalling style systems.

 

The Japanese signalling system is probably the most easy one to understand IMO.

[westfalen]

Is Kasaoka Station the one in the video bikkuri?

 

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:JRW-KasaokaStation-2.jpg

 

The weird thing is, it looks wrong in that photo compared to the online aerial photos, but if you flop the image horizontally, it matches.

 

So--why are there three platforms for a double line? Wikipedia says that local trains and the "Rapid Sun Liner" stop there. Is it two platforms for (presumably more frequent) locals and one for expresses in either direction?

Given that the middle platform is accessible from both tracks I'd hazard a guess that one of its uses is for trains terminating at the station.

[bikkuri bahn]

So--why are there three platforms for a double line? Wikipedia says that local trains and the "Rapid Sun Liner" stop there. Is it two platforms for (presumably more frequent) locals and one for expresses in either direction?

 

This station platform arrangement dates back to the beginning of the last century, and in fact is quite common also in Taiwan, as Japan's colonial government developed the railway system there.  Its prevalence has led to it be dubbed the "kokutetsu(JNR)/JR type track layout standard".  It's main advantage is that it allows versatility in operations.  Traffic movements are usually one of two types. First is having a unidirectional (up and down lines) double track main line, and a unidirectional auxiliary line (the outer track).  The other is having one main line track bi-directional, with crossovers.  Please note that in both cases the main line adjacent to the station building is always unidirectional, as is the auxiliary line.  I believe the ltd. expresses will always use the two main line tracks, as they are priority trains, and the locals, though possibly more frequent, will use the auxiliary line if required.  Whether the auxiliary line is favored for the up or down direction, I don't know at this moment.

 

Here is a diagram of the lines I described:

 

source: http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E3%83%97%E3%83%A9%E3%83%83%E3%83%88%E3%83%9B%E3%83%BC%E3%83%A0

[scott]

Interesting -- 4-1 there would make a good setup for a module or diorama layout. 4-2 would get more expensive, and might (??) require DCC.

[westfalen]

So--why are there three platforms for a double line? Wikipedia says that local trains and the "Rapid Sun Liner" stop there. Is it two platforms for (presumably more frequent) locals and one for expresses in either direction?

 

This station platform arrangement dates back to the beginning of the last century, and in fact is quite common also in Taiwan, as Japan's colonial government developed the railway system there.  Its prevalence has led to it be dubbed the "kokutetsu(JNR)/JR type track layout standard".  It's main advantage is that it allows versatility in operations.  Traffic movements are usually one of two types. First is having a unidirectional (up and down lines) double track main line, and a unidirectional auxiliary line (the outer track).  The other is having one main line track bi-directional, with crossovers.  Please note that in both cases the main line adjacent to the station building is always unidirectional, as is the auxiliary line.  I believe the ltd. expresses will always use the two main line tracks, as they are priority trains, and the locals, though possibly more frequent, will use the auxiliary line if required.  Whether the auxiliary line is favored for the up or down direction, I don't know at this moment.

 

Here is a diagram of the lines I described:

 

source: http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E3%83%97%E3%83%A9%E3%83%83%E3%83%88%E3%83%9B%E3%83%BC%E3%83%A0

The station in the video appears to be a variation of 4-2 in that the mainlines are the outer two tracks.

[westfalen]

So--why are there three platforms for a double line? Wikipedia says that local trains and the "Rapid Sun Liner" stop there. Is it two platforms for (presumably more frequent) locals and one for expresses in either direction?

 

This station platform arrangement dates back to the beginning of the last century, and in fact is quite common also in Taiwan, as Japan's colonial government developed the railway system there.  Its prevalence has led to it be dubbed the "kokutetsu(JNR)/JR type track layout standard".  It's main advantage is that it allows versatility in operations.  Traffic movements are usually one of two types. First is having a unidirectional (up and down lines) double track main line, and a unidirectional auxiliary line (the outer track).  The other is having one main line track bi-directional, with crossovers.  Please note that in both cases the main line adjacent to the station building is always unidirectional, as is the auxiliary line.  I believe the ltd. expresses will always use the two main line tracks, as they are priority trains, and the locals, though possibly more frequent, will use the auxiliary line if required.  Whether the auxiliary line is favored for the up or down direction, I don't know at this moment.

 

Here is a diagram of the lines I described:

 

source: http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E3%83%97%E3%83%A9%E3%83%83%E3%83%88%E3%83%9B%E3%83%BC%E3%83%A0

The station in the video appears to be a variation of 4-2 in that the mainlines are the outer two tracks.