Help with KiHa 120

[Space2310]

Hi guys. I just accidentally found this site through Google. It seemed like a good place to ask train related questions. I am familiar with Japanese model trains, but to be honest, I don't own any. In fact I'm building a KiHa 120 with LEGO in 1/38 scale.  

 

While looking through a lot of pictures and videos of the train, I noticed red and white lights next to the doors. Does anyone know, what they are actually good for? Here's a picture with a red light on:

 

 

There is a white on top of a red light at the far end of the train, as can be seen here.

 

From what I have seen in several videos, the red light goes on just before the train leaves, probably meaning something like - watch out...doors are closing. It can be seen in the following video at the end (about minute 5:00). And it seems that only the light on the front of the train is on. Am I right so far?

 

 

Anyway, if my assumptions are true, there is still the white lamp, that confuses me. What does it mean? Actually I've never seen it on in any of the videos I've watched.

 

Thanks a lot for your help!

[keitaro]

just a theory but was this station gate less

 

i know the ones down in takamatsu put a light on next to the driver window so he can mark tickets.

 

The driver would lean out the window and stamp them.

 

could be the same.

 

it would explain why it's the only door open in the first picture advising people to go to his window or to the door.

[scott]

In fact I'm building a KiHa 120 with LEGO in 1/38 scale. 

 

This forum is  Lego-friendly--you should start a thread with pictures!

[miyakoji]

The red one is standard issue--it's on when any door on that side of that car is open.  A one-car train isn't a good example, but the idea is that the conductor of a many-car consist can tell if all the doors have closed properly just by looking down the side of the train.  When he sees that they're all out, he hits a buzzer telling the motorman that he can hit it.

 

The white one I'm not so sure about.  Maybe it signifies something, maybe it's just for visibility.  I see that it's not on the side with the operator's station.  All variants of the KIHA120 (0, 200, and 300 subseries) appear to have it.  KIHA40s, which were replaced by KIHA120s in lots of places, don't seem to have any such equipment.  Someone here will know, though.

[bikkuri bahn]

As per miyakoji's observation, the white lights are located on the door side opposite the driver's cab.  I surmise it has something to do with one-man (conductorless) operation of trains, which the 120's are designed for.

[Space2310]

Thanks a lot for your replies everyone!

 

This forum is  Lego-friendly--you should start a thread with pictures!

I wasn't sure about that. I'll consider it, once it's finished 

[Tecchan]

Thanks a lot for your replies everyone!

 

This forum is  Lego-friendly--you should start a thread with pictures!

I wasn't sure about that. I'll consider it, once it's finished 

 

Oh yeah LEGO thread! :-)

I'm myself a big fan of LEGO trains. I even stared to build a 300 Series Shinkansen a few years later. It turned out to be a bit too hard, but I still own many locs & cars and build a custom EMU.