Branchline freight

[Nick_Burman]

 

Another Vicom clip. This shows a branchline freight on the Johana Line in Takaoka. According to the caption the film was taken in 1997 but the service continues almost unchanged (sic) in 2013. Customer is Chuetsu Pulp & Paper Co. at Futatsuka, who sends its little 25ton Nippon Sharyo diesel to collect the container cars. It just shows that there is a prototype for everything...provided you know where to look. Also this is one very modellable operation, and you don't even need to model the mill...just a station with a sufficient array of sidings, a line disappearing into the woods or between houses to hidden sidings and a suitable switcher.

 

Cheers NB

Edited July 8, 2013 by Nick_Burman

[miyakoji]

That's amazing.  Does anyone know how much horsepower that thing has, and how that translates to tractive effort?  Nick you're right, that would be a great model scene.  Thanks for posting.

[Nick_Burman]

That's amazing.  Does anyone know how much horsepower that thing has, and how that translates to tractive effort?  Nick you're right, that would be a great model scene.  Thanks for posting.

I haven't got the faintest idea. Locomotives of the same class and size in the US are usually rated at 200 to 300hp, depending on diesel engine make. Also remember that this loco is a torque-converter machine (diesel-hydraulic if you wish), they usually have a somewhat higher adhesion coefficient than diesel-electrics so they can haul more for a given amount of horsepower (one of the reasons Europe has stuck to hydraulic drives on diesel locos).

 

Cheers NB

[Mr Frosty]

Nice "rumbly" sound to the little engine though.