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Royal Train.

Sascha

By Sascha
in Japan Rail: News & General Discussion

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Sascha

Sascha

Posted
Posted (edited)

post-2569-0-46244900-1413078482_thumb.jpg

I don;t know if this got posted before. I found this on another forum. I like the flags on it.

 JR East E655 series EMU on an imperial train working approaching Nishi-Kokubunji Station on the Chuo Line in Tokyo. The flags on the front indicate that the emperor is indeed on board. Japan’s imperial train, for the use of the emperor and other members of the royal family. Nowadays the emperor usually travels by air, road, or in a reserved carriage on a scheduled train, so it’s not often that he uses this train. (Photo by Tkwave, 2011)

Edited by Sascha
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cteno4

cteno4

Posted
Posted

Yep a usual topic around here. Big one when kato released the imperial 655 as only the 5 car joyful car train (how it's used w/o the emperor's car when not in Imperial use) and not the emperor's car! Apparently the imperial household was not yet ready to give permission to make it. They later released the emperor's car as a special edition (but w/o the seals or flags) at last year's JAM and it created a riot at the show when they ran out! Later more were released and then a new addition of the whole train with all the seals and flags!

 

Cheers

 

Jeff

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Sascha

Sascha

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Later more were released and then a new addition of the whole train with all the seals and flags.

 

It seems that only the regular version is out. What company made the train, and where can I buy it? A link would be appreciated.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

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cteno4

cteno4

Posted
Posted

Sascha

 

Kato makes the E655. You buy the 5 car joyful train and then get the emperor car separate that has the flags to make the whole set (there is the 6th slot in the box for the empower car)

 

http://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10198617

 

http://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10261541

 

Unfortunately sold out currently most places. Few up on ebay but not cheap! Probably some up on yahoo.jp auctions if you want to use a bidding service to get one there.

 

http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=p2050601.m570.l1313.TR0.TRC0.H0.Xkato+e655&_nkw=kato+e655&_sacat=0

 

This is the problem with many Japanese n scale trains in that they don't stay in stock long. A run is done and can sell out with in a week or year depending on how popular. It may be rerun at a later date, but never sure if or when. Some trains stay in stock a lot or are rerun to stay in better stock, but that is usually the main trains. The special trains usually sell out fast and are much more rarely rerun, so usually you have to resort to ebay or yahoo.jp and pay a good markup to get these later. Rule is if something is coming out you really want pre-order it! Thus was why there was the small riot at JAM when kato ran out of the first run of the imperial car (even w/o the seals and flags)

 

Kato has made most of the old imperial trains as well (along with various locos that have hauled them and their flag sets). Most do come up on ebay now and then.

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westfalen

westfalen

Posted
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I've been going to put a working coupler on the front of my E655 so I can haul it with DD51 842 like they do with the real one when the Emporer travels away from electrified territory.

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Sascha

Sascha

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So the E655 and the DD51 842. It is pretty pricey.But its a must have.I try to get one in Tokyo next year in April when I go on my Vacation there.Thanks for the links. :)

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Sascha

Sascha

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Wow. Thank you.Bought it.Now I need the E655 for under $220 and I'm all done.(Yeah I know thats almost impossible, but you never know)

Edited by Sascha
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Sascha

Sascha

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Thanks you POMU, but ill try to

buy one on my trip to Tokyo next year, unless I'll get it for super cheap online.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

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Sascha

Sascha

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I have been searching around the net the last two days, and found out that the price for the Train is higher in Japan. The cheapest one I found is from an US seller for $197+9.20 shipping.

 

 

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katoftw

katoftw

Posted
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I have been searching around the net the last two days, and found out that the price for the Train is higher in Japan. The cheapest one I found is from an US seller for $197+9.20 shipping.

 

 

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That is not a bad price considering it is out of stock.

 

New retail price is 17600JPY/163USD in Japan.  But most Japanese retailers offer 5-15% off.  But add paypal 3% conversion fees and $20 EMS shipping, and you be up just past $170USD total.

Edited by katoftw
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Sascha

Sascha

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That is not a bad price considering it is out of stock.

 

New retail price is 17600JPY/163USD in Japan. But most Japanese retailers offer 5-15% off. But add paypal 3% conversion fees and $20 EMS shipping, and you be up just past $170USD total.

I couldn't find any under ¥ 21800 plus ¥30000 shipping. Most where around ¥260000 plus shipping.

 

 

Have a nice day.

Sascha!!

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Sascha

Sascha

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I thought so. That's why I'll be buying the train first thing in the morning online in the US and not in Tokyo. I think the value in Japan is so high because people have a closer relationship with the Train than we in the US. I bet there are some US Trains that are very expensive here but cheaper in Japan.

Edited by Sascha
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JR 500系

JR 500系

Posted
Posted

Hi Sascha:

 

Yap rare train models become expensive very quickly. It's ok Sascha, we all learn it the wrong way. I missed the MicroAce East-I and now I can't get it without costing an arm and a leg... The E655 was first released back in Late Dec 2012, and I missed it. There was a poll here for the 'most wanted models to be re-released' : http://www.jnsforum.com/community/topic/8245-what-model-would-you-most-like-to-see-re-release/?hl=re-release  and guess what, the E655 came out tops in voting. Our prayers were answered with the recent re-release, so I guess waiting for another re-release again will be pretty much very difficult.

 

My advice will be try to get it sooner, or it might even escalate more. However, it's really hard to guess, as my experience with the Rail Star says otherwise with Tomix re-releasing the set after almost 3 years..   

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katoftw

katoftw

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You win some and you loose some.  I brought a train once $50AUD more than it's normal price.  Hadn't been around for 2 years.  Then Hobby Search locate one and sell it for the normal price 2 weeks later.  But in 18 months, HS has only had 1 set of it.

 

HS have one had 1 set of 883 Blue Sonic in the past 18 months, and I got it.  Always if you do like purchase from HS, to go on the email waiting list so they contact you when they find stock of the train set you want.  I have picked up about 4 trains this way.  All more than 3 years since last release.

 

My call is - If it is only 20-30 more than you would pay, got for it.  As above, the longer you wait, the higher the asking pirce becomes.

Edited by katoftw
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Sascha

Sascha

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Thanks for the mailing list advice I put the Micro Ace Keisei Skyliner on my list .I'm new to this hobby, so sadly I wasn't around when they released the E665.I think the 20-30 more approach is a appropriate thing. I wouldn't lose any sleep if I pay that much more, since sooner or later prices will go back up.

Thanks guys!!! 

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Mudkip Orange

Mudkip Orange

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Thanks for the mailing list advice I put the Micro Ace Keisei Skyliner on my list .I'm new to this hobby, so sadly I wasn't around when they released the E665.I think the 20-30 more approach is a appropriate thing. I wouldn't lose any sleep if I pay that much more, since sooner or later prices will go back up.

Thanks guys!!! 

 

I bought the Micro Ace Keihan 8000 series on Yahoo auctions when the Yen was at 70. Paid a bit over 400 USD all told.

 

Then MA re-released it *and* Abe devalued the Yen. Coulda gotten it for 250.

 

So remember, it could always be worse.

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