Keihan Ōtsu Lines model trains

[katoftw]

So you are left with a green roof Kato overhead station.

[Das Steinkopf]

I have to agree with KVP when it comes to the station, it is not the prettiest of sights. Where Hamaotsu is really attractive though is the overall operation of the station, a terminus and through station all combined in one. Another thing that attracts me to it is the short lengths of the trains, plus the diversity of liveries that adorn them, especially the highly colourful 600 & 700 Series units.

Edited May 19, 2015 by Das Steinkopf

[Densha]

An interesting scene to model:

https://twitter.com/okeihan_net/status/608388671641931776

 

During the Ōtsu-matsuri in October each year the "festival float" (no idea how to translate 曳山 in another way) walks along the same street as the Keishin line runs in Ōtsu.

[ToniBabelony]

(no idea how to translate 曳山 in another way)

 

 Hikiyama? ;)

[katoftw]

http://homepage3.nifty.com/mokei-ya/index.html

 

These guys do directional head/taillight kits for the Tomytec Otsu 600s.  If I'm reading correctly, it is 2500 yen per kit.  Somebody correct me if I'm wrong.  Or it's for the Platz kit, or GM.

 

http://mokei-ya.cocolog-nifty.com/blog/2013/05/post-71f2.html

Edited June 29, 2015 by katoftw

[Densha]

Looks like Tomytec is going to release the Keihan 700 type with Thomas & Friends advertisement: http://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10352406

 

I think it will look like this: https://www.keihan.co.jp/thomas2015/train/thomas700.html

[katoftw]

Cannot resist that awesomeness!

 

Edited October 16, 2015 by katoftw

[Gordon Werner]

would love to see KER decorate a 600 or 700 series car in the current 800 series colors.

[Gordon Werner]

Then I'll have only the 350, 800 and the 2 jun/jul release versions to get.

 

Are you not going to get the Series 80 release?

 

[Gordon Werner]

The Keihan 600 Patrol train Miku Tanabe (traffic safety) Platz kit is on half price at HLJ if anyone is interested. A couple of months back i picked one up there for like 70% off! it is a big decal job though, so be warned!

 

http://hlj.com/product/PLZKO-3/Rld

 

cheers

 

jeff

 

 

I'll wait for the Tomytec version that the same price.  Save a big decal job.

 

of course, the nice thing about the PLATZ kit is that the decals are designed to cover the whole model ... so if you got the kit and didn't like their version of the tram body itself (or hate kits), you could use the decals to actually ad-wrap a TomyTec 600-4 series set like they did in the real world (you'd have to paint the roof equipment the specified red as well).

 

[Mudkip Orange]

Are you not going to get the Series 80 release?

 

 

How would I get my hands on one of those?

[Gordon Werner]

How would I get my hands on one of those?

 

 

Yahoo Japan Auctions ...

[katoftw]

Can you find a set for auction on yahoo?

[Gordon Werner]

Sorry ... forgot to post this earlier ...

 

Here is one along with the other Japan only release (600 series in old express livery)

 

http://page7.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/g121953534

[Gordon Werner]

For those interested in a closer look at some of the MOW equipment for the Otsu/Keishin line ...
 
Here is a video of their open house back in 2011 "Keihan Otsu Line Thanks Day"
 

 

Also ... here is a video of the Keishin Line back in the late 1990s from Hamaotsu to Keisbin-Sanjo Station ...
 
 using 80 series cars (and some 600s)
 
this is before the 800s ...
showing station platform lengthening ...
before the Tozai Line connection was completed ...
 
showing all of the street running in Kyoto
 

Edited December 21, 2015 by Gordon Werner

[katoftw]

Sorry ... forgot to post this earlier ...

 

Here is one along with the other Japan only release (600 series in old express livery)

 

http://page7.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/g121953534

Ouch on the pricing.  I paid 2400 for the express coloured version 6 month ago.  They old 80 series would be nice, but not at that price.

[Das Steinkopf]

For those interested in a closer look at some of the MOW equipment for the Otsu/Keishin line ...

 

Here is a video of their open house back in 2011 "Keihan Otsu Line Thanks Day"

 

 

Thanks for the link it's nice to get a bit more of a view of the perway stock used on these lines, I wish I could get some scale drawings of the two locomotives that they use for their perway trains as I am keen to scratchbuild or kitbash some models of them. I bought two packs of the ARUNINE ballast hoppers from Tokyu Hands in Shibuya as they are similar to the ones used by the Keihan, I also got a pair of TGW Rail Carrying Bolsters from Yodobashi in Shinjuku as well, I would like to run a perway train on a future Keihan Keishin layout as it would add a bit more variety than the two 800 Series that I currently have.

[Gordon Werner]

Please do all discussion about the Keihan Ōtsu Lines model trains here.

Keihan Ōtsu Lines refers to the Keihan Keishin Line and Keishin Ishiyama-Sakamoto Line that are famous for their street-running sections with high-floor commuter trains.

 

 

I only just realized now, but the 700 series K-ON wrapping is actually a completely different one from the 600 series K-ON wrapping. Here are some pictures: http://blogs.yahoo.co.jp/kodamahage/32163601.html

The 1st 'release' 600 series in indeed different from the other 600's because the front windows don't go around the corner, while the later 600's front windows do.

 

And I have not even received my package with the other Otsu line trains yet...

 

So far I have all Tomytec releases except the limited edition releases.

 

 

Tomytec Keihan Otsu Line trains so far released/announced:

80 type (limited edition only available locally in Japan)

350 type (Railway Collection Vol.17)

600 type: 2nd subseries, standard livery with old logo (Railway Collection Vol.17)

600 type: 1st subseries, Keihan Limited Express livery (limited edition only available locally in Japan)

600 type: 4th subseries,Tetsudou Musume wrapping

600 type: 3rd subseries, K-ON wrapping

600 type: 4th subseries, standard livery with new logo

600 type: 1st subseries, standard livery with new logo

700 type: 2nd subseries, K-ON wrapping

_{(Note: 600 type 1st subseries has flat front windows, other 600 type subseries do not.)}

 

Keihan Otsu Line trains by other manufacturers:

60 type: early livery (Modemo: http://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10189229)

60 type: later livery (Modemo: http://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10229035)

800 series: old logo (MicroAce: http://www.microace-arii.co.jp/release/pdf/A8360f.pdf)

800 series: new logo (MicroAce: http://www.microace-arii.co.jp/release/pdf/A8360f.pdf)

 

Unpowered and unassembled Platz models:

600 type: K-ON wrapping (http://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10183970)

600 type: Chihayafuru wrapping (http://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10208225)

600 type: 'Patoden' AKB48 Miku Tanabe wrapping (http://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10224245)

 

I put all of this into a google spreadsheet for everyone to use ... let me know if anything should be added (or is missing)

 

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1y80w0HjCVKqAUVwmlNBFDU_1Jfiap-V6p4UQBGLjH2A/edit?usp=sharing

[katoftw]

Still wondering if they'll ever do a regular livery 700 series. C'mon Tomytec. haha

[Gordon Werner]

Still wondering if they'll ever do a regular livery 700 series. C'mon Tomytec. haha

 

well from a production standpoint it would make sense to do it while they produce the new Thomas Tank Engine one ... as that is normal colors w/extra graphics printed on top.

[ToniBabelony]

Still wondering if they'll ever do a regular livery 700 series. C'mon Tomytec. haha

Considering Tomytec just finished the tooling and release of the first 700 series, this is just a question of time and patience.

[Gordon Werner]

Does anyone know what the track spacing is on the Keihan Otsu lines? is it tighter than normal? I know the vehicles are only a bit wider than the track itself ... from videos they seem closer together ... but that could be an optical illusion

 

Thanx

[Mudkip Orange]

Does anyone know what the track spacing is on the Keihan Otsu lines? is it tighter than normal? I know the vehicles are only a bit wider than the track itself ... from videos they seem closer together ... but that could be an optical illusion

 

Thanx

 

The Otsu lines do use a narrower loading gauge.

 

Track spacing on tangent is ~3.2m, as opposed to ~3.6m on the Keihan main line. This narrower spacing works out to a hare over 21mm in N, which is less than two Keihan tracks pushed next to each other.

[Gordon Werner]

TomyTec has announced another N-Gauge Keihan Otsu line 700 Series set for release this April ...

 

2015 Tetsudou-Musume colors ... vehicle 709/710

 

 

 

Edited December 17, 2015 by Gordon Werner

[katoftw]

The price makes me wanna cry.  3700 + tax.  But Tomytec know I'll buy it anyways. haha

 

709: Newly illustrated characters:
Aoimori railways / Tokie Hachinoe
Tobu railways / Miyabi Kinugawa
Chichibu railways / Minano Sakurazawa
Keihin railways ozu line / Tomoka Ishiyama
Semboku Rapid Railway / Koumi Izumi
West Japan Railways / Chihaya Asakura

710: Newly illustrated characters:
Ueda dentetsu / Mai Yagisawa
Fuji Kyuko / Mina Otsuki
Oigawa railway / Chihiro Igawa
Tobu railways / Minami Kuribayashi
Keio railways / Wakaba Hashimoto
Noto railways / Nanao Wakura

Edited December 17, 2015 by katoftw