I was over at a friends house the other night and watched a one hour special about them. The coolest one was the magnelev (not sure if spelled right), but it’s still way too expensive to be practical right now. The thing I like about it is no moving parts, no friction and 300 mph or more…
They’re also working on a vaccum tube type train that’s pulled down the tube using vacuum force. They can also add pressure from the rear to push it.
TL
Ugly. Ugly, ugly, ugly stuff. Especially that mag-lev.
My 2 cents…
While I like the idea (and have ridden the Shinkansen) I don’t see them as particularly desirable modeling subjects. At speed, they are out of sight almost before you can notice them, the infrastructure is obtrusive and, for the most part, unattractive (the bowstring arch on the maglev line is an exception,) and they are totally incompatable with the rest of the rail system in Japan. Operationally, they are about as interesting as push-pull commuter lines - just longer and faster.
I’ve managed to shoehorn a lot of different kinds of Japanese-prototype operation into my layout design scheme. The bullet train is one I’ll happily omit.
Chuck
I am a big fan of the way they operate high speed trains in Japan, having ridden them. If it is supposed to leave at 6:03, it by God leaves at 6:03 I don’t care if the Prime Minister is running down the platform to it. If it is supposed to get there at 8:17, it by God does, if they have to slow to a crawl a mile before the station. It goes right thru the heart of Dodge at 150+MPH, and if some homeless derelict gets in the way, then they just improved the gene pool. And no closing the tracks for a 10 hour “investigation” and news coverage. If a train hits someone and doesn’t kill them, that’s news. And there are no lawsuits and “Gee he was a great guy” testimony from looking to get rich quick distraught relatives who wouldn’t recognize the guy without help.
If we could run trains in the US like that, people would ride the heck out of them.
I Have an Acela set, don’t know why it doesn’t fit with what I’m doing. It just appealed to me
Ken.
ugly I dont think so
Definitely ugly.
I like Bullet Trains. I know that California is trying to get one going in Southern California from Los Angeles to las Vegas to cut down traffic on I-15 north and south.
I’m a great fan. I have ridden the bullet train in Japan, the Eurostar from London to Brussels, the TGV all over France and the Thaylas from Paris to Brussels and back many times. I like the TGV the best. But for punctuality, the Bullet train cannot be beat.
Peter Smith, Memphis
One of the N scale modular clubs that frequents trainshows around St. Louis often run a Shinkansen at full tilt. It is amazing watching it flying down the long straight away.
[bow][yeah]
I’m a collector of fast trains.
Acela
Shikensen 100’s
TGV / Eurostars
and soon to add more.
I am a fan of these trains , yet I feel that governments need to keep these
safer than they are now. The USA has some catching up to do on rail travel.
As for MAGLEV, it is a way expensive mode of train. But with fuel prices where
they are, MAGLEV will replace fleets very soon.MAGLEV is being looked at by
Disney to replace MONORAIL so that Florida will be connected to Disney.
The proposal is to connect Miami at south and Pensacola at north with no stops.
Not get off topic here but this does pertain to “bullet trains”.
Any way, I’m a GO [:-^]
two of mine
the original
the next generation
Love bullet rains. Have ridden the TGV, its great! Also been in the cab of a eurostar!!! [:D]
River Eagle, I have both of them too. My Zephyr arrive with a dud motor but Con Cor sent a new one. Nice sets.
Ken.
great fan here. and i get to see eurostars evry day on the way to and from work!!! i work just across the river from the eurostar terminal at waterloo. when they move to st pancras this year i will live about 300 metres from their new base.!!
I have an old lima shinkansen 0. its very crude and they never did extra centre cars for it so it will forever be a 4 car. but even so i am very fond of it.
Peter
I too though they were ugly, but I have gotten to the point where I can tolerate them.
they are an aquired taste. i only got to like them when i stood on a platform and watched one go past at 300kph! its the only time i have ever experienced an orgasm and a bowel movement symaltaniously!
Peter
I love bullet trains, hope to get a good bullet train some day…
P.S river_eagle… Love the bullet train (next gen.) Where can I find one similar and how much $$$?