We have had a short introduction on models of Electric motive power in Japan, now its time for the diesel locomotives.
As with the electric services today there is very little diesel passenger haulage apart from the use with the many private hire sets of coaches with a matching liveried locomotive or the seasonal tourist trains that operate with uniquely designed "open sided" coaches operating on some of the mountainous scenic lines.There are also some diesel locomotives painted in passenger "blue" for use on the overnight blue train services but most of the locomotives are allocated to the JR freight sector.
Today the most numerous and general all purpose locomotive is the type DD51 (left) this has the unusual bogie configuration of BO-BO-BO but for traction power this would be classed in the UK as BO-11-BO i.e. the central bogie has no traction motors and acts only to ease the spread of the axle weight of the locomotive on the tracks.They often operate in pairs on heavy freight trains throughout Japan.
The model here is by Kato and is in the typical JR orange livery scheme used for diesel locomotives I have two of these locomotives with another due very soon, I have been asked via my e-mail where these HO models can be obtained, obviously the answer is "Japan" but this can be of great complication because of not just the language barrier but also they dont use the "Roman" alphabet!. I can recommend the Japanese specialist Doug Coster who is the proprietor of internet based Japanese Model supplies http://japanese-model-supplies.com/ he can help you with supply of most of the large manufacturers ranges in N and HO 1/80 as well as some wonderful DVD's.
Everyone has a dream model,,,,,and my dream would be the brass model of the modern BO-BO-BO diesel locomotive class DF200 by the Musashino company, as used on the Northern Island of Hokkaido, at a price of over £800 for this hand made model and second hand examples at over £400 this is a little extreme a purchase and would mean much explanation to my wife why we shouldnt get a divorce!!
