(Iga Railway Iga Line 伊賀鉄道伊賀線)

Japanese private railway line between Iga-Ueno and Iga-Kambe stations. Iga-Ueno is a change station from JR Kansai main line trains to Iga line trains. There is a short route of only 4 stations Iga-Ueno to Uenoshi popular among tourists to Iga-Ueno castle and Iga-Ryu ninja museum.

My goal is to replicate this short route as a model layout with as much details as possible.

I have decided to make a modular model to be able to transport it to exhibitions and to use and store at home. Chosen gauge is HO, since it allows to make detailed enough models.

Trains will run on HOm/TT gauge track, since japanese railway uses 1m gauge track which scales down to 12mm. I intend to run HOj (1:80) trains, since they are available from suppliers and will not look much out of scale. Track side details will be modelled to accommodate HOj scaled rolling stock and other details will be modelled using standard HO 1:87 available or scratch built parts.

I will use Tillig flex track and turnouts for layout. Modules will be connected using Tillig bedded track endpieces like in T-Trak module system, which uses Kato Unitrack rails. Basically Tillig uses the Kato N scale UniJoiners with their bedded track products.

Modules will be created as much as possible compatible with FREMO modules. Removing latches from endpieces should make modules flat and allow attachment with genuine FREMO modules. This will in its turn allow building larger layouts at exhibitions within Europe. Since currently exists no FREMO HOj standard, I will compile it on my own, making it available for public.

Electrically I plan to use DCC for controlling the layout.

At first I'll run couple of available rolling stock KiHa 23 and KiHa 53 DMU set. But later I am planning to replicate 204 rolling stock set with Owl livery and perhaps other Iga Railway company rolling stock.

1. Iga-Ueno station (multipart module)
2. Iga-Ueno crossing (straight)
3. Higashitakakura (R1837/15)
4. Higashitakakura crossing (R1837/15)
5. Solar panel field (R1837/15)
6. Nii station with 680 crossing (R3444/15+R1837/7.5)
7. Hattori rice fields viaduct (R1837/15)
8. Hattori rice fields (R1837/15)
9. Hattori bridge (multipart module)
10. Exedy Ueno (S-curve)
11. Everwin crossing (R1837/15)
12. 163 bridge (R1837/15)
13. Greenhouse viaduct (R1837/15)
14. Oda fields crossing (R1837/15)
15. Hounji cemetery crossing (S-curve)
16. Hounji viaduct (straight)
17. Floral Palace and cemetery (R1837/15)
18. Otacho residental viaduct (R1837/15)
19. Shirakawa Inari shrine (R1837/15)
20. Masato Kobayashi crossing (R1837/15)
21. Nishiote crossings (straight)
22. Nishiote station (straight+R1837/7.5)
23. Market crossing (straight)
24. Uenoshi depot crossing (straight)
25. Uenoshi station (multipart module)

• None

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• Purchase Toyota Crown model
• Purchase foamed PVC sheet
• Purchase needed length of flex track, turnouts, needed quantity of bedded pieces
• Cut foamed PVC sheet into modules endpieces and first module frame pieces
• Build first module frame
• Purchase transparent sheet
• Cut transparent sheet for first module cover
• Assemble first module cover
• Plan next activities on building first module
• Plan next building next modules

• Fix SCARM layout
• Draw lanscape around
• Split drawn layout into modules

• Pair of Tillig flex tracks bought

• Researched best material for making modules top covers is a transparent PMMA (Acrylic, Plexiglas). It is 17 times more rigid than glass, can be laser or water cut, polished. Scratch resistant, but if scratches appear can be polished. Does not yellow at time. May crack or chip if is drilled near edge or with wrong (not intended for plastic) drill bit.

• Since KiHa 23 and KiHa 53 DMUs are up to 70' length, then according to NMRA RP-11 minimum track curvature radius should be no less than 500 mm.

• Mostly drawn layout with SCARM. Since copying reality one to one is largely space consuming, I had to compress the model. Stations will be much shorter, just to accommodate the train set of 2 DMUs. That's 52 cm for KiHa 23/53/40 series and 45 cm for Ku/Mo 200 series. Iga-Ueno station will be implemented only from Iga Line side and only platform before passenger bridge over JR tracks. Perhaps some time later will add missing part during Kansai Main Line implementation. Uenoshi station depot will be closer to the platform and the station will be implemented in two 1 meter modules or in three 60 cm modules. Other stations seems to fit good. Bridge over the Hattory River and the river itself will be 3 times narrower and even with this width, the river will take full length of 50-60 cm module. Current layout is done with 520 mm long concrete tie flex tracks, but prototype uses wood ties, so I will redo it with 664 mm long flex tracks. However, there are 1 meter long flex tracks available on the market, I should consider this option also. Should redo the turns to be gradual between 500 and 1500 mm radii.

• Layout drawn with turns fixed according to different radius overhang tests. The scaled down PDF is available here: iga_line_scarm.pdf. Main roads are added and single direction road width is calculated, but needs testing with real HO scaled japanese car model. Will order one Toyota Crown from eBay. More details should be probably added within other editor, than SCARM, since I haven't found the possibility to add landscape elements there.
• Found low resolution Owl livery for Ku/Mo 204. Should redo that in vector some time.

• Fixed layout with larger radius points (EW2 instead of EW1 and EW3 instead of EW2). It seems that roads and landscape can be also modelled with SCARM. Iga-Ueno station will be full length, but without pedestrian bridge.
• Found high resolution videos of Owl livery for Ku/Mo 204.
• Found videos of Iga line, which should help with details, landscape and signalling.
• Found TS1007 bogies and PT44 pantograph for Ku/Mo 204. Should order them via proxy or make myself.

• Found videos with the part of the Iga Line to recreate landscape and details:
  • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4l0SeAyA6u8
  • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ioHId3Si370
  • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9hI7WPDqwtM
  • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_eFrXTnmH5o
  • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8bSE28EpJvM
  • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-zclwwnR4wY
  • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UI7eyUhe4HI
  • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PtodjL5jeBI
  • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c-ulk5CNL2s
• Carefully viewed quite many FREMO/Free-mo related videos and found out, that there is no need in making slopes. All the way the rails are laid horizontally and the landscape changes around, making feel that there were inclines and declines along the way.

• According to Japanese Railway standards prototype minimum curve radii is 160 m whereas at turnouts is 100 m. So I should use scaled minimums of 1837 mm and 1148 mm respectively. However, while I can use flex track on main line, there are only Tillig EW3 turnouts available on the market with 984 mm radii, so I need to use those instead of 1148 mm. Also minimum curve radii at stations should be 400 m or 300 m if rolling stock length is less than 18 m, which are 4592 mm, 3444 mm and 225 mm respectively. Since Mo 204 prototype length is exactly 18 m, and KiHa 23, KiHa 53 and KiHa 40 lengths are longer, then if I make station curve radii 3444 mm, I would not be able to operate KiHa rolling stock with curved stations. Fortunately, there is only single curved station Nii station on Iga line.
• Prototype clearance between rolling stock and structures should be 400 mm or 200 mm in case there is no possibility for passengers to extend from the windows, model 5 mm and 3 mm. Prototype clearance to platform should be 50 mm, model 1 mm. Clearance in curves should be calculated according to the formula provided in the JRS.
• Formation (ballast) width should be 2.75 m, +0.5 m in curves or +0.6 m in places where workers can find shelter, which are model 32 mm, 6 mm and 7 mm. On the ballastless bridges shelter bays should be located every 50 m, model 574 mm.
• Distance between parallel track centers is rolling stock width +600 mm, or +400 mm if there is no possibility for passengers to extend out of the windows, which are model 8 mm and 5 mm.
• Anti-derailing rail should be used in curves, on ballastless bridges, at level crossings and in other places where derailment probability is high.
• Thickness of the ballast bed should be 100 - 150 mm for low traffic passenger lines with speeds 50 - 90 km/h, which is 1 - 2 mm.
• Clearance posts, distance posts and curve posts should be installed as wayside posts.
• Effective length of halts and passing tracks at stations should accommodate the longest train.
• The length of the platforms should be at least the full length of the train.
• Width of the double sided platform is at least 3 m in the center and 2 m at ends. Width of single sided platform is 2 m in the center and 1.5 m at ends. These are model 34 mm, 23 mm and 17 mm.
• Platform side to column or other structure clearance is at least 1 m. Clearance to overbridge entrance is 1.5 m. Which are model 11 mm and 17 mm.
• Other than track sides of the platform should be fenced.
• Platform access width should be not less than 1.5 m. Stairs should have landings every 3 m of height. Which are model 17 mm and 34 mm.
• Height clearance above the rail top on electrified railway should be at 5 m as a standard, but not less than 4.4 m for DC and not less than 4.8 m at crossings (model 63 mm, 55 mm and 60 mm). Each clearance should allow 400 mm between wire and rolling stock with current collector folded (model 5 mm). Protection beam at crossing should be 30-50 cm below wire height (model 4 - 6 mm).
• Height of feeder wires should not exceed 5.5 m above the rails (model 69 mm).
• Clearance between platform top and footpaths and feeder wires should be not less than 3.5 m (model 40 mm).
• Interval of catenary droppers should be 5 m (model 57 mm).
• Deviation of feeder wire should be no more than 250 mm from the center of the track (model 3 mm).
• Maximum distance between catenary system support points is 60 m (model 689 mm).
• Time period between crossing interrupt activation and train arrival should be 15-20 seconds.
• Time period between start of warning at crossing and train arrival should be 20-30 seconds.
• Deceleration speed should be no less than 3.1 km/h/s for speeds 70-110 km/h and no less than 3.4 km/h/s for speeds below 70 km/h.
• Rolling stock should stop within 14 m from speed of 35 km/h (model 175 mm and 121.5 mm/s).

• Added GitHub repository with layouts and other information: https://github.com/dmmedia/Iga-Line
• Separated layout into modules. Few curves will be missing in the beginning and can be added later as needed. So today's layout at GitHub is outdated.
• Finalized rail and platform parts of Uenoshi station. Other landscape and details will be added later, as I approach making the module.

• Prototype ballast particle size 20-60mm with less than 5% of smaller particles, which corresponds to scale size 0.25-0.75mm for 1:80 and 0.23-0.69mm for 1:87.
• Discovered, that Tillig points are unrealistic with their plastic parts. Peco H0m gauge points look much more realistically. Switching plans from Tillig to Peco.
• Maximum module dimentions including cover 1150x600mm
• Discovered an idea of expansion modules to the sides of main modules with more scenery. Expansion modules could be lightweight and attach hanging to main modules without feet supports.
• Discovered, that obtaining and processing wood for modules base will be easier, cheaper and more enviroment friendly, than using foam boards.
• Bought most of the tools for processing wood

• Discovered, that Peco turnouts are too expensive and no available from a single store. Tillig points are most similar to Iga Line points. Tillig flex point kits are much cheaper than ready points and can be adjusted as needed. There are metallic paints that can be used to color plastic parts. Also plastic pars can be replaced with metal rail profile cut to length and bent.