Enoden series 1000 train: A LEGO® creation by Space Pirate : MOCpages.com

Enoden series 1000 train

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About this creation

Overview

This is meant to be a series 1000 train of Enoshima Dentetsu. The train runs on the single-tracked line between Kamakura and Fujisawa. It also includes a crossing with a rickshaw waiting for the gate to open. The poles double as catenary support and power poles.

Ideas

My idea was to build a Japanese train. For a train fan Japan must feel like heaven. Unlike in my home country, where every train looks about the same or at least has the same colour scheme, Japan offers an immense diversity of train companies and trains. What some might not know is, that most of the tracks in Japan are narrow gauge at 1067mm. Only the Shinkansen and some privately owned trains run on standard gauge. So, it’s just natural that my next idea was to build a Japanese narrow gauge train. I was looking for a short train, which if possible runs on a single-track. This would make it easier to build for me. Apart from Kyūshū, I’ve traveled almost all of Japan by train. Quite a lot of the single-tracked lines aren’t electrified though. But for me, power lines are one of the key features of Japan. Whether it’s beautiful or not is a whole other question, but for an authentic MOC they have to be there. Anyway, that limited my options, so eventually I decided to build the Enoden train. I did struggle with that idea first, I rather wanted to build something not so popular or well known like Kamakura. On the other hand, it is a nice small town with small buildings, traditional buildings, temples, a Buddha, it is surrounded by nature, hills on one side, beach and the ocean on the other side. If I ever plan to build a town layout with a train, Kamakura would probably be the perfect choice for me. I then decided to name it Kamago (from Kamakura – Lego), so I don’t have to build everything right. For example, I could put the Buddha next to the beach, and nobody would care. ;) Yes, right…that was the time when I decided to try a Buddha.

Credits

Now I knew what I wanted to build, next step was how to build? I searched for narrow gauge trains online and found an article in the railbricks magazine by Tim David. Unfortunately the article did focus too much on upscaling Lego tracks to narrow gauge. There was a very helpful link to Ross Neal though, who seems to be the only one who built a working narrow gauge train. I used his technique for the curves, though I had to alter it a bit. The way he builds it, doesn’t work. You have to put a 1x4 plate under the tracks to make sure the transition is smooth and not misaligned. His method may work on a partial circle, but on a full circle under stress (there is quite some stress, but no parts were damaged so far) it won’t. His bogie didn’t work for me. It is too large. If you plan to use it though, you might find it helpful to know that he used this part. It took me forever to figure it out. :D
For the overhang that is caused by building the curves like this, I used this technique by BS Yoto I found on railbricks.
The train also uses a variant of the close coupling technique for shared bogies by Jason Allemann.

Train

This train was not my first choice, but from the Enoden trains it seemed to be the most convenient to be built in Lego. The biggest problem definitely was to get a PF motor and all its components in. The train is 7-wide on a 4-wide track. I guess there were about 10 different prototypes. Nothing seemed to work and I just couldn’t fit the battery box in. I had to lower the battery box so it wouldn’t turn over in curves due to the high center of mass. My first version was about 1 brick higher, which ultimately ruined the proportions. One of the two difficulties with placing the battery box was the half-stud offset of the doors. The other was the close coupling technique. The battery box is the only connection between the front and the back, it is connected by three technic pins. Even though I tried to avoid this, I couldn’t think of a different way. In addition, the batteries have to be changed from time to time, so there weren’t many options left. It works fine though ;)

Historical facts

Did you know that rickshaws didn’t show up in Japan until ~1870? They were developed to carry foreigners around. Wheeled vehicles or carts weren’t a very common means of transport in Pre-Meiji Japan (before 1868). Goods were usually shipped along the coast or on horseback, people walked. The first railway line between Tōkyō and Yokohama started service in 1872. So rickshaws and railways were both symbols of modernization. Nowadays rickshaws resemble the traditional Japan. Isn’t it ironic? :D

The Enoden class 1000 was introduced in 1979. The pictured train 1201 started service in 1983 and still runs today.

There is a video of this running on a circle.
Embedding did not work, so here's a link.

Track without train

Feel free to comment ;)

Comments

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I like it

Al Freddo

March 24, 2011

awesome build!congratulations mate!

I like it

Cody G

October 26, 2010

Hey, just so you know, the NEOS is back up and running, and we are holding a small tournament if you are interested. We have one more slot to fill for a full bracket, so if you have some time to build, we would really love to have you compete. :)

I like it

Sebeus I

September 29, 2010

Very nice, I like the color scheme an dude, those mechanismes look complex, I didn't expect this train was actually motorized, that's very impressive eventhough you got some help from Ross Neal, you also did a great job on the cables and other 'stuff in the air', great greebling on top of the train as well, Fantastic job...almost forgot, those rickshaws look very cool too

I like it

Andrew Larkum

July 30, 2010

Absolutely awesome. I love the odd sized bogeys and the shared bogey, very clever. The detailing throughout is fantastic.

I like it

Dave Sterling

July 13, 2010

Wow! First off...I love the color scheme. Green and tan look fantastic together and the detail at the front of the locomotive is amazing. You really captured the shape quite well. I was looking at pictures when all the sudden it hit me....this is narrow gauge?!?! Hats off to you, that is really, really nice and you pulled it off perfectly. Finally, the overall diorama is really well done. It finishes off the scene and really helps to make this an exciting MOC. Great work!!!

I like it

Lee Hardwick

July 9, 2010

Very nice, some amazing details 5/5 :)

I like it

cyberfrank 2010

July 7, 2010

your patience and perseverance paid off! you have a trait of excellence! this is as exotic as it is exquisite! can t wait to see what you have in mind for a city! good luck!

I made it

Space Pirate

July 6, 2010

Wow, thanks everyone for your comments!

I like it

Steffen Rau

July 4, 2010

Wunderschön! Passt alles - so viele Details beim Zug selbst, die Oberleitung ist fantastisch (habe ich in Lego noch nie gesehen),... Und der Zug fährt wirklich einen kompletten Kreis in dieser Spurweite - Perfekt!

I like it

Ikuo Ozawa

July 4, 2010

Great work, I'm Japanese train fan, I'm excited that has been reproduced exactly the car I know well.

I like it

Hans Dendauw

July 4, 2010

Top notch!~H

I like it

Garth Danielson

July 4, 2010

Very cool. Good train and lots of helpful building hints. Nice work. see ya. garth

I like it

Parrington Levens

July 4, 2010

Pure elegance!

I like it

Cody G

July 3, 2010

Very nice, I love the power lines!

I like it

Thomas N

July 3, 2010

Extremely good work, The train is worthy of a MOC just in and of itself, but the diorama really pushes this over the top. I especially like the centenaries. ~T

I like it

Mark Kelso

July 3, 2010

Wow...NICE! Great job on the train cars, but it's the additional overhead lines attached to the cars that really make this for me. Killer work!

I like it

Henrik Hoexbroe

July 3, 2010

Excellent job all around. Fantastic train and mechanical details!

I like it

Allan Hall

July 3, 2010

fantastic, colours look great, track, overhead work, and thanks for the bogie details and links, its great to see how mocs work too.

I made it

Space Pirate

July 3, 2010

Thanks everyone!

Quoting Dak Yuki Very, Very excellent!! I live in Kanagawa prefecture near Kamakura, and I use Eno-den twice or three times a year. It is so realistic, and expressed well lovely feature of Eno-den. We love Eno-den. I'm very glad for you introducing Eno-den and Kamakura to everyone.

Wow, that's cool. I did not expect anyone to recognize the train. Thank you. ^^

I like it

Dak Yuki

July 2, 2010

Very, Very excellent!! I live in Kanagawa prefecture near Kamakura, and I use Eno-den twice or three times a year. It is so realistic, and expressed well lovely feature of Eno-den. We love Eno-den. I'm very glad for you introducing Eno-den and Kamakura to everyone.