Review: Kato Koki Container Wagons

Whereas the six-car freight pack contains Kato's basic container flat, the model shown here is built to a much higher specification. As well as much finer detailing and an proper open frame, the wagon is supplied with individual containers that can be removed or swapped for other ones in different colours. This makes the wagon much more versatile and interesting to own, particularly if you want to model a train with a mix of containers.

Background

Japan is unusual in that a lot of containerised freight is moved around the country by sea rather than by rail. Nonetheless, containerised freight was first carried on the railways as early as the 1930s. The first containers were relatively small and carried on two-axle wagons, but in 1962 the first generation of proper container trains entered service. These used bogie wagons capable of carrying five 5-ton containers at speeds of up to 85 km/h.

The Koki 5500 series was the first generation of bogie container wagon. These were built between 1962 and 1975. Over three thousand of them were built, so needless to say these were common wagons that could be seen across the network. They were also quite long lived, the last ones withdrawn during the early 2000s. On the current railway they have been replaced by more advanced types such as the Koki 100 series.

One quirk of the Japanese railway system is that the containers used for internal traffic are not the standard ISO types seen elsewhere in the world but their own set of sizes. The most common container is the Type 1 (12') rail container, five of which fit on a 60' Koki flat. Type 2 (20') and Type 3 (30') containers are also common, with either three or two of these fitting on the container wagon.

Kato 8059-1 Container Wagon (two-pack)

What's in the box?

• Two Koki 5500 bogie container flats
• Ten removable containers

These are typical Kato wagons with a mix of moulded and separately fitted details. The handrails and brake wheel are a single piece that clips onto the wagon body, while the brake pipes and rods (visible when the wagons are removed) form another piece that clips into place. The bogies are held on with screws, while the Rapido couplings are the traditional sort with a spring behind them that keeps them centred. If you want, you can replace these with either buckeye couplings (Kato #11-702) or magnetic couplings (Kato #11-711) as you prefer. 

The clips that secure the containers are visible along the top of the wagon. While somewhat comprised in shape to act as springy clips, similar structures are present on the real wagons to secure the containers. Overall, the detail does the job, even if the colours aren't consistent between the different plastic components. Etched brass might have allowed the handrails and handbrake wheel to be more delicate, but as it is they look fine from normal viewing distances.

Ventilated containers (6000-type) are included, but the 5000-type containers will fit as well. These ventilated containers were primarily used to transport fruits and vegetables. The containers are painted in the standard JNR green that was used all the way through to privatisation, while the wagon itself is painted in the standard reddish-brown of JNR freight vehicles. So, the wagons would look most authentic running in trains between the 1960s and 1980s, though doubtless some wagons (and containers) stayed in their JNR colours well after privatisation.

Summary 

At the time of writing, the RRP for this twin-pack is 3,520 Yen (about £18-19). That puts them towards the more expensive end of the scale compared with other Kato freight cars. Compared to the basic Koki container flat like the one that came in the six-car set, the key differences are the open chassis with visible pipework, the separately fitted handrail and handbrake wheel, and of course the removable containers.