While looking for something to put behind my C11, I came across this relatively inexpensive pack of wagons from Kato. As it turned out, these wagons were the perfect companion for this little steam locomotive, not just on their own as a block train, but mixed into a goods train alongside other covered and open wagons.
Background
Built from existing Tora ('tiger') wagons between 1964 and 1971, these wagons were used to transport wood chippings from the forests where the trees were grown to the mills where the wood chippings were turned into paper. Unusually for a single-purpose wagon serving one industry, these wagons were not privately owned but belonged to the Japanese state railway.
The Kato models represent the second and largest tranche of wagons — over 2,000 were built! —designed to operate at speeds of up to 75 km/h. The smaller first tranche of wagons could only run at up to 65 km/h and had been removed from service by 1974. By contrast, the higher speed wagons had longer careers. They were built between 1967 and 1969 and remained in use until 2002. Most were then scrapped but a small number found further use as trolley cars. These are open air passenger cars used on tourist trains on some scenic lines.
Compared to the standard Tora open wagon, the most obvious difference is the tall green mesh that increases the height of the wagon. Rainproof tarpaulins went over the top of the wagon to keep the wood chips relatively dry. Used as intended, the wagons could carry up to 17 tonnes of chippings. They were used in many parts of Japan including Hokkaido.
Kato 10-1377 Tora 90000
- 8 ToRa 90000 wagons, each with a unique running number
- 8 green mesh extensions modelled with the yellow wood chips visible inside
- 8 grey tarpaulin pieces
Each wagon comes with the green mesh extension and grey tarpaulin top pre-fitted but both parts are removable. You can also buy (Kato 11-562) a pack of 10 detailing parts to model the wagons when empty. This pack contains see-through green mesh extensions and rolled back tarpaulins.
You can also buy a 2-pack of these wagons (Kato 8062) which have the same specification and two additional running numbers. The big advantage to buying the 8-pack of wagons is lowering the cost per wagon (¥1265 per wagon bought in a 2-pack, versus ¥1237 per wagon in the 8-pack). They also come in a single storage tray that's a lot less fiddly to open than four jewel cases!
Performance and detailing
Performance is what you'd expect from a modern wagon. Light, free-rolling and equipped with Rapido couplings, the wagons easily hauled by the little C11 tank engine. Even adding some extra wagons and a brake van at the end doesn't cause any problems for the engine.
The green mesh extension is very finely made, with see-through holes and delicate struts. The tarpaulin clips on top and has fairly realistic creases and folds. It would probably benefit from some weathering, but as it comes, does the job. If you remove the tarpaulin piece you can see the inside of the wagon. A yellowy plastic piece sits inside the green mesh, simulating the wood chip load. This piece isn't removable: if you try, you'll probably break it.
Conclusion
Given they're around ¥1200 (about £5.50) each, these wagons are surprisingly nicely made with fine detailing parts and excellent performance. The fact you get a box of eight wagons, each with their own running number, is icing on the cake. If you're looking for something that works equally well behind steam and (relatively) modern traction, they're hard to beat. They'd look especially nice on a mountainous, single track layout with rails that wind their way between the forests and a river valley.
Interestingly, while they sometimes ran on their own in block trains, more often than not short blocks of these wagons were included in mixed trains alongside Wamu 80000 covered wagon and Tora 45000 open wagon. You'd also want a brake van like the Yo 5000 at the end. In fact, the Kato Freight Car Pack (10-033) contains several wagons suitable for a mixed freight train: the Tora 45000, the Waki 5000, and the Hoki 2200 would all be perfectly suitable, and the Yo 5000 would be a realistic brake van to put at the end of the train.
The main thing the modeller should think about is how many wagons to put behind the locomotive: in the real world, a little C11 might struggle taking more than ten wagons over a steep mountain line, while a big D51 could obviously handle a lot more! On more modern layouts, a DE10, ED 75 or EF65 would be appropriate, but a DD51 in JNR red is perhaps the iconic motive power for this sort of mixed goods freight train.
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