Ecosys is coming out of the closet

[to2leo]

Ecosys is the latest snap on snap off layout that I have.  The 2 mainlines layout was completed in Dec 31, 2008 and saw its first revenue service on Jan 1, 2009.  The first train was pulled by Taiwan's T700 by Kato.

I hope you can enjoy the layout with me as I add buildings and life into it.

In the mean time, please feel free to enjoy my layout pictures below.

Future Ecosys Terminal Station.


Ecosys at night by the Skyline Station


East meets West

[Bernard]

You have a nice roster. How do you like the two TVG sets and in the second photo is that the TVGs lite up? Also, how big is the layout?
Thanks for sharing!

[to2leo]

Hi Bernard,
Thanks for the comments.

I have 3 TGVs (Euromed, Thalys, and POS)  I am ordering the Duplex from Japan.

I love the performance of the TGVs, they are smooth and easy to disassemble for maintenance and installation of the Kato LED lights.

My layout is shaped like a figure 8 but more as a L shape than the circle shape.  I have a train yard, 2 intermediate station and a station terminal planned.

This is a smaller layout, it takes a train about one minute on normal speed to complete the loop.

[Bernard]

It is a vast improvement over the French TVG where you can't install lights and the pantographs are super fragile.
Have you cut some of your Unitrack to fit certain radii? (looking at the first photo) If you did, how did you re-connect the pieces, did you use different rail joiners?

[to2leo]

Hi Bernard,
I never try cutting the unitrack to fit, I usually reconfigure to the point that I can fit the the expansion track to solve the problem.

I need an expansion track for that stretch because I include a Wye style track to help long trains make a 3 points turn without manually doing it in my station terminal.

Leo

[Bernard]

Leo - I just took a look in the gallery and saw your Odakyu Romance Car 50000 Series VSE, that is one hard train to find! How do you like it compared to your other trains, would you recommend it to others and is it as short as I think it is?

[Sushi Train]

Ecosys?? is this a new product or a name you've given your layout?? confused 

[to2leo]

Hi Bernard,
I got the Odakyu Romance Car 50000 Series VSE last year in Hong Kong.  This was the first release and I got the last one.  The train run faster than the average Kato trainsets.  The product is well made and the wheels can go over the roughest tracks and tightest curves.  The electrical pick up is at the central motor car so there are embedded wire going across the entire train for directional lighting and interior lighting.  The product is made in Japan and the train cars are short but the whole consist is as long as other 6-7 car sets from Kato or Tomix.

Hi Sushi Train,
Ecosys is the name of my train layout, it is stand for Economic/Ecological System.

[Sushi Train]

Hi Bernard,
I got the Odakyu Romance Car 50000 Series VSE last year in Hong Kong.  This was the first release and they just had the last one.  The train run faster than average the Kato.  The product is well made and the wheels can go over the roughest tracks and tightest curves.  The electrical pick up is at the central motor car so there are embedded wire going across the entire train for directional lighting and interior lighting.  The product is made in Japan.

Hi Sushi Train,
Ecosys is the name of my train layout, it is stand for Economic/Ecological System.

Oh, OK thanks, I'll have to think of a name for mine, when its finished.  ;D

[Bernard]

Leo - It's interesting that you say the 50000 runs faster than the Kato train sets. I have a Tomix 800 Shinkansen and when I first got it I tested it on DC, it flew around the track, it was a lot faster than any of my other trains. When I converted it over to DCC, (BTW my easiest Tomix decoder install) it ran just like all the Katos.

[to2leo]

That's good to know Bernard.  Turning my layout to DCC will be something I will try in the future once it becomes usually friendly enough to do it on a computer.  Also, I really am hoping trains will go wireless with DCC rather than relying it on tracks.

[to2leo]

The revealing continues

[Bernard]

The suspense is killing me, I dying to see a wider shot of the layout. ;)
Every time you add a photo, you reveal yet another train on your roster.  :o
How many main lines does Ecosys have?

[to2leo]

Hi Bernard,
I think I lost count but I will let you know in my continuing effort of showcasing my trains and a bit of the layout each time! ;D

[SubwayHypes]

MORE PICS MORE PICS!!

[lbriand_fr]

East meets West

About East meets West : http://www.sncf.fr/fr_FR/html/media/CH0005-Idees-davance/BR0656-La-Chine-a-portee-de-train/MD0105_20090202-Lire-larticle.html
If one day I can take a picture of a E4 Max in Montparnasse Station, I'll post it here.  ;D

[Sushi Train]

Japanese and Euro trash trains on the same layout!! this user should be banned! LOL!  ;D

[to2leo]

Okay, these are my last pictures before my month long vacation.
Please enjoy and feel free to comment.

[Bernard]

Enjoy the vacation! I like the Thayls but what is the set in the 5th photo next to it?

[SubwayHypes]

wow month long vacation, sounds like fun.  i like the layout, POST A WIDER PIC!!!!

[to2leo]

@Bernard
That's the 371Series Limited Express Asagiri
It is my first MicroAce and I really like the quality of the motor and model
http://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10066207

@Subway
I will once I come back from vacation.  Let me know how your layout is progressing too!

[scott]

Japanese and Euro trash trains on the same layout!! this user should be banned! LOL!  ;D

I'm in deeeeeep trouble here.

[Sushi Train]

Japanese and Euro trash trains on the same layout!! this user should be banned! LOL!  ;D

I'm in deeeeeep trouble here.

Never! its all about the trains  8)

[Bernard]

Okay Leo - More Photos? ;)

[to2leo]

Okay Leo - More Photos? ;)

Will do once I come back in early May.  Now, on with the travel plan to the Med.

[Bernard]

Leo - Sorry I didn't realize you were on your vacation already...have fun! :D

[to2leo]

Unfortunately, I am still in the TO suffering a late snowstorm, Bernard.

I will post some more pics after the vacation, I am hoping to get GS4 and TGV Duplex in my next posting.

 ;)

[Bernard]

Leo - If you're back from your vacation I hope you had a good time....and if you are back how about a few more revealing photos of the layout, I'd love to see more. ;)

[to2leo]

Hi Bernard and all,
My vacation was a blast, I really enjoyed the time spent in Spain, Greece, Canary Islands and Morocco.

As soon as I settle down, I will add my photos for all to enjoy.

Now I have to get my programs starting so that my community youth can enjoy once summer hits.

[scott]

Hi Bernard and all,
My vacation was a blast, I really enjoyed the time spent in Spain, Greece, Canary Islands and Morocco.

I'm not jealous. Nope, not at all. That would be petty and immature of me.

 :P :P :P :P :P

[SubwayHypes]

Post some pics!! i would love to see some pics of the Greek coastline, i love that bright blue water!!  Did you eat any crazy things like Anthoney Bourdain, $150 dollar cans of preserved clams?


PICS PICS PICS!!!!   

[Bernard]

Leo - That was some vacation you had! I've been to Greece only it was for work and I really didn't get to see much outside of Athens. I was told that I missed a lot by not getting the opportunity to travel around Greece.
But welcome back.

[to2leo]

Sorry for the lack of response, I have been so busy with work that I hardly have time to tend to my project.

Thank you for the wonderful wishes for my trip.  I had a wonderful time in Spain and Greece and would highly recommend people to go.

I would post some travel pictures soon.

Today, I received my first order from HWJapan.  It only takes 10 days (not business days) for my item to arrive by SAL, the same time it takes by EMS but cheaper and charge less government processing fee.

This is the new release of Kato Series E3 -1000 Yamagata Shinkansen TSUBASA 7-cars set
I really love the style and colour but there are some misgivings.
PROS
Style and colour are perfect
Smooth running
Bright LED directional lights

CONS
Noisy engine
Bad couplers, hard to couple

I promise I will post as June comes along.  In the mean time please enjoy the train set!

[Bernard]

Leo - glad you had a great trip. Thanks for the photos of the E3-1000 just a couple of questions. Is it easy to convert to DCC?
The coupler system is very different from the Kato TGV, how does it couple and what exactly is the problems that you find with it? (I have the French TVG and my fear is the rod that couples the coaches will eventually wear down or snap.)

[to2leo]

Hi Bernard,
I will try to answer your questions.

1) Not sure if it is able to convert to DCC easily since I didn't have the time to check but judging from the sound of the engine, it used the same type of engine as the 500 with motor car in the middle.  Aside from the DCC plug in embedded in Kato American models, I have no knowledge into this area.

2) The coupler is not the TGV type but it is the Japanese snap on and lift off type as seen below.  The slots are little bit harder to connect since the hooks are smaller than the knuckle coupler shown below but easy to lift off.  It doesn't have the TGV type which is easy to connect but hard to come off (I have several accidents with my Thalys).

[CaptOblivious]

In the photo of the underside, the trap door for the decoder nook is clearly visible: This train takes the Kato FL12/EM13 decoders, and so is a snap to convert (presuming you are willing to use these decoders, otherwise it could be a little tricky)

It's interesting that they went with this kind of coupler. My Kato E4 has a very different coupling system that is very reliable, yet very easy to uncouple. To couple, you press two cars together, just as with any other coupler; but to uncouple, you lift one car vertically (not at an angle, but straight up), while holding the other car down: They just slide apart vertically, easy-peasy and very little coupler wear. Strange that they abandoned the system for this release—or does the E4's release post-date the release of the E3?

[Martijn Meerts]

I believe what they're using is the "Scharfenberg" coupler. The only reason to use it would be that the prototype E3 uses this style of coupler.

Quite a few Kato trains use those couplers actually.

[Bernard]

Leo - We want more of Ecosys photos

[to2leo]

I will try but summer is here and is so nice outside in TO...

Pride week is coming too!   

Will try my best 

[scott]

That's how I felt in the spring here--it was too nice to be inside. Now that summer's here, it's nice to be out early and late, but hide in the basement during the worst of the afternoon. :-)

[CaptOblivious]

The mank (as I took to calling it when I lived in MS) hit St Louis right about a week ago, and hasn't relented. We've had to move my baby girl's birthday party out of the local park pavilion and into our living room where we pretend to have air conditioning…supposed to hit 100 today, with lots of humidity! If I can't handle a few days of this now, I don't know how I survived for so long in Mississippi, which is worse, without air conditioning for 10 years! I don't know how the participants of the upcoming STL Pride Day are going to handle the heat here…

Anyway, if the weather is nice where you are, then by all means spend it outside! And it's hard to be proud—or to even enjoy the pride of others—sequestered in your basement.

[scott]

And it's hard to be proud—or to even enjoy the pride of others—sequestered in your basement.

Maybe this is why there's no equivalent to Pride Week for train geeks. 

[Bernard]

Leo - Your right, it's summer and honestly on a sunny day who wants to be inside. Why couldn't MB Klein re-stock my order during the winter. I'll have to wait for a rainy day.

[scott]

I don't suppose Kato has invented weatherproof n-scale garden railways yet...

[to2leo]

I have reserved this but cannot hold my excitment with the just released photos!

[Tenorikuma]

I don't suppose Kato has invented weatherproof n-scale garden railways yet...

If the standard Japanese garden was bigger than a Japanese living room, they probably would have by now.

[scott]

I have reserved this but cannot hold my excitment with the just released photos!

Wow--that's an impressive set.

If the standard Japanese garden was bigger than a Japanese living room, they probably would have by now.

T-scale garden railways?

[to2leo]

I just cannot hold my excitement. TGV duplex will finally be available on July 17!

Yes, I promise to post more progress on my layout once it and my suburban station arrives.

This all depends on SAL from July 17 onwards.

[disturbman]

Hey leo, no news from your layout? Did he stay in Europe?! 

[disturbman]

leo, I'd like to see more of your layout if you don't mind. :)