Budget Railroading: Lima Shinkansen Bullet Train Set.

For a blog focused on "Budget Model Railroading" there has been suspiciously few locos and rolling stock featured here.


That is going to change.

Today I've got a neat Japanese train of Italian manufacture to share with you.  This is a Lima "Shinkansen" bullet train.  It's a nice model of a  "O series" Shinkansen in an accurate blue and ivory livery.   The Type 0 is an iconic and long-lived train in Japan.  Introduced in the 60's, the last of the type were in service until 2008!

I'm not modeling Japanese railroading as a focus of the Chicago Valley Railroad layout, but I purchased this to surprise my son who loves bullet trains and to indulge my own interest in these classic designs that look futuristic even today.

The condition of the one I purchased is quite good. The the tiny fin that sits over the cockpit of the lead locomotive is present and both centenary are present and in good shape.

 I was lucky to acquire mine at about half of the going rate via a connection made by a friend of mine at the Tyco Depot forum.   My example unboxed, but originally it might have come in a train set like this...

...though individually packaged cars and locos and sets of just the train itself were also sold. This page about Lima trains shows the train cars with a link to a diagram of the locomotive.    The diagram shows a large "pancake" style motor but my example has a very large can motor attached directly to the rear truck.   Perhaps mine is a later edition?




The couplers are an interesting European style but they do leave a very long space between the cars.   Far more than the modest diaphragms could hope to cover.  However, the couplers are attached to the trucks with a clip similar to what Athearn locomotives use. It appears that the entire coupler assembly can be removed and it will leave a box (coverable with that same clip) and with a post onto which a KD #148 might drop right into.  Haven't tried this yet, but if it works it would more than halve the distance between the cars with no permanent modification!

Mine runs strong, but the 40 year old traction tires on the wheels on the single powered truck have completely dried out and one has crumbled away.  The result is that when attached to the rest of the cars the loco will simply spin out.  I've got some "Goody Ouchless" hair bands that I will be replacing the originals with shortly.

Aside from the body and paint, general detail is fairly low.   No interior or lighting is present aside from the headlight.  The  frame has some basic boxy detail that gets the point across.



This same train was also sold under the Playart and Model Power brands and possibly others, though it is possible at some point in later years production may have moved to Hong Kong.   In addition to the accurate blue and ivory it was also offered in fantasy schemes for Amtrak, Santa Fe and even Coca-Cola.

Once a common staple of Ebay and train shows, the Lima/Playart/Model-Power Bullet trains have become less common recently.  With a little searching though, it should be possible to find a good working set for under $100.

It's also worth noting that Lima also made models of other passenger trains including the French TGV.  Despite having the same drive many of these had even better detailing and interiors.  Most are less common and more expensive though.   A deep dive through the Lima fan site mentioned previously is worth it for those with an interest in these trains and other European prototypes.

In the final estimation, it's drive, detail and features may not be up to modern standards but don't be dissuaded.  The Lima Shinkansen remains a charming model and one of the only affordable ways to experience the thrill of sending a bullet train wizzing around your layout.  If you can find a working example I highly recommend acquiring it.

-Karl