On 18th I went to newly-open Hara Railway Model Museum in Yokohama, where the model trains and a large-size diorama collected and made by the world-famous model train creator, Nobutaro Hara, are displayed.
I chose that day because the term in which the visitors need the advance ticket had been finished on last Monday, July 16th.
I was disappointed that photographing is prohibited, but the museum has many, many model trains, such as Freestyle Electric Locomotive No. 8000, Mr Harada's first work, the dining carriage of the Oriental Express, which is called his best work and he re-created in detail including passengers in the carriage. In his collection exhibited, Japan National Railway's Class A1 steam locomotive, which is called " The first SL" by Japanese railway supporters, Class 8620, the same type as "SL Hitoyoshi" on Hisatsu Line of JR Kyushu, the 2 masterpieces of Japanese steam locomotive, Class C57 and D51, Shin-keihan Railway (present Hankyu Kyoto Line) P-6 Series, Ueda Maruko Electric Railway (present Ueda Electric Railway) 5250 Series, and Eugen Langen Monorail Suspension Railway in Germany, rare the model of monorail train, etc. were impressive and for me.
The railway diorama, the biggest attraction in this museum, re-creating the scenery in Europe, had his obsessiveness, such as iron steel rail and wheel, collecting electricity from the overhead line, the bolster and suspension of the track, and inertia running to imitate the real one. A diesel train, running by electric power but the engine sound similar to the real one from the speaker, also ran. Between the 2 mountains standing both sides of the diorama, a cable car also runs.
In another room, one before the exit, a smaller one against the wall that the famous spots in Yokohama, landmark tower and Bay Bridge are painted was laid. The first steam locomotive, 165 Series on Tokaido Line, and 209 Series on Keihin-tohoku Line were running and Sakuragicho Station, Kanagawa Prefectural Office, and the hill in Yamate area aroundMinato no Mieru OkaPark were re-created.
In this museum, the chronological table of Mr Hara's 93-year life and the No.1 ticket he collected also shown.